Adam Ashley-Cooper has scored a hat-trick as the Wallabies booked their spot in the Rugby World Cup final with a 29-15 win over Argentina.
It started out as a romp but finished as a battle for the Wallabies used every ounce of energy they had to hold their line against a rampaging Pumas outfit in the second half.
David Pocock was immense in both halves, earning turnover after turnover in the breakdown for Australia, and showing no sign of the calf injury that threatened to rule him out of the game
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The same couldn’t be said for Israel Folau, who looked a step off the pace through the game and limped off midway through the second half after copping a knock on his troublesome ankle.
The Pumas also copped their fair share of injuries through the game, with skipper Augustin Creevy coming off in the first half, and centre Juan Martin Hernandez copping a knock early before coming off at the start of the second half.
While the first half may have been a story of attack and tries for Australia, they were equally impressive in defence to hold off the impressive Pumas in the second.
It was the worst possible start for Argentina, who thew an inside pass in their own half, only for it to be plucked out of the air by Rob Simmons.
The big second rower streaked away to score under the posts, to give Australia a 7-0 lead and the perfect start to a World Cup semi-final.
Adam Ashley-Cooper was the beneficiary of a sparkling start from the Wallabies’ backline, with two tries in the opening half hour.
The winger crossed twice in either corner, once from a well-worked set piece movement culminating in a long ball to send him over on the right hand edge.
His second came in the 32nd minute, after plenty of pressure was applied to the Pumas, who were without Tomas Lavanini due to a yellow card. It culminated in an overlap on the left side, with Matt Giteau throwing a pinpoint pass to his vice-captain for this second.
Three tries for the Wallabies, two converted by Bernard Foley, met three penalties to Nicolas Sanchez as the teams went into the sheds at 19-9.
The second half promised to be a tight affair, and it delivered.
Argentina had stayed in touch in the first half, and started to pick up momentum as the tension built.
Scrum penalties against the Wallabies mounted, as the crowd began to get behind the Pumas.
A missed penalty early from Bernard Foley found a response from Nicolas Sanchez, who brought the Pumas to within seven points of the Wallabies.
The teams traded two more penalties, as the Argentines hammered the Wallabies’ line. The Australians’ defence and discipline managed to hold, just, with the backrow of Scott Fardy, Pocock and Michael Hooper outstanding in making their tackles.
Similarly, Bernard Foley and Drew Mitchell made some special covering tackles when the line was breached. It was a tremendous effort in the face of some inspired attack from Argentina.
Nicolas Sanchez attacked the line with great footwork, and despite the early loss of key winger Juan Imhoff, Santiago Cordero stepped up to poke holes in the Wallabies line.
It all came to nothing for the Pumas, who failed to score a try, and as the game entered the final ten minutes, Drew Mitchell stepped up for Australia.
He beat eight defenders down the left touchline, cut back in-field and threw an ugly pass to his fellow winger Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Ugly it may have been, but it was effective, and Ashey-Cooper got his hat-trick, and iced the game for Australia in one play.
Both teams were out on their feet in the last ten minutes as the Pumas searched for a consolation try. Once again, Pocock and Hooper worked overtime, despite having no petrol left, to deny the Argentineans a five-pointer, to send the Wallabies through to the Rugby World Cup final 29-15.
The stage is set. All Blacks vs Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup final in one week.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Cheers moaman, understand now its not what you meant, phrasing could be taken either way. Yes, you would expect tat between evenly matched teams, some of such opportunities would become tries. I think its a testament to the Wallabies defence that they weren't, more than anything else. My concern though is that the ABs, being the top team in the world, will be that more difficult to stop when they do get those opportunities, we need to go up a gear to reduce that number they do get. Agree with Cliff that the area around the rucks and mauls is the biggest leak.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
:-) :-)
PiratesRugby
Guest
I'm going to go with PeterK on this one. He's been consistent.
At the Frick
Guest
Tah fans?
At the Frick
Guest
Chieka got Beale when he was on his absolute last chance with the WBs. With 11 months to go, the sensible members of the WBs squad knew they had to make do with whoever was coach. Unlike the others who were prepared to burn the house down to get their own way. Chieka does not have that kind of thing to deal with. Chieka is a successful coach with an admirable record in high level rugby. I may criticise some of his decisions but he is no fool. In McKenzie's absence, he was the obvious and natural choice. Mind you, he appointed Hooper as vc over Pocock! With the final against the ABs looming, who do you think the players are following? Do you think Chieka will bench Pocock for this game? Chieka's "genius" was in not persisting in preferring Hooper over Pocock and in not being able to persist in selecting Skelton. Nobody's perfect.
PeterK
Roar Guru
wasn't all tier 1 teams, currently they have won 7 in a row as well. Besides I did not say ever , just normally wallabies do not win that many in a row against this quality. How many times have we beaten everyone on the eoyt as an example despite being ranked higher than them? yet no credit from you.
PeterK
Roar Guru
haste - wallabies better than boks wales better than scotland england better than japan fiji better than samoa
moaman
Roar Guru
Great comment.
moaman
Roar Guru
Isn't it?
moaman
Roar Guru
I think Crockett will be back for the final---so Moody on the bench.
moaman
Roar Guru
PeterK----I haven't seen a replay so can't give you specifics,sorry.But I was referring to the 1st half in particular-----I think either the 2nd or third (official penalty) was a double---Ref playing advantage for offside and then pinging them for another offence a phase or two later. I don't take umbrage with scrum penalties because I think they are a bit of a lottery---who really knows whether one side wheels or the other is boring in--or both? I doubt the Ref really does. 2nd half I noticed JF Lobbe introducing a bit of gamesmanship.....really only mentioned it 'cause I get a bit sick of all the AB bashing that goes on....every team pushes the envelope as we have seen. I'm pretty impressed with your boys.A big turn around from last year.I particularly like that they are finding ways to score tries off 1st phase ball,which is getting rare in the modern game.
moaman
Roar Guru
Correct Cliff; Holes aplenty--but the scramble is top notch.I saw at least two magical covering tackles by Foley...
moaman
Roar Guru
Jeznez& PP---Read it again--I wasn't implying los Pumas weren't a "top side"---but on this occasion they failed to convert an acceptable (to me) percentage of clear chances created. Typically in a tight Test you might get 3-4 of those chances,sometimes less,and you would hope to convert somewhre between 33% and 50% I would have thought?
moaman
Roar Guru
Probably England----I was impressed with them last June and expected a whole lot more than we got. Wales--don't know if thought they could pull it off. I like the welsh and love their singing--Old Land Of Our Fathers brings a misty glaze to my TV....but they haven't troubled the scoreboard in my lifetime as far as getting one over the ABs goes --so I don't expect too much from them on the paddock..... Looks like I'm just a crap predictor Peter......
Hasté
Guest
They may do, but spare me this tough pool rubbish because it's just not true. The rankings mean little you had one very good team in Aus, a good team in Wales, a poor team in England a poorer team in Fiji and a weak Uruguay. Aus then played Scotland and barely scraped through to face agrentina who were lacking in so many facets last night it really is hard to gauge how good the Wallabies really are. NZ had a supposedly easy run but that is down to their consistency at being the number 1 team over the last decade or more, it's an advantage of being top dog when the draw is done. The Boks vs ABs now that was a tough match, pays to note they (Boks) never looked like crossing the chalk. One things for sure it will be a cracker come Sunday
Antoni
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I admit I got a bit carried away with that one. Earlier I predicted ABs 1st, Wallabies 2nd, Boks 3rd and Argentina 4th and if I had to put my house on it, that is still how I would bet. But, because I don't, Wallabies by 15.
Antoni
Roar Rookie
What a load of incoherent nonsense.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The wallabies won 7 games in a row 13-14...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The wallabies were ranked 3rd at the end of September last year. I'm sure the 1/4 in November caused the anomaly in the rankings, rather than it being a true reflection of Australia.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
This weekend the wallabies may show us that though Haste.