Monday’s rugby news has the Wallabies into the semi-finals, a controversial penalty call, and the All Blacks and Pumas advancing.
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Australia scrape through
A Bernard Foley penalty goal has saved Australia’s World Cup campaign from the brink of a quarter-final exit in a thrilling 35-34 victory over Scotland at Twickenham on Sunday. The Wallabies will play Argentina in the World Cup semi-final this weekend but not before Australia regroup after the narrowest of escapes against the Scots.
The penalty came minutes after James Slipper gifted Scotland what appeared to be the match-winning try with a horror intercept converted in front of the posts. “I think we were just a little bit flat in the first half, in particular,” Michael Cheika said. “We weren’t coming up hard and then the second half we got back up with a bit more line speed and got back into the game.”
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Joubert heavily criticised
There was plenty of controversy surrounding Bernard Foley’s last-minute penalty, which came when a botched Scottish lineout saw the ball knocked forward and it ended up in the hands of off-side Scottish forward Jon Welsh. Replays indicated a touch in between from Australia’s Nick Phipps, meaning a scrum rather than a penalty should have probably been awarded.
Scotland legend Gavin Hastings was enraged by referee Craig Joubert’s decision to award the penalty without discussing it with the television match official. “If I see referee Craig Joubert again, I am going to tell him how disgusted I am,” Hastings said. “The referee is not expected to make the right decision all the time. That’s what the TMO system is in place for.”
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Pumas defeat Ireland
Argentina pushed into an early 17-point lead and produced a late flourish to beat Ireland 43-20, reaching the last four for only the second time. Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez kicked 23 points, missing just one of his 10 shots at goal, while the Pumas scored two tries in each half.
While the Argentinean team put on an impressive performance, Ireland will point to the absence of captain Paul O’Connell, star flyhalf Johnny Sexton and influential flankers Sean O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony as big factors behind their loss.
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All Blacks dominate
New Zealand have also moved on to the semi-finals with a brutal defeat of France 62-13, moving closer to winning their third World Cup. When it comes to World Cups, no side has caused the All Blacks more sleepless nights than the French, with their losses in the 1999 semi-finals and the 2007 haunting the Kiwis.
“It was a pretty special performance, there’s no doubt about that,” New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said. Despite the comfortable scoreline, the All Blacks will carry a few concerns into the next stage, with injury concerns to prop Wyatt Crockett (groin) and wing Nehe Milner-Skudder (shoulder).
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