WAL 17-29 ARG: Argentina reaction (Boffelli, Montoya, head coach Cheika)

WAL 17-29 ARG: Argentina reaction (Boffelli, Montoya, head coach Cheika)
Reaction from Argentina winger Emiliano Boffelli, captain Julián Montoya and head coach Michael Cheika following their team's 29-17 quarter-final win over Wales at Stade de Marseille on Saturday, 14 October.

ON-FIELD REACTION

Emiliano Boffelli, Mastercard Player of the Match

On his thoughts on the match:

"It was a difficult game. I am very happy for the team."

On what head coach Michael Cheika said at half-time:

"That we need to keep going and keep going and that at some time the game would open for us."


Julián Montoya, captain

On his thoughts on reaching the semi-finals:


"First of all let me say thank you to all the people of Argentina. It is an honour, I am very proud to be Argentine and wear these colours. I am very proud of the team.

"Wales are a really good and tough team as they always are. We knew it was going to be very tight. We like to be a team that fights for everything. [It was] far from perfect but we are going to Paris."

On what it is about the team that enabled them to turn it around:

"I think it comes from our personalty and the way that we train. We've been preparing for this a lot. Nothing has been too easy for us for the last couple of years. We trust each other. We are a very tight group. I know you just see the 15 on the pitch or the 23 but there is a group of people behind us who are unbelievable. They work day and night. We are the fortunate guys who wear the jersey but this is a team effort.

"We know it is not going to be perfect; life is not perfect. It's how you embrace the moment and fight for each other. That's what rugby is about. Two more weeks with this team. I don't want this to end ever. We need to be better, to be clinical in a lot of things. I know I can be more demanding but I am very proud of this team."

Michael Cheika, head coach

On his feelings:

"Pretty happy, I suppose. These players are such good people, without getting too emotional. They have worked really hard and I think that hard work showed at the end of the game today. They wanted to fight for it, they wanted to earn it. We were behind so it takes a bit of leg work. The whole 23 along with the 10 who didn't play put in a huge effort."

On whether they can go all the way:

"I don't know if we'll go with the sweeping statements just yet. We will wait and see. We are just thrilled to be going to Paris, we haven't had a taste of it yet at this World Cup.

"We will look at tonight's game and I know we won't be favourites [in their semi-final] but we'll be giving it our best."

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