Rugby World Cup: Bertranou returns with Argentina for the semi-final against New Zealand

Scrum half Gonzalo Bertranou, supplanted by Tomas Cubelli against Wales in the previous round, returns with Argentina to face New Zealand on Friday (9:00 p.m.) at the Stade de France in the semi-final of the World Cup . “We are lucky to have three number nines who are progressing from week to week,” Pumas coach Michael Cheika explained during a press conference at Roland-Garros.

“Gonzalo (Bertranou) is the one who best corresponds to the type of match we want to play,” he added. “We keep the same base. “It’s not a change, but a continuation of what happened last week.” Cubelli's start for the match won against the Welsh (29-17) on Saturday in Marseille was a surprise as he had only started once until then, in a reshuffled team against Chile .

Bertranou, who had played in the high-stakes matches, makes his return at the hinge alongside Santiago Carreras, again preferred at opener to veteran Nicolas Sanchez, author of a decisive interception last weekend. The three-quarter center of Toulouse Santiago Chocobares, released in the 27th minute at the Stade Vélodrome, will hold his place well, like the third line center of Toulon Facundo Isa.

If he came into play on Friday, hooker Agustin Creevy would become, at 38 years and 219 days, the oldest player to participate in a World Cup semi-final. Seven of the 23 Pumas on the scoresheet have already tasted a final four at the World Cup, in 2015 against Australia, and six took part in their last successes over the All Blacks in 2020 and 2022.

Mallia - Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M. Carreras, (m) Bertranou - Kremer, Isa, Gonzalez - Lavanini, Petti - Gomez Kodela, Montoya (cap.), GalloSubstitutes: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello , Germanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni