New Zealand will aim to reach their fifth Rugby World Cup final on Friday against an Argentina side seeking to make their first.

The Pumas, beaten by England in the pool stage, overcame a 10-point deficit to defeat Wales in the quarter-finals.

The teams last met in July with Ian Foster's All Blacks winning 41-12.

Argentina, who have lost two previous World Cup semi-finals, have only beaten New Zealand twice in 36 matches - first in Sydney in November 2020 and most recently in Christchurch in August 2022.

Both nations have been undefeated since losing their opening pool games, with New Zealand losing to hosts France and Argentina falling to 27 points from the boot of England's George Ford.

Foster was an assistant coach when New Zealand lost to England in the semi-finals in 2019, which also came after a quarter-final win over Ireland.

The All Blacks are bidding to become the first nation to win the World Cup four times following their triumphs in 1987, 2011 and 2015.

After losing in the semi-finals in 2007, Argentina reached the last four again in 2015 but lost to an Australia side coached by Michael Cheika, who is now in charge of the Pumas.

The winner will play either England or South Africa in the final at the Stade de France on Saturday, 28 October.

Team news

Winger Mark Telea is back in the New Zealand side after being dropped for the quarter-final victory over Ireland because of a breach of team protocol.

In the only other change, Sam Whitelock replaces Brodie Retallick in the second row.

Argentina make one change for the game in Paris, with Gonzalo Bertranou replacing Tomas Cubelli at scrum-half.

Seven players remain in the Argentina squad from the side that reached the semi-finals in 2015, including captain Julian Montoya and replacement fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, who scored a late interception try in the Pumas' win over Wales.

Line-ups

Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, M Carreras; S Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gomez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa.

Replacements: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni.

New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo'unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Whitelock, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.

Replacements: Taukei'aho, Williams, Newell, Retallick, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.

View from Argentina camp

Argentina head coach Michael Cheika: "New Zealand have always been an example in rugby, a benchmark. They make you think of high-level skills, a very open game, but there is always a threat in the line-out, scrums, mauls and rucks. I think in a World Cup semi-final they are dangerous everywhere."

Wing Emiliano Boffelli on Argentina's win over New Zealand in 2022: "It's quite simple, our defence needs to be perfect. To beat the All Blacks we need to play a perfect game. I have faith in the team. We can repeat what we have done already. I remember that game in Christchurch where all of our tackles were effective."

View from New Zealand camp

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster: "We had to play a final last week - every game was like that. It was a fantastic weekend. Every team, every game was pushed to the edge. That's a reflection of where world rugby is at - you have to go bone deep to get to where we've got. It's a matter of treasuring each week."

Scrum-half Aaron Smith on learning from their semi-final defeat by England in 2019: "Just remembering the pain of it is a big driver especially for a few of us boys who were there. That feeling helped us reset after an emotional game against Ireland where everything was on the line."

Match officials

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistants: Nic Berry (Australia) and Karl Dickson (England)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Match facts

Head-to-head

Argentina

New Zealand

What happens if it's a draw?

If the scores are tied after 80 minutes, we will have extra time of two 10-minute halves. If there is still no winner, the game will go to sudden death, in which whoever scores the first points in the 10 allotted minutes wins.

Should we still be unable to separate the two sides, the game will go to a kicking competition.

Only five players from each side who were on the pitch at the end of the match can take a kick. If both sides are successful with their five attempts, this will continue on a sudden-death basis until someone misses.