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Date: 2023-12-04 09:00:06 | Author: PFF | Views: 595 | Tag: games
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Michael Cheika refused to assess the entirety of Argentina’s Rugby World Cup campaign or his tenure as head coach of the Pumas games
Coming off a harrowing 44-6 semi-final defeat to New Zealand in which they’d been totally outclassed in every facet of the game, perhaps his reticence was understandable games
Next Friday’s third-place play-off against the loser of the second semi-final games between England and South Africa merely provided a handy excuse games
It’s a game that players don’t want to play, spectators don’t want to watch and media don’t want to cover but it did give Cheika a week’s buffer to collect himself before he will have to answer the tough questions games
“I can’t do that straight away,” said Cheika when asked to assess his time in charge of Argentina, which comes to an end after this World Cup games
“I haven’t finished yet games
“I know we won’t win World Cup but I’m happy to be at this level and they deserve to be here games
Their play, ambition, ability to raise themselves after the first game [a pool-stage loss to England] games
It’s another obstacle but we can be proud of our team and our capacity to deal with obstacles games
Next week we have a game to play, at the end of the World Cup we will summarise and assess it games
”The players were similarly on message with their adamance at the importance of the worst game in rugby games
“There is one more game left, one more final,” said flanker Marcos Kremer games
“We want to leave this World Cup winning and we are going to do everything to make it happen games
”“We are going to prepare like a final games
We are not satisfied with being here games
We want a medal and we are going to fight for that," added wing Mateo Carreras games
The value of a third-place play-off in an event defined by a trophy, rather than a medal podium, and its place in an already over-saturated playing calendar is a debate for another time but the Pumas can only keep the wolf at the door for so long games
They will soon have to address exactly what happened in the second-most one-sided World Cup semi-final of all time – the eventual margin of defeat just narrower than the All Blacks’ 49-6 triumph over Wales in 1987 games
The All Blacks ran riot in the Stade de France (Getty Images)Three times in their rugby history, Argentina have reached the semi-final stage of the World Cup, with three losses to show for it games
They have scored just one try across those 240 minutes and have a combined losing margin of 76 points games
The celebrations and lap of honour after beating Wales in the quarter-finals in Marseille a week ago suggested that, deep down, the Pumas believed they had come as far as they could in this tournament games
Both history, and the performance that followed against New Zealand, made it a self-fulfilling prophecy games
They hardly imposed themselves on the All Blacks at the Stade de France games
Phases of attack came to a grinding halt once they reached the All Black 22, with the ball inevitably jackalled away, the defensive line was torn to shreds by their opponents’ quick hands and clever lines, the scrum was splintered by a dominant New Zealand pack and basic handling errors defined the game games
Frankly, it wasn’t a match befitting a World Cup semi-final and ensured the Pumas book-ended their tournament (barring next Friday’s bronze-medal irrelevance) with abject displays, after the lifeless opening loss to 14-man England games
It is hardly a squad bereft of talent games
The experience of Julian Montoya and Agustin Creevy leading the front row is complemented by an exciting, dynamic back-row trio of Juan Martin Gonzalez, Kremer and Facundo Isa that should be able to match almost any opposition games
While questions remain at nine and 10, a back three of Mateo Carreras, Emiliano Boffelli and Juan Cruz Mallia is explosive enough to give any team fits games
Argentina were dejected after slipping to a semi-final defeat (Getty Images)Perhaps a semi-final appearance shouldn’t be sneered at games
Yes, they benefitted from being in the considerably weaker half of the draw but it equalled their best World Cup performance and you can only beat who’s in front of you games
On paper, Cheika’s tenure – since taking the reins from the sacked Mario Ledesma in early 2022 – will be viewed as a success games
A first-ever win over the All Blacks in New Zealand last summer and a World Cup semi-final is not a bad return games
But in terms of the ‘eye test’, the Pumas never looked like an elite side and there’s a nagging feeling that they haven’t moved forward under the Australian games
Cheika’s preferred coaching style of creating a ‘siege mentality, us against the world’ environment always seemed at odds with the largely personable Argentina squad games
Media availability was limited – perhaps a poor fit for the historically open Pumas – and a bubble created around the team games
Putting your stamp on things in just an 18-month period is tough, with Felipe Contepomi always slated to become head coach after the World Cup and learning the ropes as part of Cheika’s coaching team in the interim games
The legendary Pumas fly half, who is also a cult hero at Leinster following playing and coaching spells there, will likely provide a different strategy in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup and it will be fascinating to see what he’s taken from his time working under Cheika games
As for the Australian, he departs with his reputation certainly not damaged and maybe even enhanced games
