Rugby World Cup
Argentina's Marcelo Bosch banned for World Cup quarterfinal with Ireland
ESPN Staff
October 14, 2015
World Cup Quarter Finals Preview

Marcelo Bosch will miss Argentina's World Cup quarterfinal showdown with Ireland after being cited for a dangerous tackle in the Pumas' 64-19 win against Namibia.

Bosch was handed a one-week suspension after being shown a yellow card for tip-tackling Thenus Kotze early in the second half of their final game in Pool C.

The news is a blow for the Pumas' new back-centric running game, a switch from the pack-focused sides of the past.

Former New Zealand coach Graham Henry is credited with prompting the evolution to more free-flowing rugby that has brought Argentina 22 tries to date at this World Cup.

After leading the All Blacks to their second World Cup title in 2011, Henry later served as a consultant with the Pumas in 2012 and urged the players to express their personalities on the pitch rather than settling for attritional rugby.

Marcelo Bosch
Marcelo Bosch© Matt Lewis - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

"When Graham arrived, I remember he said that we needed to create more tries," scrum-half Martin Landajo told the Associated Press.

"We had a great defence, one of the best in the world, but we didn't attack much, and he said it was impossible to win games like that. So he tried to change our minds -- he did it."

Henry's influence was first put to the test in the inaugural Rugby Championship in 2012, as the Tri Nations was expanded to include the South Americans

"This rugby that we are trying to play, that's since we entered the Rugby Championship," Landajo said.

"Football in Argentina is like that, we have the best players in Messi and Maradona. But four years ago, Argentina didn't play rugby like that. We've tried to change it. 

"Us Argentinians, we're Latins, we like to be happy all the time, it's in our roots and hopefully that shows in our rugby now."

Ireland will be without the suspended Sean O'Brien, the injured Peter O'Mahony and Paul O'Connell and are sweating on the fitness of Jonathan Sexton ahead of Sunday's showdown in Cardiff.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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