Losing semi finalists Argentina and England will contest what is termed as the Rugby World Cup Bronze Final in Paris on Friday and when these nations met in the pool stage it was England who came out on top.
Argentina v England, Friday 27th October, Paris, KO 21:00 (South African time)
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrew Brace (IRFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Weather Forecast - Paris
Argentina:
Los Pumas were involved in the first of the semi finals against New Zealand at this venue last Friday. They were given around 17.5 points start on the bookmakers handicap and it proved nowhere near enough as they went down 44-6 (half time 20-6). Argentina conceded 3 tries in the first half and 4 in the second and their only points came from Boffelli's boot.
Los Pumas were 4.5 point underdogs for their quarter final clash with Wales in Marseille and they recovered from conceding the first 10 points of the match to trail 10-6 at half time. In the second half tries from Joel Sclavi on 69 minutes and Nicolas Sanchez on 77 minutes saw them through 29-17.
Argentina finished as runners up to England in Pool D and their only defeat came in their opening match, 27-10 to an England side who played almost the whole game with 14 men after Tom Curry's early red card. Other results in the pool stage included a 19-10 win over Samoa, they thrashed Chile 59-5 then beat Japan 39-27 it what was a virtual eliminator.
England:
England were 13.5 point underdogs on the main handicap line for their semi final match up with the Springboks last Saturday and they came within a whisker of causing an upset. England eventually went down 16-15 in a game they led 12-6 at half time and 15-6 with 20 minutes to go before a converted Boks try on 69 minutes and a penalty from Pollard on 78 minutes saw South Africa edge it. Owen Farrell scored all of England's points, 4 penalties and a drop goal.
England (7.5 point favourites on the handicap line) had to overcome a highly spirited Fiji side in their quarter final in Marseille to run out winners 30-24. Fiji came back from 24-10 down to tie things up late on before a Farrell drop goal and penalty saw England through.
England topped Pool D with a 100% record. George Ford was responsible for all of their points (6 penalties and 3 drop goals) in their opening round 27-10 victory over Argentina. Other results comprised of wins over Japan (35-12), Chile (71-0) and in their final pool match against Samoa they needed a late try to edge home 18-17.
Recent Head to Head
Sep 2023 RWC Mendoza Argentina 10-27 England
Nov 2022 Int Twickenham England 29-30 Argentina
Oct 2019 RWC Tokyo England 39-10 Argentina
Nov 2017 Int Twickenham England 21-8 Argentina
June 2017 Int Sante Fe Argentina 25-35 England
June 2017 Int San Juan Argentina 34-38 England
Team News
England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Freddie Steward, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Theo Dan, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Dan Cole, 19 David Ribbans, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 George Ford, 23 Ollie Lawrence
Arrgentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Rodrigo Bruno, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicholas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni.
The Betting
Argentina +7.5 points at 9/10
England -7.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
25 October 10h00
This is always a tricky game to punt on as while both teams will play to win the fact is that their motivation levels will be alot lower having missed out on the chance to compete for the ultimate prize.
Argentina were hammered in their semi but it was a less physical and draining game than England v South Africa and they have had the extra day to freshen up.
England will be hurting due to the fact that they did everything but beat the Boks and I would think Argentina might be in a better place mentally despite the PK they too against the AB's.
The points line is set at 46.5 and the cap has been unchanged at +8.5 Argentina with bookies reporting very little action to date.
I am going to wait for teams to be confirmed and will post my bet on Thursday.
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27 October 09h00
The handicap has come in a point from +8.5 to +7.5 Argentina
I find myself leaning towards Argentina here. In 2007 they played hosts France in the 3rd place match and won comfortably. France were on a downer after losing to England in the semi’s and I just think 3rd place meant that bit more to Argentina.
I am of the same opinion here and although they were well beaten by England in match 1 they were backed in to be level in the betting that day and in my opinion simply underperformed.
I am backing Argentina on the board.
Stay close to our forum thread where I will post any additional bets and other punters share their plays
BET: 4 units Argentina win at 28/10 at Betxchange
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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