ARG team announcement (v ENG): Cheika, Montoya, De La Fuente, Petti

Comments from Argentina's coach, Michael Cheika, captain Julián Montoya, centre Jerónimo de la Fuente and lock Guido Petti after the announcement of the team to face England in the Bronze Final this Friday, October 27 at the Stade de France.

Michael Cheika, head coach

On whether it is his last game as coach of Los Pumas:

“I have no idea if it is my last game and I don't think about it. We have a team of players, coaches and with the UAR (Argentine Rugby Union) we have a very good relationship. We only talk about the game, not about personal feelings. The focus is on the match and seeing how we finish higher in this RWC.”

On the changes made:

“[Jerónimo] De la Fuente is fit and basically match ready. It was difficult for him not to play more games, he deserves it.

“It is a good game for (Tomás) Cubelli, especially next to the ruck which we think that due to the weather and because it is England, will be his strong point.

“(Tomás) Lavanini is feeling fatigue after the weekend. (Pedro) Rubiolo is younger and fresher for a game that I hope will have a lot of ball movement and I hope he has a good game.”

On the match against England:

“We analysed the England match. We expect them to play a more open game, with (Marcus) Smith at 15, hooker (Theo) Dan who is a good player with the ball in hand. We need to be ready for his game and also how to play the kicking game. There will be a lot of running.

“We need to be ready for everything. The analysis we did is also in the strategy.”

On winning the Bronze Final:

“Winning the bronze medal is very important. It's a Rugby World Cup. It is very nice and very important. For us, for everything we did and for the country, to be able to win bronze is to finish as high as we can. Also the experience for everyone in the group, for the future and the legacy of the most experienced players. Finishing as high as we can was always the goal.”

On competition for the scrum-half shirt:

“(Lautaro) Bazán Vélez finishes the games for us with more energy and because of his playing style, generating danger next to the rucks as he runs, which is better when the forwards are more tired.

“(Tomás) Cubelli (at the start of the tournament) had been recovering from injuries and lacked training and match rhythm. He plays differently than (Gonzalo) Bertranou who was playing more. The connection of Bertranou or Cubelli with (Santiago) Carreras and (Nicolás) Sánchez is very good.”

On the game goals for next Friday:

“This week we want to be ready to have an extra player in the tackle, in the preparation of and attack, if we need 12, 13 passes. In these final matches that are more important, desire is key. In the semi-finals, the standard of the match is more important because both want to win. We want to have more players providing physical contact in various phases and we want to improve the fixed formations.

On Nicolás Sánchez:

“If we need Nico Sánchez after 30 minutes of the game, he comes in. He is playing the role we want him for, to finish the games with him. I am very happy with how he handles that role, it is not easy to be in this situation, to have a person come in to finish a game and do it very, very well, and I am sure he will do it this week."

Julián Montoya, captain and hooker

On what Friday's game means:

“It is the most important game of the year; (it is) playing for third and fourth place with this shirt and the last game of this group because it is almost impossible for all of us to be together again.

“We know their forward pack takes pride in their good set pieces and we want the same.”

Jerónimo de la Fuente, centre

On being back in the team to face England:

“First of all, very happy, especially for the team and personally for the game I have to start. When you imagine yourself in a World Cup, you think that you are going to play all seven games. Due to strategy, at times, due to the players who are competing, in this case Choco (Santiago Chocobares), it was difficult. I went to sleep every night thinking about playing, but it also made me work harder and want to improve and help Choco so that he can play better.

“It was difficult, obviously, but very happy that the team has given me the opportunity to play the seventh game for third and fourth place. Not playing goes away when the team plays well, when the team advances in the tournament.

“Over the years of being on the team, the best thing is when everyone pulls in the same direction.”

On playing for a medal on Friday:

“Without a doubt, wearing a medal is not the same as not wearing one. Returning home winning is not the same as losing. Everyone can have their opinion about what it means to win a medal. For us, it is the best way to finish the World Cup. Our goal was to play in the final, aim for gold. But we still have a chance to win a medal.

“My opinion, and that of the team, whether there is a medal or not, we want to win every game. The medal is one more incentive, for the team, for the people who support us, for the country.”

On the possibility of playing in his last Rugby World Cup:

"I thought about it a thousand times, I thought about it in 2019. Anything can happen. But there are also players older than me who are competing at an extraordinary level and that somehow makes me think about continuing with that desire to represent Argentina and fight for that shirt, which is the dream I had all my life and that is why I am here.

“I couldn't say if I'm going to make it to the next World Cup, but until they tell me to go home I'm not going to leave. As long as I feel good, and contribute, I will continue. I have no idea how you retire from Los Pumas. Playing for them is the best thing that can happen to me.”

On Argentina’s RWC campaign:

“The team started losing; little by little we began to play better, to be more confident. There are many young players who played in their first Rugby World Cup. The determination that the team has in every training session and every day means that today we are playing for third and fourth place.

“Based on the results it depends on how you look at them, what you do on the field against an opponent who is looking for the same thing. You might play an excellent game and still lose, and the goal of winning was not achieved. It's very finite. It is looking for that return.”

“The most important thing today is to win, no matter how we play, because in a World Cup it is the most important thing and it makes you win medals.

“Regardless of our previous performances and how we started, there are 80 minutes of playing well, focused and with a lot of determination.”

Guido Petti, lock

On his World Cup and the wear and tear he had in the tournament:

“I take it game-by-game. I am happy that I was able to put the injury behind me after missing the start of the season. By the time Rugby World Cup arrived I was able to play. It was hard, I feel tired, but it is a nice tiredness because I am doing what I want, it fills me with energy and pushes me week after week to try to do my best. Putting on this shirt is the best thing. Beyond tiredness, week after week we try to do that. The goal is bronze; fatigue and burdens were put aside this week, everyone is looking forward to the game.”

On England:

“England, beyond the changes, is a very structured team. They try to play always the same way, they feel comfortable doing that as they are strong there. I think it will be very similar to the first game in terms of their kicking game and set pieces, where they become strong and we are going to have to be stronger to beat them.”

On the goal for the bronze final:

“The first goal is to play to win, beyond putting on the shirt which is nice, we play to win.

“It's how you go home, if you reached a semi-final and you lost two games it is with a bitter taste. After losing to the All Blacks we have revenge and we are going to look at it from that side.

On playing with Pedro Rubiolo as lock partner:

"Everyone knows Pedro (Rubiolo), on the field; he had several games, he is a soldier. Even though he is 20 years old, he shows his game in every training session, every game. Since Tomi (Lavanini) was told that he was not going to be fit, he has been supporting us 100%. Pedro is prepared, he is ready, if not, he would not be here.”

On the England pack:

“The England pack will come looking for us, especially given the maul was our deficit in the last game. In the first game they didn't use it as much but in this one they are going to come looking for us there, which is where they become very strong. We are going to have to dominate there.

“We are always thinking about strategy both in attack and defence to be able to launch our game and do what we want to do, defensively to try to complicate them.

“We have to be careful this weekend because they are going to come looking for us above the ground but also down in the maul as well.

“They dominated South Africa for great moments and were able to carry out their game; I think that beyond the change of players they are going to play the same game because it is where they feel strong.”