Australia are the second team through to the RWC Grand Final next weekend to take on the All Blacks following their 29-15 win over the Pumas at Twickenham.
In a mixed performance, the Wallabies held on despite pressure at the scrum and a penalty count against them of 12-6. In the end it was a win highlighted by three wonderful tries by Adam Ashley-Cooper who joins Jonah Lomu as the only player to score a hat trick of tries in a RWC Semi-Final.
The Match
The match kicked off at a fierce pace with both teams playing at an intensity you’d expect from a RWC semi-final. The atmosphere at a packed Twickenham was incredible and both teams were intent to make a statement early. In the end it was the unlikely figure of Wallaby lock Rob Simmons, galloping away from a well taken intercept to score the first try of the match, that gave the Wallabies the early lead.
Whilst that try was somewhat opportunistic, and thanks to the aggressive Wallaby defensive work, the next was more classically established. A strong Wallaby scrum enable Genia to bring the ball to Foley to put in a sublime long pass for Adam Ashley-Cooper to score in the corner. Larkham-esque.
With a lot of questions being asked around the fitness of Israel Folau and David Pocock, the former proved his fitness immediately with some strong tackling and key turnovers. Folau was a little more circumspect early and looked to be protecting himself, however a couple of strong runs late seemed to give him some confidence.
The other injured player, Scott Sio, was missed. The Aussie scrum was being put under pressure by the Pumas most notably on James Slipper’s side. Referee Wayne Barnes was calling the infringements early and the Pumas were awarded with numerous penalties and free kicks.
Whilst a couple of penalties to flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez was allowing the Pumas to get some sort of points on the board, the big moment of the half came in the 26th minute when Argentine lock Tomas Lavanini was yellow carded for an armless (yet harmless) tackle. Just five minutes later the Wallabies, and Adam Ashley-Cooper, were in again in the opposite corner through another delightful pass. This time by Matt Giteau.
Argentina finished the half all guns-a-blazing and threatening the Wallaby line but the Aussies were able to hold out and go to the sheds 19-9 up.
Whilst the Wallaby first half was clinical, the second half was somewhat less so. It was the Pumas who looked the more dangerous after the break as they put the Wallabies under pressure with more attacking intent and a flow of penalties. Two penalty goals to Sanchez to one to Foley meant that, at 22-15 with 25 minutes to go, the Argentineans were in striking distance.
The Wallabies seemed to lose composure in the 2nd half and the seemingly automatic reaction to kick the ball away on a turnover put them under sustained pressure. In the end the defensive work of the likes of Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas and David Pocock (as well as some nice scrambling by Bernard Foley) saved the day for the Wallabies.
It was not until the 72nd minute of the match did Australia put the game away. Nick Phipps passed blind to Drew Mitchell who justified coach Cheika’s faith in him in bringing him back to the Wallaby fold with a run down field and then across the field that will be remembered for the ages. He eventually linked with his old mate Ashley-Cooper to run over unopposed for his third try of the game and the match sealer.
Argentina played with passion as you’d expect but were not able to convert their 2nd half dominance nor punish the Wallabies for their lapses. The Wallabies in turn put in a wonderful first 35 minutes however the coaching team will be concerned about the lack of composure after that, as well as seeming injuries to Folau and Giteau.
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]AUSTRALIA 29
Tries: Rob Simmons (2 min), Adam Ashley-Cooper (10′, 32′, 72′)
Conversions: Beranrd Foley (3′, 11′, 73′)
Penalties: Bernard Foley (48′)
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]ARGENTINA 15
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties: Nicolas Sanchez (7′, 24′, 36′, 45′, 55′)
[/one_half]
Cards
26 mins – Tomas Lavanini (Argentina) – Yellow Card
Crowd: TBC
