Argentina relaunch in the 2023 Rugby World Cup by winning a narrow victory against Samoa on the second day of Group D. The Argentine team, which had lost its first match against England, needed this victory to regain confidence before their next matches against Chile and Japan.
The Pumas managed to win 19-10 in a stadium won over to their cause. They can thank their opponents, particularly Christian Lealiifano and Duncan Paia’aua, who made errors early in the match, allowing Argentina to take the lead. Samoa also struggled to adapt to the difficult weather conditions, with heavy rain favoring the Pumas’ kicking game.
Thanks to their superior conquest and effective kicking, the Argentines were able to dominate the game. Scorers Emiliano Boffelli and Nicolas Sanchez were more reliable than their opponents, scoring 19 points in total. Argentina will now have to raise their level of play if they wish to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
This victory allows Argentina to reassure itself after its defeat against England and confirms its status as a major rugby team. She now hopes to continue her momentum and achieve a similar run to that of 2007 and 2015, where she reached the semi-finals. This performance would be an improvement on the last World Cup where they failed to make it out of the group stage.
In conclusion, Argentina’s victory against Samoa marks a turning point in their journey in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. This victory restores their confidence and places them in a favorable position to reach the quarter-finals. The Pumas will, however, need to continue to improve their game if they want to go further in the competition. Their next match against Chile will be crucial to confirm their progress.