By Matthew Luddington
Japan…………………………………………..27
Tries: Fakatava 16, Saito 38, Naikabula 65
Conversion: Matsuda 17, 39, 67
Penalties: Matsuda 52
Drop Goals: Lemeki 56
Argentina……………………………………..39
Tries: Chocobares 2, Carreras 28, 46, 68; Boffelli 58
Conversion: Boffelli 2, 47, 60; Sanchez 70
Penalties: Boffelli 35, Sanchez 75
Matteo Carreras’ hat-trick helped Argentina to a thrilling victory over Japan in an exhilarating contest in the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, which set up a quarter-final showdown against Wales in Marseille next Saturday.
The stakes were monumental for both teams, with the victor advancing and the loser heading home, but though Japan put up a solid effort they never led against an Argentina side who always managed to keep them at arms length.
The Pumas return to the quarter-finals after an eight-year absence, as coach Michael Cheika follows up his 2015 final and 2019 quarter-final appearances with Australia another crack at the knockout stages.
Japan produced a solid performance to beat Samoa in their previous match, and held high hopes of a famous upset against a Pumas side who had underwhelmed thus far in their campaign.
But Argentina started fast, as the impressive Santiago Chocobares bulldozed his way through Ryoto Nakamura in midfield, displaying sheer power and agility as he stepped past Kotaro Matsushima for an astonishing solo try after just two minutes.
Japan, however, struck back with a devastating counter-attack. Amato Fakatava surged down the left wing before executing a perfectly weighted kick ahead, which took a favourable bounce for the second-row forward to collect the ball and stroll beneath the uprights, levelling the score.
Pieter Labuschange was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, which remained a yellow card on video review, before Emiliano Boffelli missed a long-range penalty, but it was Japan, despite being a man down, who continued to unsettle the Pumas with their brand of chaotic rugby.
Lightning-fast ruck speed, runners converging from all angles, trick plays, and offloads from contact kept Argentina on their toes. Naoto Saito’s audacious overhead kick caught the Pumas off guard, propelling Japan once again into the Pumas’ 22.
In a chaotic sequence, Rikiya Matsuda’s drop-goal attempt was thwarted by Marcos Kremer’s face, and Matsushima’s subsequent up-and-under was expertly gathered by Juan Cruz Malia, who offloaded to Julian Montoya.
Montoya then found Gonzalo Bertranou, who swiftly passed to Mateo Carreras, culminating in a sensational team try. Boffelli, however, couldn’t convert the extras, but soon after struck a penalty from close range, which extended Argentina’s lead to eight points.
Just before halftime, the Brave Blossoms struck back. Dylan Riley made a crucial offload in contact, freeing up Siosaia Fifita. The winger deceived two Argentine defenders with a clever dummy before drawing the last man and delivering an inside pass to Saito, who scored a mesmerizing long-range try. The half concluded with Argentina narrowly ahead at 15-14.
The second half saw Japan launching a relentless ten-phase attack, pushing them deep into Argentina’s 22. However, Argentina’s skipper Montoya, produced a crucial jackal to thwart the Brave Blossoms threat.
Subsequently, Argentina began to build their phases in Japan’s red zone. A powerful carry from Chocobares led to a well-timed offload that found Mallia, and the full-back set up Carreras for his second try, untouched. Boffelli added the conversion, increasing Argentina’s lead to two scores.
Japan closed the gap with a penalty from Matsuda, followed by a well-struck 45-meter drop goal from Lomano Lemeki, capitalising on a penalty advantage.
But Japan’s costly mistake of dropping the restart after scoring allowed Argentina to capitalize from the resulting scrum. Bertranou, Chocobares, and Mallia combined to create an extra man, enabling Boffelli to score a spectacular try. He coolly converted his own try off the inside of the post.
Japan, showing incredible resilience, fought back again, and although they missed an opportunity to score with a glaring overlap as Riley failed to pass at the right moment, moments later Jone Naikabula crashed over in the corner. Matsuda’s conversion brought the score back to 29-27 in favour of Argentina.
Soon after the contest was sealed by the outstanding Mateo Carreras who completed his hat-trick by bulldozing his way through defenders and fending off Nakamura before touching down. Nicolas Sanchez’s successful conversion extended Argentina’s lead to two scores.
The veteran fly-half sealed the win and Argentina’s progression with a long-range penalty, bringing to a close the scoring of one of the best pool stage games of this Rugby World Cup.
JAPAN: Lemeki 8, Matsushima 8 (Naikabula 8), Riley 7, Nakamura 8 (Yamanaka 70, 7), Fifita 8, Matsuda 8, Saito 8, Inagaki 6 (Millar 48, 6), Horie 6 (Sakate 48 6), Gu 6 (Ai Valu 43, 6), Cornelsen 6, Fakatava 8 (Dearns 51, 6), Leitch 7, Labuschagne 5 (Saumaki 70, 6), Himeno 6
ARGENTINA: Mallia 8, Boffelli 9, Cinti 8 (Moroni 70 7), Chocobares 9, M Carreras 10, S Carreras 8 (Sanchez 59 8), Bertranou 9 (Bazan Velez 59 7), Gallo 6 (Sclavi 67, 6), Montoya 8, Kodela 6 (Bello 43, 6), Petti 6, Lavanini 7, (Rubiolo 48, 6), Matera 6(Alemanno 24, 7), Kremer 8, Gonzalez 7
Referee: Ben O’Keefe (New Zealand)
Attendance: 33,624
Star Man: Matteo Carreras (Argentina)
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