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Argentina’s Joel Sclavi scores a try. James Crombie/INPHO

Argentina claws back early deficit to book semi-final spot at Wales' expense

Michael Cheika’s side will face either Ireland or New Zealand in the semis.

ARGENTINA WILL face the winners of Ireland and New Zealand after recovering from a 10-point early deficit to beat Wales 29-17 and reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Emiliano Boffelli kicked 19 points in Marseille on Saturday as Welsh errors proved costly following a strong start for the men in red.

Los Pumas came into the quarter-final at the Stade Velodrome as underdogs, having finished Pool D runners-up to England while Wales booked their place in the quarters with a perfect four wins from four in Pool C.

But Argentina played the territorial game, and while not shining in attack, proved to be solid in defence, disruptive at the line-out and disciplined enough to contain a fancied Welsh side seeking to make the semi-final for the third time in four tournaments.

Boffelli dragged an early penalty attempt wide after some sustained Argentinian pressure as Wales responded with an expansive game.

Star winger Louis Rees-Zammit was involved in three ensuing Welsh attacks, twice unable to make anything of his chip and chases and once stepping inside into space only for his offload to go forward.

Flanker Tommy Reffell showed all the skills of an outside back to step inside the Argentine defence, but Gareth Davies spilled the pass in a high-intensity opening with both sides electing to play the ball.

For all their possession, however, Los Pumas looked lacklustre when in attack and Welsh pressure paid off after George North split the defence on an inside ball from Dan Biggar.

North, making history as the first Welsh player to compete in four World Cup quarter-finals, found Davies off the floor and the scrum-half this time made no mistake to pass on to Biggar, the out-half crossing for a try under the posts that he converted himself.

Referee Jaco Peyper suffered a leg injury and was replaced by Karl Dickson as Biggar stretched Wales’ lead to 10 with a 21st-minute penalty.

Biggar went wide with a long-range penalty as Wales failed to convert pressure into points, losing three of their own line-outs in quick succession, two from choosing to kick to the corner rather than for the posts.

Argentina made no mistake on their own attacking line-out, Thomas straying offside as the ball was recycled into midfield to hand Boffelli a straightforward penalty kick.

Los Pumas had the ascendancy going into half-time, Liam Williams on hand for a try-saving tackle on Santiago Carreras as Nick Tompkins fell off a tackle.

Josh Adams was penalised for a needless hit on Tomas Cubelli to allow Boffelli bring Argentina to within four points at the break when it looked at one stage like Wales could have run away with it.

Boffelli kicked a third penalty at the start of the second period as Reffell was caught offside and then took Argentina into the lead with a fourth shortly after when Dewi Lake, on at hooker for the misfiring Ryan Elias, was penalised.

Replacement scrum-half Tomos Williams reversed the momentum, dummying from the base of a ruck and scooting in under the posts, Biggar converting to make it 17-12.

A misjudged kick from Rees-Zammit put the pressure back on Wales, Argentina opting for a series of kicks to the corner.

Prop Joel Sclavi, with his first touch of the ball, was eventually driven over for a try, Boffelli converting to edge Argentina two points ahead.

Los Pumas were then penalised at the scrum, Wales kicked deep but as they threatened Williams knocked on and the ball was cleared.

North and Rio Dyer came racing back up the pitch, Matias Moroni producing a dramatic try-saving tackle on Rees-Zammit in the corner.

Argentine fly-half Nicolas Sanchez put the icing on the cake with an interception of a Sam Costelow pass for a try, Boffelli converting.

Another veteran, hooker Agustin Creevy, then snatched a turnover at the death, Boffelli making no mistake from the kicking tee in a final penalty.

The 42 is the home of game-changing Rugby World Cup coverage. Click here for their trademark analysis, sportswriting, and all of the latest news from France

– © AFP 2023

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    Mute QhpFny3o
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 10:58 PM

    had a samsung for 2 years, got an iPhone and within half an hour was wondering why i hadn’t had an iPhone all along. Still streets ahead in my opinion.

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    Mute Jimbo Murphy
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:12 PM

    Both are a waste of money. Huawei all the way.

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    Mute J
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:39 PM

    Siemens C10 all the way.

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    Mute Paddy
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 10:57 PM

    I think Apple products are far superior to Samsung. Let the games begin!

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    Mute tom
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    Apr 24th 2014, 2:25 PM

    stupid apple fan boy rejoicing at being over charged for old technology.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:45 PM

    Can’t fault them, they do make great products, iPhone 5s is a super phone and laptops are sweet especially the MacBook Air

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    Mute Barney r
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 10:57 PM

    What do i use my old iphone and ipads for? that cannot upgrade beyound 5.1 ios and therefore are useless all apps are 6 and over. Why do they make devices to survive more than 2 years when they are worthless after that. Thats where they make their billions i suppose.

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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    Apr 24th 2014, 1:47 AM

    Its called Planned Obsolescence. Good documentary regarding the above on youtube.

