Sanchez smash and grab sends Pumas to semis

Rugby World Cups are notorious for creating villains and heroes in the same moment.

And the first Quarterfinal was no different as a moment of pure pleasure and pain - depending on which side of the contest you were on - saw replacement Argentinean flyhalf Nicholas Sanchez grab the sweetest of intercepts to run away and send Los Pumas into the semifinals with a 29-17 win over Wales.

THAT winning feeling 🙌#RWC2023 | #WALvARG pic.twitter.com/RGG8YrQfRU
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 14, 2023

The pain belonged to young 22-year old replacement flyhalf Sam Costelow, the opposite number to Sanchez, as his loop pass was read to perfection by the Puma magician and while Costelow watched in disbelief, Sanchez steamed away to score the crucial try of the game.

The moment came as Argentina were leading 19-17 and Wales were on attack from a scrum having missed the moment of truth themselves minutes earlier when the same Sanchez pulled off a superman tackle to deny Welsh winger Louis Rees-Zammit a certain try in the corner.

Sanchez launching himself into the air was enough to take Rees-Zammit over the sideline and save Argentina, who truly looked in trouble at that moment after a Rio Dyer break started the move.

Sanchez also stepped up at the end after Agustin Creevy, the 100 test veteran, made a crucial turnover penalty as Wales desperately tried to find something to come back into the game with the clock ticking down. Sanchez coolly sent the ball through the posts to make the scoreline look a lot more comfortable than it was.

MASSIVE CALL ON HEAD CONTACT

And despite the drama at the end, the Welsh side under Warren Gatland have a lot to be proud of and for most of the match could have stolen it their way as well, as they made better use of their ball despite being overshadowed by Argentina’s possession and territory stats.

Argentina had the boot of Emiliano Boffelli to thank for keeping them in the contest in the first half, as he slotted 16 points in the game, while Wales scored tries on either side of the half to lead for most of the game.

And the Welsh may have felt aggrieved when a controversial call went against them, when midfielder Nick Tomkins was hit in the head by Guido Petti when the lock cleaned out a ball. A long discussion between the three officials ruled that Tomkins was released by another Argentinean player and was falling at the moment of impact, while Petti was bent and in a legal clean and that because of the circumstances it didn’t warrant any foul play call.

While Welsh supporters may not have agreed, and it certainly hasn’t been the standard of this Rugby World Cup, the decision had a modicum of common sense for the first time in the tournament and seemed reasonable enough.

The Pumas pack had dominance in the tackle area for most of the game, but Wales managed to catch them out wide on a number of occasions as they spread the ball as well.

In the end the 168 tackles that Wales had to put in on the night had to take its toll somehow and created the opening for Sanchez to have his moment of glory.

BIGGAR FIRST ON THE SCOREBOARD

Wales were first on the board as Dan Biggar finished off a midfield break to put them 7-0 up but slowly, with determination, Boffelli clawed back that lead through the indiscipline the Welsh showed under pressure on defence.

Dan Biggar's try proving to be the difference so far #RWC2023 | #WALvARG pic.twitter.com/BtCRllMDqs
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 14, 2023

Three became six and despite Biggar’s try and an extra penalty, the Pumas were only four behind at the break. Six became nine when Boffelli added another after the break and nine became twelve as Boffelli took the lead.

But a beautiful bit of vision by replacement Tomos Williams, as he showed the dummy, and then darted around the defence to score untouched swung the game back in the favour of Wales.

And while Argentina pressed forward again and again, they couldn’t find the breakthrough.

It eventually came after they pummelled Wales’ line over and over again with Joel Sclavi being the man to go over from close range.

With Boffelli’s boot on song, Los Pumas took the lead once again at 19-17.

Southern Hemisphere 1-0 Northern Hemisphere 👀

Against all the odds Argentina came up with a great performance right when it mattered! 🔥#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/j9Gy1JU9f6
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 14, 2023

BIG MOMENTS SWUNG THE MATCH

But then the two big moments of the match happened, and Wales didn’t score in the one corner thanks to Sanchez’ superman tackle and then the Pumas magician made Costello’s night a nightmare to take the game away from the Welsh.

Inches away from Louis Rees-Zammit 😮#RWC2023 | #WALvARG pic.twitter.com/nwbDi5O2Zn
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 14, 2023

The Pumas fans started singing and dancing, waving their shirts in the air as the pandemonium took over the stands and it became clear that Michael Cheika’s team would advance.

Wales may have been favourites given the Pumas form coming into the game, but when it mattered, Sanchez seized the moment, and made sure his side would be in the competition and Wales would be heading home.

Crucial to the @LosPumas cause

Emiliano Boffelli is the @Mastercard #POTM #RWC2023 | #WALvARG | #Priceless pic.twitter.com/5IV2Rb6YFM
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 14, 2023