Andres Bordoy, the forwards coach for the Argentine national rugby team, is anticipating a fierce and historic showdown as Argentina faces Chile for the first time in the Rugby World Cup.
The match, set to take place in Nantes, is expected to be a gruelling battle, with Argentina aiming to secure a bonus point victory over their South American counterparts.
Argentina, the favourites in the encounter, is vying for the second quarter-final spot in Pool D, with England comfortably leading the group. The Pumas recently clinched a 19-10 win over Samoa, which they hope will propel them to elevate their performance in the tournament.
Bordoy acknowledged the significance of this match, labelling it a "final" and emphasising the importance of the upcoming challenge against Chile. He anticipates a physically demanding contest between the two South American nations.
While Chile has struggled in their debut appearance at the Rugby World Cup, conceding 156 points in three matches, Bordoy recognises their growth and improvement in recent years. He expects a particularly fierce battle in the scrum, highlighting the progress made by Chilean forwards, influenced by leagues like the Superliga Americana de Rugby and Super Rugby Americas.
Despite Argentina's status as favourites, Bordoy is cautious about overconfidence, citing surprising results in the tournament, such as Wales' dominant 40-6 victory over Australia. He also commended the intensity displayed in Ireland's 13-8 win against South Africa.
As the Rugby World Cup continues, the clash between Argentina and Chile promises to be a memorable and hard-fought encounter between two South American rugby nations.
