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Passionate Pumas approach semi against All Blacks with 'no regrets'

Argentina's players celebrate their historic Test victory over the All Blacks in Christchurch.

Argentina will be using their recent wins over the All Blacks as "part" of their preparation for Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal but are more focused on a grander picture.

Pumas coach Michael Cheika has made just one change to his side that beat Wales in the quarterfinals for the match against New Zealand with halfback Gonzalo Bertranou back in the side in the place of Tomas Cubelli.

Otherwise Cheika has kept faith with the rest of the starting team and bench that defeated Wales 29-17 in their quarter-final clash in Marseille.

It was an impressive comeback win but Cheika said they know another level is required to beat the All Blacks.

"New Zealand has always been an example in rugby, a benchmark," Cheika said.

"They make you think of high-level skills in a really open game but there are always threats in the lineout, mauls and rucks.

"In a World Cup semi-final they are dangerous everywhere. We have been training as best we can, we will be ready. We'll see what happens."

While the All Blacks are heavy favourites to win the contest after their stunning win over World No.1 Ireland in the quarterfinals, Argentina enter the contest knowing they have the ability to cause an upset after beating the All Blacks twice in the current World Cup cycle.

The Pumas made history in Sydney in 2020 when they won their first-ever Test against the All Blacks 25-15 and two years later added to it with their first-ever win over the same opposition on New Zealand soil with a 25-18 upset.

But Cheika warned they won't be relishing in those memories too heavily preparing for this weekend.

"You can't say that one game means we can do it as there are a lot of games where we haven't," he said.

"That moment has to be just a part of it. What we have done since then, all the success and failures [matters in our preparation]. The other team are heavy favourites, everyone is expecting a New Zealand and South Africa final. We just have to focus on what is required."

Instead, the passion of Argentina and thoughts of inspiring their country will drive the physical side.

"We want to inspire not just by our results but by our ambition, by our ability to get back up and overcome obstacles. To inspire is not about results, it's not just one player who played well; no, it's about our behaviour in general, our ability to be ready to come back from difficult times and seizing our opportunities.

"There are not a lot of opportunities in life — us playing in a semi-final is even rarer and we want to have no regrets."

Pumas team to play All Blacks in Rugby World Cup semifinal 1 at Stade de France in Paris at 7am on Saturday NZT is:

15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Emiliano Boffelli, 13. Lucio Cinti, 12. Santiago Chocobares, 11. Mateo Carreras, 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 8. Facundo Isa, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2. Julian Montoya (captain), 1. Thomas Gallo

Replacements: 16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Joel Sclavi, 18. Eduardo Bello, 19. Matias Alemanno, 20. Rodrigo Bruni, 21. Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22. Nicolas Sanchez, 23. Matias Moroni.

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