Argentina are through to the final eight of the World Cup, redeeming themselves after falling out in the pool stage four years ago. As they finished second in Pool D, Los Pumas will face Wales - the winners of Pool C - in the quarter-finals. There is just one more quarter-final spot remaining, which will be confirmed in tonight's match between Fiji and Portugal.
FULL TIME! 27-39. Argentina win a penalty and kick the ball into touch to bring an end to a thrilling encounter. Los Pumas progress to the World Cup quarter-finals, thanks to an excellently-taken hat-trick from wing Mateo Carreras. Japan gave their all and scored some sensational tries, but a couple of soft moments on defence cost them a place in the playoffs.
Argentina put a man up to compete for the lineout and the risk proves effective, as Japan knock the ball on. That could be the decisive defensive move of the game.
Japan win a penalty in Argentina's 22 and Matsuda kicks for a lineout five metres from the tryline.
PENALTY, ARGENTINA, SANCHEZ! 27-39. Sanchez continues his perfect record off the kicking tee with his powerfully struck penalty splitting the uprights. It gives Argentina a 12-point buffer with five minutes to play.
Argentina win a penalty for an off-the-ball tackle from Japan. Sanchez will have a shot at goal from around 45 metres.
Japan have a good attacking opportunity as Argentina knock the ball on from the kickoff. However, Los Pumas defend strongly and force Japan to lose the ball.
CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, SANCHEZ! 27-36. Having made his way onto the field, veteran flyhalf Sanchez lands his first kick of the match to take Argentina back to a nine-point lead.
TRY, ARGENTINA, CARRERAS! 27-34. That's the hat-trick for Mateo Carreras! The winger bursts through a poor tackle attempt, after a good period of pressure from Argentina.
CONVERSION, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 27-29. Matsuda continues his excellent kicking form by slotting the conversion from the touchline. Japan are back within striking distance.
TRY, JAPAN, NAIKABULA! 25-29. Japan win another penalty and opt for a quick tap. After a couple of carries from the forwards, Japan spread the ball wide and Naikabula produces an excellent finish in the corner.
Japan win a scrum penalty just outside Argentina's 22, but turn down a potential three points for an attacking lineout.
CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, BOFFELLI! 20-29. Boffelli converts his own try to take Argentina to a nine-point lead.
TRY, ARGENTINA, BOFFELLI! 20-27. Just as Japan work their way back, Argentina strike! It's an excellently worked wrap-around move from a scrum on the 22-metre line, with Santiago Carreras putting Boffelli away for Argentina's fourth try of the match.
DROP GOAL, JAPAN, LEMEKI! 20-22. A wonderfully struck drop goal from fullback Lemeki from around 40 metres out cuts the deficit for Japan to just two points.
PENALTY, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 17-22. Japan win a breakdown penalty after a few phases of attack in Argentina's 22. Matsuda makes no mistake in bringing Japan back to within a try of Argentina.
Japan have an opportunity to hit back with a lineout in Argentina's 22 as Santiago Carreras kicks the ball out on the full.
CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, BOFFELLI! 14-22. Boffelli converts to extend Argentina's lead to eight points.
TRY, ARGENTINA, CARRERAS! 14-20. Mateo Carreras grabs his second try of the match. It was all built on Los Pumas showing plenty of patience, sucking defenders in, and earning a penalty advantage, before making the free play count to put Carreras away out wide.
Japan get the half off to a fast start by carrying into Argentina's 22. However, Los Pumas win a breakdown penalty, allowing Santiago Carreras to clear up to halfway.
KICK OFF! 14-15. Japan get the second half of this crucial clash in Nantes underway. The first half gave us some brilliant tries in what has been a thriller. Hopefully, it's more of the same in the second half.
HALF TIME! 14-15. Japan lose the ball forward to bring an end to a thrilling first half. It has been a pretty evenly matched battle, but Argentina took advantage of Japan's yellow card by scoring a try and penalty while Labuschagne was off the field. Japan are still very much in this game, thanks to a late try in the half.
CONVERSION, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 14-15. Matsuda converts the try to bring Japan to cut Argentina's lead to just one point.
TRY, JAPAN, SAITO! 12-15. It's a wonderful try from Japan, as Fifita is put into space by an offload from centre Nakamura, and the winger beats a tackle before passing on his inside to allow scrumhalf Saito to dive over.
PENALTY, ARGENTINA, BOFFELLI! 7-15. Boffelli converts a penalty from close range to extend Argentina's lead. Japan are back to 15 players, as Labuschagne returns from his yellow card.
Argentina win a penalty in Japan's 22. Boffelli will have a shot at goal.
Argentina have suffered an injury blow, as flanker Pablo Matera limped off. Matera has been replaced by Matias Alemanno.
CONVERSION MISSED! 7-12. Boffelli sends his conversion wide for a second consecutive missed kick at goal.
TRY, ARGENTINA, CARRERAS! 7-12. Argentina are back in front! It all comes from a charge down on Matsuda's attempted drop goal and a poor follow-up kick from Matsushima. Argentina gather, counter-attack and Bertranou breaks the line before putting winger Carreras away to score.
