Argentina head coach Michael Cheika on Friday said that he and his players were “hurting” after their 44-6 Rugby World Cup semi-final pummeling by New Zealand, but insisted that “they will be ready” for the third-place play-off on Friday.
The Pumas received a rugby lesson from the All Blacks at the Stade de France on Friday and although Cheika had qualms over the refereeing by his fellow Australian, Angus Gardner, the latter was not the difference.
Cheika will have to rouse his battered players for the consolation prize of securing third place in Friday’s match against the loser of yesterday’s semi-final between England and South Africa.
Photo: AFP
That game was to start after press time last night.
Should they win they would equal their best previous performance at a World Cup, in 2007, also in France.
“Right now we’re hurting, but we will be ready on Friday,” the 56-year-old said.
Cheika, speaking in Spanish, said he had not cried at the end, but he had felt sad when he saw his children were crying on the pitch.
“Emotions are important, but me, I don’t cry, but that’s because my job is not over yet,” he said. “On Friday we will have played seven games in the World Cup. Only four teams will have played seven.”
However, despite an absence of tears from the former No. 8, it did not mean he took the defeat in his stride.
“I used to play rugby, I don’t like losing, never, but it’s not a sad moment, but a moment where I’m actually proud of my team,” he said. “We’re in the semi-final of the World Cup. It’s not an easy path we’ve been on. We’ve invested ourselves a lot in this, but we lost on details.”
Cheika said that the Argentina players had done the country proud.
“Of course, I’m sad for them, they made such an effort, they so much wanted to win, for the country, the fans, to do their absolute best, but on Friday, we will be there, have no doubt,” he said.
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