Rugby World Cup: All Blacks aims 5th final; Argentina its first

New Zealand will aim to reach their fifth Rugby World Cup final on Friday against an Argentina side seeking to make their first.

The All Blacks, who have won the World Cup three times, reached the last four with an epic win over Ireland in one of their greatest performances.

The Pumas, beaten by England in the pool stage, overcame a 10-point deficit to defeat Wales in the quarter-finals.The teams last met in July with Ian Foster’s All Blacks winning 41-12.

Argentina, who have lost two previous World Cup semi-finals, have only beaten New Zealand twice in 36 matches – first in Sydney in November 2020 and most recently in Christchurch in August 2022.

Both nations have been undefeated since losing their opening pool games, with New Zealand losing to hosts France and Argentina falling to 27 points from the boot of England’s George Ford.

Foster was an assistant coach when New Zealand lost to England in the semi-finals in 2019, which also came after a quarter-final win over Ireland. The All Blacks are bidding to become the first nation to win the World Cup four times following their triumphs in 1987, 2011 and 2015.

After losing in the semi-finals in 2007, Argentina reached the last four again in 2015 but lost to an Australia side coached by Michael Cheika, who is now in charge of the Pumas.

The winner will play either England or South Africa in the final at the Stade de France on Saturday, 28 October. (BBC)