Japan win a penalty for offsides, allowing Matsuda to kick up to Argentina's 22.
The TMO has confirmed that Labuschagne's yellow card for a dangerous tackle will stay as a yellow card. The flanker will return after serving his 10 minutes in the sin bin.
PENALTY MISSED! Boffelli skews his penalty attempt from around 40 metres out. The score stays at 7-7.
YELLOW CARD! Japan's flank Pieter Labuschagne is sent to the sin bin for a head-on-head collision in a tackle attempt. The incident will be reviewed by the foul play bunker for a potential red card.
TMO CHECK! The TMO wants to look at a dangerous tackle from Japan.
After falling behind early on, Japan have worked their way back into this match. They earn a scrum inside Argentina's 22. Some strong defence from Los Pumas sees Japan concede a breakdown turnover.
CONVERSION, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 7-7. Flyhalf Matsuda lands his first kick of the afternoon to draw Japan level.
TRY, JAPAN, FAKATAVA! 5-7. Japan strike back! It's a sensational score from the lock, as he finds space on the outside, chips the ball, regathers and sprints clear to dot down over the tryline.
So close for Japan! A sensational overhead box kick from scrumhalf Saito is regathered and Japan carry the ball inside Argentina's 22. However, after a couple of strong carries from the forwards, the ball is lost forward.
All the early momentum is with Argentina, as Boffelli bumps off a couple of tacklers in an impressive run. Japan re-organise on defence and win a breakdown penalty on the 10-metre line.
Argentina knock the ball on just outside Japan's 22. From the first scrum of the match, Japan make an early statement, shoving Argentina back and winning a penalty to clear to the halfway line.
CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, BOFFELLI! 0-7. Boffelli adds the extras from right in front of the poles.
TRY, ARGENTINA, CHOCOBARES! 0-5. It's a dream start for Argentina. The opening try starts with a dominant maul, before centre Chocobares breaks the line and cruises through to score.
KICK OFF! 0-0. The anthems are done and Argentina gets this Pool D finale underway in Nantes. Los Pumas will be playing from left to right.
It has been a warm, sunny day in Nantes, with temperatures hitting a high of 29 degrees. Conditions should allow for a spectacular game of rugby.
Not long to go until kick off. A reminder that France, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland have all secured their Rugby World Cup playoff places, joining England and Wales in the last eight. The winner of this game will face Wales in the quarter-finals.
Japan flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda is among the tournament’s most successful kickers. He has only missed one from 16 attempts at the poles. Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez, on the bench for this game, has kicked eight out of eight in France.
Ben O’Keeffe leads an all-New Zealand officiating team for this game. He refereed the low-scoring, high-tension match between South Africa and Ireland, and France’s 27-12 win over Uruguay. O’Keeffe will be assisted by James Doleman and Paul Williams. The TMO is Brendon Pickerill.
Michael Cheika has made 11 changes to his starting XV from the team who defeated Chile 59-5 last week, with only Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Lucio Cinti retaining their places. Hooker Julian Montoya takes back the captaincy, after sitting out the Chile match. The top three, and five of Los Pumas’ top six most capped players of all-time are named in this match-day squad – Agustín Creevy (104), Nicolas Sanchez (100), Pablo Matera (97), Julian Montoya (91) and Matias Alemanno (90).
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo. Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pero Rubiolo, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni.
Jamie Joseph has stuck with continuity throughout the tournament, and this match is no exception. He has made one change to his starting XV from their 28-22 victory against Samoa with Siosaia Fifita replacing Jone Naikabula on the left wing. Eight of the XV have started every game at RWC 2023: Amato Fakatava, Keita Inagaki, Jiwon Gu, Jack Cornelsen, Michael Leitch, Rikiya Matsuda, Kotato Matsushima, and Ryoto Nakamura.
Japan: 15 Lomano Lemeki; 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita; 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Naoto Saito; 8 Kazuki Himeno (c), 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch; 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 Jack Cornelsen; 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki. Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Amanaki Saumaki, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Ryohei Yamanaka, 23 Jone Naikabula.
History favours Argentina, who have won three of the four matches between the two sides, dating back to 1993. The last match, in 2016 – months after they had reached the semi-finals of Rugby World Cup 2015 – finished 54-20. Los Pumas also won the only Rugby World Cup meeting, 33-12, back in 1999.
Japan are looking for a second successive appearance in the World Cup playoffs, after progressing to the last eight for the first time when they hosted the tournament in 2019. Argentina hope to avoid a repeat of the pool-stage exit they suffered in Japan four years ago.
Japan head into the match in Nantes on the back of an impressive 28-22 defeat of Samoa that maintained their hopes of advancing from the pool stage for the second successive tournament. Argentina, meanwhile, stayed on track for the playoffs with a bonus-point 59-5 win against fellow South American side Chile last week.
The equation is simple for both sides today. Victory equals quarter-final qualification and a match next Saturday against the winner of Pool C, Wales, in Marseille. Both Japan and Argentina have won two of their pool games and are tied on nine log points.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this World Cup Pool D match between Japan and Argentina at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