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    Mute Andy
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    Apr 24th 2014, 2:38 AM

    The most recent iPhone that is not compatible with iOS 7.0 is the 3GS, released in 2009, slightly longer than two years. It was compatible up until iOS 6.1.3 as far as I know.

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    Mute Paulie Martin
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    Apr 24th 2014, 3:20 AM

    And the iPad only came about in 2010

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    Mute Armonline
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    Apr 24th 2014, 4:01 AM

    Still have an iPad 1. Is only on iOS6 but works fine for everything I need it for, i.e. Web browsing, video/ audio streaming services etc.

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    Mute Peter McKevitt
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 10:57 PM

    Cork’s Average Income rises again!

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    Mute Name Change Test
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:12 AM

    Think I’ll stick with the ol’ Nokia 3310, still going strong after 11 years

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    Mute Alien8
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:05 AM

    I hate that kind of arrogance where Apple think are the only company that are part of the ecosystem, when everything they do is built upon the shoulders of others – Their phones would be useless without the work of Ericsson, NSN & Huawei who share their knowledge to make networks available to all; their ipads and laptops dependant on the internet, built on open standards made available to all, the thosands of websites that are built without any help from apple; Music players built on the backbone of mp3 developers, and the app store built upon the millions of developers who didn’t work on the 10 or so apps that apple have developed.

    Like or loathe their products (I like them), Apple as a company are the Disney corporation of the 21st century, and will stiffle creativity and originality through their obsession with cash and patents above openness and sharing. Eventually, they will just be a US only patent trolling company left behind by the rest of the world.

    (nb: apologies for the rant)

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    Mute Brian Henoll
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    Apr 24th 2014, 1:43 AM

    Totally agree. I like apple products however not a fan of wallet gardens and will therefore not support them.

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:27 PM

    Giz a lend apple

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    Mute Declan Kane
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:45 PM

    I wonder how many Chinese lads jumped out of windows because they couldn’t bare to work in apple factories while an American corporate giant makes enough money to cure world poverty….

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:55 PM

    Foxconn dont just make apple products they make everything xbox one ,Asus motherboards

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    Mute An Inquiring Mind
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:17 AM

    4

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    Mute Robert Zombies
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:20 AM

    Oh go away Declan you miserable sod.

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    Mute Andy
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    Apr 24th 2014, 2:39 AM

    Does it really matter? :P

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    Mute Mike Johnston
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 10:57 PM

    My god filthy rich.

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    Mute Name Change Test
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:12 AM

    But can it play snake

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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 10:56 PM

    Doesn’t make me want my I phone any more..

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    Mute Adam
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    Apr 23rd 2014, 11:13 PM

    And have paid €1.95 in tax

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:22 AM

    Imagine if Irish Exchequer was receiving 12.5% of those super profits in corporation tax every year from Apple Inc?

    Currently it’s circa 2%, and the Market Capitalisation of the company is headed towards $1 trillion, with Hard Cash on the Balance Sheet of $150 bn.

    Great News for Shareholders, but is it good for Society in general that such cash piles are building up in lots if international behemoths, as a result if low and inequitable CT rates. 10% extra filtering into Government coffers, would go a long way to addressing perceived unfairness of system for “stateless” multinationals. And Governments could apply those extra revenues for productive public works in their respective countries, thereby generating additional and essential economic activity, employment, taxes etc.

    The tap of trickle-down economics needs to be turned on fully, to offer more hope to the masses in a broken economic world.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Apr 24th 2014, 9:01 AM

    If our government got some of that money we wouldn’t see it anyway all the cronies would be looked after and that’s about it

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    Mute Andrew Halpin
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    Apr 24th 2014, 12:10 AM

    It’s a year on but well worth a read, first one is Wall Street Journal, the second one is interesting to us as irish people. Of course tax avoidance is all right it’s the non regulated tax evasion that middle men dislike.
    http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324787004578495250424727708
    http://www.businessinsider.com/how-apple-reduces-what-it-pays-in-taxes-2013-5

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    Mute Eric McNamara
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    Apr 26th 2014, 12:57 AM

    Apple . meh, its easy to see how they have massive profits what with obscene prices apple fan boys suck up to. Apple don’t do much designs in terms of electronics, its mostly outsourced but not to Samsung who rightly told them to fluck themselves.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Apr 24th 2014, 8:07 AM

    If the lads up in the dall got their hands on that money they would just squander it

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    Mute The Animal
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    Apr 24th 2014, 8:00 AM

    Get a life geeks…

    Sent from my pink Tamagotchi

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    Mute Eric McNamara
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    Apr 26th 2014, 12:57 AM

    Apple . meh, its easy to see how they have massive profits what with obscene prices apple fan boys suck up to. Apple don’t do much designs in terms of electronics, its mostly outsourced but not to Samsung who rightly told them to fluck themselves.

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    Mute phunkyboy
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    Apr 26th 2014, 12:25 PM

    Sounds great but in reality other ppl bear the loss.

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