The 56-year-old will undoubtedly be in demand around the rugby world and should be able to have his pick from a number of exciting coaching opportunities games
“It is not a sad moment,” insisted Cheika in the aftermath of defeat in Paris games
“It’s a moment I’m proud of my team games
We were in the semi-final of a World Cup games
”Yes, they were games
But the suspicion that there was a version of this Pumas side that still had more to give remains games
More aboutMichael CheikaArgentina rugbyRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Argentina waste potential to leave Cheika with questions to answerArgentina waste potential to leave Cheika with questions to answerThe All Blacks ran riot in the Stade de France Getty ImagesArgentina waste potential to leave Cheika with questions to answerArgentina were dejected after slipping to a semi-final defeat Getty ImagesArgentina waste potential to leave Cheika with questions to answerMichael Cheika led Argentina to a World Cup semi-final but they were trounced by New Zealand Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today games
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Netherlands pulled off a historic victory over South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Tuesday games
South Africa walked into Tuesday’s game, having scored 428 and 311 in their opening two fixtures of this World Cup games
The Netherlands, who had last won an ODI World Cup game 16 years ago, bowled Temba Bavuma and Co for a mere 207 and clinched a memorable 38-run victory at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala games
This marked the second major upset of World Cup 2023 after Afghanistan had earlier defeated world champions England in Delhi games
The Dutch side completed a double on South Africa with their victory on Tuesday having beaten them at the T20 World Cup as well last year games
A comprehensive defeat over these higher-ranked opponents in a longer format game instead of just 20 overs was a massive achievement for the Netherlands, who were the only associate side to have qualified for the World Cup 2023 games
The Men in Orange have so far triumphed in just three ODI World Cup games games
Before beating South Africa, the Dutch defeated Scotland in 2007 and Namibia in 2003 games
RecommendedNetherlands stun South Africa in massive Cricket World Cup shockCricket World Cup points table explained: Why India are above New Zealand as both remain unbeatenSouth Africa vs Netherlands LIVE: Cricket score and updates from ODI World Cup“They have had big days earlier but to beat a top ranked side like South Africa over 43 overs, instead of only 20, would probably make this the biggest day for the Netherlands,” star commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter games
South Africa batted for more than 40 overs on Tuesday, but they managed to score just 207 runs and India legend Sachin Tendulkar praised the Dutch’s excellent performance in the second innings games
“What pleased me the most about them in the field was how they put the SA batters under pressure by not giving easy singles games
A win and a night to remember for them!” wrote Tendulkar, who also commended captain Scot Edwards’ contribution games
The Netherlands didn’t have the best start, but Edwards, coming in to bat at 82 for 5, turned the tables around from there games
Eventual Player of the Match, Edwards struck a six and 10 fours in his knock of 78 off 69 balls games
“This World Cup is throwing up interesting results! Was nice to see the Netherlands Captain Scott Edwards lead from the front with a fighting knock after they were 140/7 at one stage,” added Tendulkar games
Former India batter Virender Sehwag also heaped praise on the Dutch skipper, who remained unbeaten as he scored runs at a strike rate of 113 games
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“So much to like about the way they go about their business games
Scott Edwards was sensational in the last 10 overs with the bat and then the Netherlands’ bowlers did the job in style,” wrote Sehwag on X games
The Netherlands side has come a long way to reach this level games
So many players from the national side have come to have a crack at playing on the biggest stage by taking some time off from their actual full-time jobs games
During the tough COVID-19 times, several players of these associate nations had struggled to make ends meet and one such story that stands out now is of Paul van Meekeren, medium pacer of the Netherlands national team games
Van Meekeren, who finished with an excellent spell of 2 for 40 in nine overs against South Africa, was forced to deliver Uber eats to survive the COVID-19 days games
After the Netherlands shocked the Proteas on Tuesday, former India cricketer VVS Laxman re-posted van Meekeren’s social media post from 2020, where the Dutchman had revealed his food-delivery job games
“What an incredible story the Dutch have written for themselves games
Shows once again that “Never give up and keep chasing your dreams,” wrote Laxman on X games
The Netherlands and South Africa are next in action in the World Cup 2023 on Saturday games
The Dutch side will take on Sri Lanka in Lucknow, while South Africa will lock horns with England games
More aboutSouth AfricaNetherlandsTemba BavumaEnglandSri LankaJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/1WC sees latest upset as Netherlands beat SA on ‘night to remember’ WC sees latest upset as Netherlands beat SA on ‘night to remember’The Netherlands stunned South Africa at the Cricket World Cup (Ashwini Bhatia/AP)AP ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today games
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