2023-10-27 23:29:35
There was neither the intensity of France-South Africa, nor the genius of Ireland-New Zealand. But this Argentina-England will remain a nice memory for the 80,000 spectators present at the Stade de France this Friday evening. Despite an eye-catching Pumas, the Rose leaves with the bronze medal in this 2023 World Cup. The first in history for the only selection from the northern hemisphere to have lifted the Webb-Ellis trophy, in 2003. Argentina, she does not repeat her feat of 2007, when she finished third in the French world championship.
This evening, the “Blues” were Argentinians. In an enclosure mainly made up of French fans, the “anti-English” feeling quickly took over. From the announcement of the compositions and from the start of the meeting. Captain Owen Farrell, criticized for his first successful penalty (3rd), will have understood: the public will be South American. The Pumas had forgotten mate. Off topic, asleep, they suffered the law of Farrell and his team: 13-0 after 12 minutes of play, notably thanks to a percussion try from 3rd line Ben Earl.
There is, then, reason to say that the Marseille scenario will repeat itself. On September 9, at the opening of their World Cup, the English calmed Argentina’s ambitions after a choppy match (27-10). But the Pumas decided otherwise. Reboosted, they took the entire Stade de France with them before the break. Their scrum half, Tomas Cubelli, sounded the revolt by scoring a try between the poles (36th), converted by scorer Emiliano Boffelli. 16-10 at the break in favor of the Rose.
And a start of madness will take hold of Saint-Denis upon returning from the locker room. Two attempts, one after the other. First by Santiago Carreras, Argentinian flyhalf (42nd). Before this same number 10 was blocked in his 22 meters by… English hooker Theo Dan, who responded immediately (44th). 23-17 for England at this point. Before a duel of scorers, between an Owen Farrell as precise as ever (6/6) and the duo Emiliano Boffelli-Nicolas Sanchez (5/6). 26-23 at the start of money time.
But the first error came from the feet of Nicolas Sanchez, on an off-center penalty to the left of the posts. By missing the equalizer, the Pumas came very close to a crazy final. A forward on the following action offered a scrum to the English, who will be able to keep possession until the end of regulation time. The sound system may have spit out “La mano de Dios”, a song in praise of Diego Maradona, but Argentina narrowly failed in its dream of a medal. England confirms its return to strength after difficult months. We will see her again at the end of winter for the start of the VI Nations tournament.
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