¡𝗡𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀! 🇦🇷

📆 Viernes 20/10
⏰ 16:00 h
🆚 Nueva Zelanda 🇳🇿
📍 París
📺 @ESPNArgentina / TV Pública#SomosLosPumas | #PorLaGloria pic.twitter.com/8F9KSFFdL9

— Los Pumas (@lospumas) October 18, 2023

“You don’t get many opportunities like this in life,” Cheika said in the build up to the game. “For us, playing a semifinal is even more unexpected, so we don’t want to leave anything on the table; we don’t want any regrets.”

The days leading up to the game haven’t been easy for the Pumas. The Argentine team had to shorten its training schedule due to some logistics issues since the hotel assigned to them was occupied by the eliminated teams until Monday. This left the Pumas stranded in Marseille, as there was nowhere to house them in Paris.

The challenge is also daunting on the sporting front. The New Zealand All Blacks have been a dominant force in rugby for a very long time: they are in search of their fourth World Cup title after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 1987, 2011, and 2015. 

“We know New Zealand has been the best team in the world for many years,” said Cheika. “We know of the challenge we have ahead of us. We’re happy to be here, but we don’t want to settle. When you have a negative tally against a team, it’s up to you to change it, and we have that opportunity on Friday.”

The clash between Pumas and All Blacks will kick off this Friday at 4 p.m. Argentina time. It  will be broadcast live on Argentina’s national public broadcaster, TV Pública, or through the cable sports channel ESPN. It can also be streamed online on the digital platforms Star+, Cont.ar, Flow, DGO, and Telecentro Play.