The epic tackle that was decisive in the Pumas’ victory and their passage to the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup

It was 73 minutes of a very good match. The Puma They won 19-17, but Wales’ threat was latent. The Red Dragons went looking for a try that could give them the advantage again. In front, yes, there was the solid Argentine defense, ready to do anything to enter the top four of the World Cup again, as in 2007 and 2015.

It is in this context that the image of the day arrived . The very fast Rio Dyer attacked on the left wing and served Louis Rees-Zammit. The Europeans’ goal seemed inevitable, but Matías Moroni made a key move. Tute knocked down the Welshman and prevented the try. This tackle was celebrated by more than twenty people among the thousands of trans-Andeans who filled the Vélodrome.

The defensive maneuver was crucial, because a few minutes later the verdict arrived. Nicolás Sánchez had an incredible read of the game and anticipated a pass. El Cachorro, who would also score a penalty at the end, scored a try which reassured the spirit. This, added to Boffelli’s conversion, decided the duel in favor of the Pumas. Argentina won 29-17 and qualified for the semi-finals of France 2023, achieving a historic performance.

After the match, Moroni delivered a heartfelt message: “For all those who spoke gibberish…” , he said, by way of introduction. “Meeting in Paris. The effort this team has made since the beginning of the year, we have closed more than ever. There were a lot of people who didn’t have confidence, and a lot of people who had confidence, who came to an agreement before playing the last match against Japan. Let all those people who were upstairs know, We are going to wage war in Paris, we have two games left, we are going to play the most important match in the history of the Pumas “, he noted in the official broadcast.

“I’m going to celebrate with the club, with everyone, with my family. We started to dominate, but due to different circumstances it slipped away from us, but we came back. I play rugby for my family, for the jersey, The most important match in Pumas history is approaching. Nobody has ever won it. With whoever it is, whoever it is with “, he added.

Finally, he concluded his dialogue by mentioning one of the keys to this team: attitude. With all its might, the Argentine team managed to overcome an unfavorable result and consolidate itself as one of the four best teams in the competition: “The team had work, humility, sacrifices. Trust the person next door, trust the system. And a lot of heart. “We play for the country, for the jersey, for ourselves,” he concluded.