Rugby World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as Wales announce team for quarter-final clash against Argentina
Wales’ last 5 World Cup quarter-final results as Warren Gatland’s side gear up to face Pumas
Wales will contest their seventh Rugby World Cup quarter-final when they take on Argentina in Marseille on Saturday. Here’s a look back on their last five quarter-final results:
Wales 19 South Africa 23 (Twickenham, 2015)
Wales’ World Cup journey ended at Twickenham, but not before they stood toe to toe with South Africa’s revered pack throughout an enthralling contest.
Springboks scrum-half Fourie du Preez’s 75th-minute try finally broke Welsh resistance, halting a campaign that had seen Wales progress from a tough pool that also included England and Australia.
Scrum-half Gareth Davies scored a try, with Dan Biggar kicking 14 points.
Wales’ last 5 World Cup quarter-final results as Warren Gatland’s side gear up to face Pumas
Wales will contest their seventh Rugby World Cup quarter-final when they take on Argentina in Marseille on Saturday. Here’s a look back on their last five quarter-final results:
Wales 22 Ireland 10 (Wellington, 2011)
Wales secured a first World Cup semi-final spot for 24 years after producing a dominant display against Ireland in Wellington.
Wales never looked seriously troubled as they triumphed on the back of tries from Shane Williams, Mike Phillips and Jonathan Davies.
Although they won their pool, Ireland were no match for a Wales team that went on to lose against semi-final opponents France after skipper Sam Warburton was sent off.
Wales’ last 5 World Cup quarter-final results as Warren Gatland’s side gear up to face Pumas
Wales will contest their seventh Rugby World Cup quarter-final when they take on Argentina in Marseille on Saturday. Here’s a look back on their last five quarter-final results:
England 28 Wales 17 (Brisbane, 2003)
England were given a major fright on their way to winning the World Cup as Wales provided fierce opposition in Brisbane.
Tries by Stephen Jones – he rounded off a brilliant length-of-the-field move – Colin Charvis and Martyn Williams underpinned Wales’ display, and England had to dig deep before prevailing on the back of 23 points from Jonny Wilkinson and a Will Greenwood touchdown.
Having also tested New Zealand in their final pool game, Wales flew home with heads held high.
Wales’ last 5 World Cup quarter-final results as Warren Gatland’s side gear up to face Pumas
Wales will contest their seventh Rugby World Cup quarter-final when they take on Argentina in Marseille on Saturday. Here’s a look back on their last five quarter-final results starting with:
Wales 9 Australia 24 (Cardiff, 1999)
Wales made Australia work for victory in a rain-swept Cardiff, but three Neil Jenkins penalties proved their only scoreboard rewards as the Wallabies marched on.
Two George Gregan tries and a Ben Tune touchdown reflected the attacking quality of Australia’s backs, even in such testing conditions, and the Wallabies went on to be crowned world champions for a second time by demolishing France 35-12 two weeks later.
Wales vs Argentina
“Wales is going to come to try and do their thing, exert that pressure on to us,” Argentina assistant coach Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe said.
“They are very identified with Warren Gatland’s philosophy of putting pressure to the opposition and being a combative team.
“We have to play an intense kicking game, and when given the opportunity have a firing attack. It sounds simple but this requires a lot of work.”
Warren Gatland names Wales team to face Argentina with Taulupe Faletau’s replacement confirmed
Tommy Reffell will start for Wales in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Argentina with head coach Warren Gatland opting for two specialist openside flankers in the absence of the injured Taulupe Faletau.
Reffell joins captain Jac Morgan on the flank, with Aaron Wainwright shifting to number eight after Faletau’s tournament was ended by a broken arm.
Fly half Dan Biggar has been passed fit to start at fly half and returns having overcome the pecoral muscle issue suffered early in Wales’ win over Australia.
Wales name team to face Argentina with Faletau’s replacement confirmed
Tommy Reffell replaces the injured Taulupe Faletau in the back row, with Aaron Wainwright moving to number eight
Jamie Roberts on Wales’ recent World Cup success
“I watch Wales now and they have their DNA back,” said former Wales centre Jamie Roberts said on the Official Rugby World Cup 2023 podcast.
“They have some wonderful players but they are playing together, with a purpose, that pressure game. They are up there with the top sides in the world with how they pressure sides.”
Wales vs Argentina
Of the eight quarter-finalists at the Rugby World Cup 2023, the team with the best scrum success is Wales (98%), while traditional set-piece powerhouse Argentina have the worst (80%).
Argentina, meanwhile, play with the quickest ruck speed at 3.37s, while Wales sit in last place with an average ruck speed of 5.11s.
Wales have kicked the ball away a lot as well; an average of 30.8 kicks in play per game putting them second only behind England.
Gatland explains his team selection
Warren Gatland said: “We had a goal of making the quarter-finals which we have achieved. Now it’s about building on that momentum.
“It’s exciting to enter into the knock-out stages of the tournament and we are ready for the challenge of a quarter-final. All our preparation has been geared to getting to this spot and we’re very much relishing the opportunity.
“We’re expecting another tough encounter this weekend against a physical Argentina side. We haven’t had the perfect performance yet, but we have shown that we are a hard team to beat.
“There is a lot more growth in this squad – collectively and individually – and we can’t wait to get out there in Marseille on Saturday.”
Warren Gatland announces Wales’ starting XV for quarter-final
Jac Morgan captains the side at blindside flanker and is joined in the back row by openside flanker Tommy Reffell and No.8 Aaron Wainwright.
Ryan Elias is named at hooker alongside props Gareth Thomas (loose-head) and Tomas Francis (tight-head).
Adam Beard partners Will Rowlands in the second row and Dan Biggar returns at fly-half with Gareth Davies at scrum-half.
Nick Tompkins and George North continue their centre partnership with Liam Williams named at full-back while Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit are on the wings.
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