Rugby World Cup 2015 Argentina vs Ireland: Preview, TV schedule, match date and time, latest odds, teams
Argentina is determine to upset world No. 3 Ireland when both nations face each other in the quarterfinal round of the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Sunday at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The Pumas have beaten Ireland twice in their previous World cup meetings in 2014 at the Ireland Tour. But despite Argentina’s momentum against the Wolfhounds ahead of their RWC fixture, coach Daniel Hourcade believes the more important matter for his side is to focus on what will happen come game time on Sunday.
"It doesn't matter to us what happened in history,” Hourcade said, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. “The most important thing is what will happen on Sunday."
Hourcade is also aware of the Irish passion, with Ireland attacking and defending very well in this year’s quadrennial rugby tournament. But Hourcade is confident Argentina’s game plan will do the trick to upset Ireland that topped Pool D with four wins on 18 points.
Meanwhile, Ireland will be without injured captain and lineout master Paul O’Connell and has opted to select Johnny Sexton at flyhalf despite injury concerns. Coach Joe Schmidt is convinced that picking Sexton for the clash against the Irish is not a calculated risk for his side. Sexton was forced off after damaging his groin in the first half of last weekend’s victory over France, which decided the top place in Pool D.
"We have a fantastic medical crew, a super strength, conditioning and rehabilitation group, and Johnny himself is ready to go,” Schmidt said, reports World Rugby . "We allowed him to build his way back into the week and having had a fairly light start to the week, he trained fully in the Millennium Stadium this morning.”
Schmidt also inserted Chris Henry to the Ireland’s starting XV, replacing suspended openside flanker Sean O’Brien, while Jordi Murphy takes the place of injured blindside Peter O’Mahony. Iain Henderson comes into the second row at the expense of O’Connell.
Ireland is looking to reach its first semifinal appearance in the Rugby World Cup event. The Pumas were in the last four in 2007, having beaten Ireland along the way in the pool stage.
Team lineup
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Iain Henderson; Jordi Murphy, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Jordi McGrath, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald.
Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Leonardo Senatore, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza. Replacements: Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Matias Alemanno, Facundo Isa, Tomas Cubelli, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
TV schedule
The Rugby World Cup 2015 Argentina vs Ireland quarterfinal match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2HD on Foxtel and Channel Nine’s GEM.
Match date and time
The match kicks off on Oct. 18, Sunday at 11:00 p.m. AEDT
Latest odds (Courtesy of Sky Bet )
Ireland win: 4/7
Argentina win: 7/4
Draw: 22/1
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