ARG team announcement (v WAL): head coach Cheika, captain Montoya

Comments from head coach Michael Cheika and captain Julian Montoya on Thursday after Argentina announced their team to play Wales in the quarter-final in Marseille on Saturday.

Michael Cheika, head coach

On whether he has confidence that Argentina’s best performance of Rugby World Cup 2023 will come on Saturday:

“It’s not as much the confidence from what we’re seeing in camp here, it’s about understanding the body of work that’s been going on for a year and a half now, coming on two years since I’ve been with the team. All those things we’ve been working on in that time that will give us that feeling of being ready for a game.

“We know Wales are favourites and that’s pretty clearly obvious, everyone’s made that point to us bar our Argentine supporters.

“We know that we’re going to have to do something different, something special around the game on Saturday so that we can be competitive with them, but I’m a huge believer in the team, in our team. I love the fellas, they’re always together, they’re a very committed team and I know that they’ll really enjoy this occasion.

“They’ve felt a bit of that expectation of trying to make it through and I think they’ll really enjoy Saturday and from the work we’ve done I feel like they’ll feel like they’re ready.”

On what he likes about (scrum-half) Tomas Cubelli:

“Tomas Cubelli is just sitting there (points). I’m not going to give him a big head by saying good things (laughs). 

“Obviously I think a lot of Tomas Cubelli because he’s in the team for Saturday. He’s overcome a lot of personal difficulty with injury over this last period, he’s stayed solid he’s had moments where it’s been tough for him and he’s really come back with a strong attitude and, as always like all of these fellas, fully committed to the team getting as far as possible.

“Given the opportunity on Saturday, he will show the type of rugby player that he is. He’s tough, he’s committed and he loves playing for Argentina and I think that sums him up.”

Julian Montoya, captain

On Wales flanker Tommy Reffell: 

“We are very good mates. About rugby attributes, I think the work rate he has around the pitch - he never stops.

“His strength is the jackal opportunities he has, the amount of work he does there. He’s a great rugby player, that’s why he’s starting for Wales in a quarter-final.”