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The beginning of the end of the most glorious pool stage in any Rugby World Cup to date begins tonight, as Argentina and Namibia face off in Leicester. Join The Roar for commentary, live scores and bad Jarryd Hayne jokes from 10:00pm (AEDT).
Argentina should easily account for a Namibia side that half consists of amateurs and semi-professionals who play locally.
Furthermore, the Africans’ talisman and captain Jacques Burger has been ruled out of this game with concussion. The 32-year-old backrower, who plays for Saracens as a day job, was to retire at the end of this World Cup regardless.
The Welwitschias (named after a native plant) can leave this World Cup with a pat on their backs despite losing all games so far. They went down to Tonga by just 14, and narrowly missed out to Georgia by 1.
On the upside, they scored against the reigning world champions (probably something even England couldn’t do), and gained their first ever World Cup point – a losing point to Georgia.
It’ll be sad to see Namibia, and indeed all the non-tier-one teams (except England) leave this tournament. Fingers crossed next time around – in Japan in 2019 – World Rugby can somehow scrounge up a few dollars and a bit of organisation to put together a William Webb-Ellis Vase.
Prediction
The previous two encounters between these teams at World Cups have an aggregate score of 130-17, so expect a dominant win from Maradona’s countrymen.
However, the growing evidence from this World Cup is that the so-called minnows are collectively competing above their label.
Argentina by 28 points.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.