Italy entertain Argentina at the Stadio Friuli on Saturday looking for a fifth win in six games and a first over the South Americans in 16 years. Shaun Goosen previews.
2024 Autumn Nations Series
Italy v Argentina
Stadio Friuli, Udine
Saturday 8 November – 19:40
Both Italy and Argentina have enjoyed stellar years so far, with fine performances in both the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship underlining the danger they pose to the bigger Test nations. They square off on Saturday at Stadio Friuli.
To Win Match
Italy 29/20 | Draw 20/1 | Argentina 6/10
Handicap
Italy (+3.5) 9/10 | Argentina (-3.5) 9/10
The Azzurri have enjoyed a stellar year under Qonzalo Quesada, finishing with two wins and a draw in the Six Nations and beating Tonga and Japan in July. And, given the performances of Benetton in the URC, Quesada will have a number of in-form players to select this Autumn as he looks to continue to improve his squad ahead of the next edition of the Six Nations.
Victory over Argentina would be considered a tremendous success for the hosts given they haven’t beaten them since 2008. It would provide them with real momentum ahead of their clashes with Georgia and, more importantly, New Zealand. Given their current world ranking of eighth, they would also narrow the gap between themselves and their sixth-ranked opponents.
Los Pumas meanwhile will be eager to follow up a highly successful Rugby Championship campaign in which they managed to beat each of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the same tournament for the first time. With matchups in Dublin and Paris still to come this month, defeat in Udine could see them finish an otherwise excellent year with four straight defeats, which would be a great disappointment given the progress made under Felipe Contepomi in 2024.
The battle at the breakdown will be a massive in the context of the game, with the winner in this department likely to edge proceedings in other facets of play. That said, with Argentina having steeled themselves against the might of the Boks and Kiwis so recently, expect them to be more in sync and to deliver the hosts a knockout blow.
Verdict: Argentina (-3.5) 9/10
The South Americans should collect a ninth successive win over the Azzurri and clear a modest handicap in the process.
