Wales vs Argentina: Rugby World Cup – LIVE!

Gatland delivers verdict on World Cup draw

Warren Gatland has insisted none of Wales’ rivals can have any complaints with the lopsided Rugby World Cup draw.

Wales take on Argentina in Marseille, with England facing Fiji tomorrow at the Stade Velodrome. Ireland play New Zealand later today, before France’s clash with South Africa also takes play at the Stade de France to round off the weekend.

The world’s four top-ranked teams will all clash in Paris, leaving the Marseille matches comprising lower-rated outfits.

“I just say to the other teams, they should have done better in the last World Cup shouldn’t they?” said Gatland.

“That is where the draw has come from. It’s not our fault that it happened. If teams had better performances and results from the last World Cup they would probably be in different pools.

“You didn’t hear us complaining in 2015 when we had Fiji, Australia and England in the same pool, we never complained about that. You are dealt the hand and you have just got to deal with it.”

Standard Sport prediction

The way Wales dealt with Australia showed they are capable of rising to the big occasion, even if they were pushed all the way by Fiji to open the tournament.

Since that close shave, the World Cup has gone exactly to plan for Gatland to dismiss pre-tournament fears they would be vulnerable to an upset.

Argentina, meanwhile, have not exactly impressed in overcoming Samoa and Japan to reach the knockouts, and have not been able to find any real consistency.

Wales to win, by 15 points

Argentina team news

Argentina have lost Pablo Matera to a hamstring tear, ending his World Cup in a major blow to the Pumas.

Lucas Paulos has been called up as his replacement, but it is Facundo Isa who comes into the side as one of two changes, while Tomas Cubelli gets the nod over Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half.

Argentina XV: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Cubelli; Gallo, Montoya (c), G Kodela; Petti, Lavanini; Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa

Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni

Wales team news

Wales have Dan Biggar back and fit to start at fly-half in a huge boost after a pectoral injury suffered in the 40-6 drubbing of Australia last month. Liam Williams also starts at full-back despite a knee issue that forced him off against Georgia last time out.

Gatland is without experienced No 8 Taulupe Faletau for the remainder of the tournament with a broken arm suffered in the win over Georgia in Nantes, with Aaron Wainwright switching to the base of the scrum on Saturday, Jac Morgan moving to blindside flanker and Tommy Reffell getting the nod at openside.

Adam Beard is back in the second row in place of Dafydd Jenkins having flown home for the birth of his child last week.

There is no Gareth Anscombe due to a groin problem, with fly-half cover for Biggar coming from Scarlets’ Sam Costelow instead.

Wales XV: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; G Thomas, Elias, Francis; Rowlands, Beard; Morgan (c), Reffell, Wainwright

Replacements: Lake, Domachowski, D Lewis, D Jenkins, Tshiunza, T Williams, Costelow, Dyer

How to watch Wales vs Argentina

TV channel: In the UK, the game is available to watch live and free to air tonight in the UK on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 3pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the quarter-final action live online via the ITVX website and app.

Live blog: Follow the game live right here with us!

Good afternoon!

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Wales vs Argentina!

It’s the first of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, kicking off what promises to be a memorable weekend of rugby in France.

Wales won all four of their matches to top Pool C, having arrived at the tournament facing questions over whether they would be able to make it through to the knockout stages, and their reward is a last-eight clash with Argentina in Marseille.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4pm BST from the Stade Velodrome.