Wales faces Argentina in the World Cup knockout stages. The hosts discuss Wales' injury concerns and potential replacements. They analyze the upcoming match, considering Wales' history of beating Argentina and their strategy. The podcast also briefly mentions the city of Marseille and the mispronunciations of names in rugby.
Wales' injury concerns for the quarterfinal match against Argentina include Gareth Anscombe's groin injury and Liam Williams' knee injury, which may affect their availability in the 23-man squad.
Argentina's performance in the tournament has been inconsistent, and the outcome of their match against Wales will depend on whether they play at their rugby championship level or continue their underwhelming performances so far.
Deep dives
Wales' squad announcement and injury updates
Wales is set to announce their squad for the quarterfinal match against Argentina. There are fitness concerns regarding Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams. Anscombe's groin injury makes it unlikely for him to be in the 23-man squad, while Williams' knee injury has put his availability in doubt. If Williams cannot play, the options for fullback include Lewis Rees-Zammit or Lee Halfpenny. In the back row, Aaron Wainwright is expected to move to number eight to fill the absence of Touloupe Falatau. The options to replace Falatau at blindside flanker are either two opensides, Jack Morgan and Tommy Reffel, or a more physical option with Dan Lydiate or Chris Chantsler. Dewi Lake may retain his spot at hooker, given his solid performances in the lineout.
Argentina's performance and potential challenges
The performance of Argentina in this tournament has been inconsistent. They underperformed in their first match against England, but have since regarded every game as a knockout match. Argentina's forward pack is formidable, with players like Julian Montoya, Thomas Lavonini, and Marcos Crammer. However, their performance will heavily depend on which version of the team shows up. If they play at their rugby championship level, it will be a tough match for Wales. But if they perform at the same level as in the tournament so far, Wales should have the advantage.
Wales' favorites and keys to victory
Wales should be regarded as the favorites going into the match against Argentina. They have a strong track record against Argentina, and their recent performances, including victories against Australia and Fiji, have been impressive. Wales' strategy will likely involve pressuring Argentina and forcing them to make mistakes, as Argentina has shown a tendency to make errors in the tournament. It will be crucial for Wales to excel in the aerial battles and the kicking game, as Argentina's back three is strong in this aspect. Overall, Wales has a good chance of securing a comfortable victory.