Rugby World Cup semi-final: Stephen Ferris previews Argentina v New Zealand

It should be a monumental showdown in Paris, but Argentina are 17/2 to pull off a shock win against New Zealand, the 1/16 favourites.

Ladbrokes have issued an imposing 18-point handicap for this encounter, painting a rather grim picture for Argentina.

Throughout this competition, Argentina has struggled to make a lasting impression, leaving many doubting their ability to secure victory against the formidable All Blacks.

New Zealand boast an impressive track record against the Pumas, having triumphed in 20 of the last 22 encounters between these two teams, often with a winning margin exceeding 20 points.

Nevertheless, the Kiwis are not dwelling solely on past achievements. Their dominant performance against Ireland in the quarter-final showcased their physicality around the breakdown and their precision when presented with try-scoring opportunities.

Should they replicate that form on Friday night, it seems almost certain they will surpass the 18-point handicap with ease.

For some reason it already feels like this Rugby World Cup has been a huge success for Argentina, and I think they have surpassed many people’s expectations. To challenge New Zealand, they will need to conjure their best performance.

An upset against the All Blacks would surely go down in history as one of the greatest Rugby World Cup surprises and backing Argentina would be a daring choice. The prevailing sentiment suggests that the stars are aligned for a New Zealand versus South Africa final in the upcoming weekend.

However, in the world of sport, surprises are always in the realm of possibility.

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication