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Wallaby winger Adam Ashley-Cooper’s man of the match hat-trick in the 29-15 win over the Pumas at Twickenham booked a berth in the World Cup final, but my salute goes to David Pocock, and Drew Mitchell.
Pocock, who was in ‘serious doubt’ with a calf injury, turned in a blinder. He’s the undisputed master at the breakdown, simply magnificent for 80 minutes.
But Pocock didn’t only shine there, his defence was devastating, while he’s improved every week as a ball-carrier – the complete footballer.
Then there was Drew Mitchell. With the score at 22-15 in the Wallabies favour at the 71st minute and the Pumas looking very dangerous every time they had the ball, which was often, Mitchell stepped up to the plate.
Replacement half-back Nick Phipps played the blindside where Mitchell was the only Wallaby in sight.
He skirted the touchline beating two, cut back towards centre field where he beat five more, and as he started to lose his balance flung a two bounce pass to a totally unmarked Ashley-Cooper to stroll over for his third try.
That was the defining moment that shut the door on a brave and entertaining Argentina.
For Ashley-Cooper, who has always admitted his dearest wish was to play in a World Cup final, his wish is granted and he played a major role in making it come true.
His first two tries were in the first half, one in the right hand corner, and other in the left, both the result of long cut-out passes from Bernard Foley and Matt Giteau respectively.
Rarely do wingers score away from their own territory, but that’s coach Michael Cheika’s tactical nous, he gives his backs a roving commission.
Any Wallaby back can pop up anywhere.
There were other Wallaby standouts in the gritty win, like Kane Douglas, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, and Will Genia.
Lock Douglas gets through an enormous amount of the hard yakka, while Genia’s confidence is still on the rise, and hopefully will peak in the decider.
And that decider will see the clash of two superb backrow combinations: Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, and Kieren Read for the All Blacks head-to-head with Pocock, Hooper, and Fardy.
That will be worth the price of admission alone.
From Cheika’s point of view, the fitness of prop Scott Sio, and fullback Israel Folau will be closely monitored.
The Wallaby scrum missed Sio this morning, James Slipper was given a rugged time, while Folau limped off with his ankle injury that also had him in the ‘serious doubt’ category three days ago.
Folau was way below his best, and obviously his confidence is low as he resorted to kicking rather than his normal running game that is his hallmark, taking on all-comers.
So the Wallabies are into their fourth final, so too the All Blacks. But the world number one and two have never met in a World Cup decider – it’s the perfect ending to a spectacular tournament.
The All Blacks have never beaten the Wallabies at any stage of any World Cup, but the Wallabies have beaten the men-in-black twice – in the 1991 semi 16-6, and the 2003 semi 22-10.
The All Blacks have only won their two World Cups at their home fortress of Eden Park in 1987 and 2011, while the Wallabies two World Cup victories were Twickenham in 1991, and Millennium Stadium in 1999.
History does have a habit of repeating itself.