{"id":294062,"date":"2023-10-13T09:39:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T09:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=294062"},"modified":"2023-10-13T09:39:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T09:39:27","slug":"5-talking-points-as-wales-face-argentina-for-a-rugby-world-cup-semi-final-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/rugby-union\/5-talking-points-as-wales-face-argentina-for-a-rugby-world-cup-semi-final-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"5 talking points as Wales face Argentina for a Rugby World Cup semi-final spot"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Wales will target a third Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance in the last four tournaments when they tackle Argentina on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The quarter-final clash in Marseille comes after Wales collected 19 points from a possible 20 to dominate the pool.<\/p>\n
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points heading into the game.<\/p>\n
It would have been fanciful seven months ago to identify Wales as possible World Cup semi-finalists, given a miserable Six Nations campaign that saw them win one game.<\/p>\n
Head coach Warren Gatland has turned things around, though, masterminding an unbeaten group phase that produced key victories over Fiji and Australia.<\/p>\n
In contrast, Argentina found it tough going, losing to 14-man England before posting an unimpressive win against Samoa and then qualifying as Pool D runners-up.<\/p>\n
It is a first World Cup meeting between Wales and the Pumas since 1999, with Gatland\u2019s team firm favourites.<\/p>\n
Wales\u2019 victory over Georgia last weekend was clouded by number eight Taulupe Faletau suffering a broken arm that ruled him out of the tournament.<\/p>\n
With 104 caps to his name and a consistent ability to hit world-class standards, his absence cannot be sugar-coated, even if Wales have enviable back-row strength.<\/p>\n
Big players produce big performances in big games, and few Wales players have delivered such quality so regularly than Faletau during his 12-year Test career.<\/p>\n
The shows goes on, but one of its star performers has left the stage.<\/p>\n
Former Wales flanker Richard Webster once said that rugby is a sport played on grass, not paper, but form and history strongly supports a Wales victory on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Four successive wins since losing their final World Cup warm-up match to South Africa represents a longest unbeaten run for more than two years, while Gatland has a 100 per cent record as Wales boss against the Pumas of played six, won six.<\/p>\n
Argentina have beaten Wales only twice in the last 11 meetings, and their World Cup performances so far do not suggest an immediate turnaround in fortunes.<\/p>\n
Biggar is back at fly-half after recovering from a pectoral muscle injury suffered against Australia almost three weeks ago, with his leadership and game-management vital to Wales successfully negotiating their quarter-final hurdle.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old, who has won 111 caps, will retire from international rugby after the World Cup, and he is likely to be front and centre in Marseille as Wales target a triumph that would take them on the road to Paris for the tournament\u2019s final fortnight.<\/p>\n
His influence cannot be understated.<\/p>\n
While Wales\u2019 cap centurions like Biggar, Faletau and George North \u2013 who makes a Welsh record fourth World Cup quarter-final appearance \u2013 have all made their presence felt in France, the relatively inexperienced Morgan has also operated at an impressive level on a consistent basis.<\/p>\n
Squad co-captain with hooker Dewi Lake, 23-year-old Morgan led Wales superbly in key pool-stage victories over Fiji and Australia, while his performances warranted the rave reviews they received.<\/p>\n
There is a calm, quiet authority about the Ospreys flanker, who revels in Test rugby\u2019s unforgiving and unrelenting environment.<\/p>\n