Adam Ashley-Cooper and David Pocock were the brightest stars on show as Australia set up a World Cup final date with New Zealand.
‘AAC’ registered an amazing hat-trick to finally take the win from Argentina’s shimmering sails in a 29-15 triumph. Pocock has twice returned from career threatening knee injuries. Argentina would be forgiven for wishing he never came back.
The Wallabies No.8 resumed his breakdown-dominating partnership with Michael Hooper and secured a number of crucial turnovers in a frantic World Cup semi-final win.
Michael Cheika’s Australia were given a few nervous moments by an Argentina side that eliminated Ireland in the quarter-finals and who ran the ball with wilful abandon.
Argentina were slow to get into the game and Australia made them pay.
While the Pumas led Ireland 17-0 after 15 minutes, in their quarter-final, Australia flew out of the traps. Tries for Rob Simmons and Ashley-Cooper – the latter following a wonderful looping pass from Bernard Foley – saw Argentina trail 14-3.
Nicolas Sanchez did his utmost to keep his side in the match with penalties but another Ashley Cooper try gave the Aussies breathing room.
Just about everything was going the Wallabies’ way, barring the scrum. In that contest, Argentina monstered them and Sanchez kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The clinching score arrived on 72 minutes when Drew Mitchell went on a mazy run for the ages. The Toulon back sprinted up the left flank before traversing the pitch and finding Ashley-Cooper in space to score his third try.
