AUS
No.Name
15Israel Folau, FB
14Adam Ashley-Cooper, W
T
3
13Tevita Kuridrani, C
12Matt Giteau, C
11Drew Mitchell, W
10Bernard Foley, FH
3
9Will Genia, SH
1James Slipper, P
2Stephen Moore, H
3Sekope Kepu, P
4Kane Douglas, L
5Rob Simmons, L
T
6Scott Fardy, FL
7Michael Hooper, FL
8David Pocock, N8
Replacements
16Tatafu Polota-Nau, R
17Toby Smith, R
18Greg Holmes, R
19Dean Mumm, R
20Ben McCalman, R
21Nick Phipps, R
22Matt To'omua, R
23Kurtley Beale, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
12:00 PM, October 25, 2015
Attendance: 80,025
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'FULL TIME ANALYSIS

ESPN's Sam Bruce @SamBruce86 had this to say:

"It was Adam Ashley-Cooper's evening at Twickenham on Sunday as the Wallabies booked themselves a final showdown with the All Blacks next Saturday. The Aussie winger picked up a hat-trick as his side held off a determined second-half rally from the Pumas to triumph 29-15. Ashley-Cooper had Bernard Foley and Drew Mitchell to thank for two of his tries while the third was merely a catch and dive following a cut-out pass from veteran Matt Giteau. While Ashley-Cooper will dominate the highlights reel, many of the plaudits will go to No.8 David Pocock. The Wallabies back-rower, who had been under an injury cloud all week, was immense in defence and at the tackle, and was ably supported by fellow forwards Scott Fardy and Michael Hooper. The Pumas will look back on the match with disappointment after they created a number of fine attacking opportunities but were constantly repelled by some determined, and often last-ditch, Wallabies defence. "
81'29-15 End of second half
80'IT'S OVER! AUSTRALIA WILL FACE NEW ZEALAND IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL!
79'Ah, Ashley-Cooper kicks down field and it's very nearly time to call it a day. Both sets of players look absolutely knackered.
78'Phase nine...
77'But it's not over as Cordero darts past a couple, spurring the crowd on. They're not giving up yet. They've now made it to phase seven as they look for that opening. They do deserve a try.
76'Australia continuing to do what they've done well all game and keep them Argentinian ball carriers at bay. Another scrum now, this time on the Pumas 22 line. Another chance for the men in yellow to shut this game out.
74'Argentina again on the back foot and we've got an Australian scrum on half way. This will pleasantly burn down the minutes for Cheika's side.
73'
73'29-15 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
72'27-15 Try - Adam Ashley-Cooper , Australia
71'AUSTRALIA TRY!
HAT TRICK FOR ASHLEY-COOPER!

Words can't put into words what Drew Mitchell has done right there but I'll have to try. He's received the pass along the left wing, runs it in a diagonal direction towards the right corner, dodging seven or eight tackles, before chucking it to Ashley-Cooper who has little to do besides ground it. Really great rugby, one definitely worth checking out online.
71'Substitute on - Ben McCalman , Australia
71'Player substituted - Scott Fardy , Australia
70'Nope, they've been pushed back. Similar story to the entire game. Australia's defence is simply a monster. Don't think Argentina have had a sniff at a try all game.
69'Phenomenal tackle from Pocock to calm that Argentina onslaught, but the Pumas still have ball in hand... Can they push this one all the way... They're on the edge of the 22.
68'Australia move it phase seven in attack but Kurtley Beale drops it - poor from him. Argentina turn to have a go...
67'Substitute on - Dean Mumm , Australia
67'Player substituted - Rob Simmons , Australia
67'Substitute on - Nick Phipps , Australia
67'Player substituted - Will Genia , Australia
66'Australia attacking again but Hooper loses the ball and the Pumas just about manage to clear.
65'Genia's threatening kick and chase just about bundles into Argentinian hands they've andmanaged to nullify that brief threat. Argentina playing a risky, more open game but time is running out and they need points.
65'Player substituted - Israel Folau , Australia
65'Substitute on - Matt To'omua , Australia
64'Just as I was about to type how well Argentina had done to get within 10 metres of the try, Australia win on the deck again and the kick releases pressure. On another note, Folau's ankle has gone and he's off.
63'Much better Wallabies scrum but Argentina just about manage to keep the ball. They're trying the left channel now as they look for that vital try. Time is running out.
62'Folau penalised, another scrum to Arg - their fourth - along half way.
61'Not a particularly impressive lineout, the Pumas pounce and have the ball back themselves within 20 seconds. Game is rapidly slowing down, no thanks to the set piece.
61'Player substituted - Ben McCalman , Australia
61'Substitute on - Scott Fardy , Australia
61'Player substituted - Marcos Ayerza , Argentina
61'Substitute on - Lucas Noguera , Argentina
61'Substitute on - Juan Figallo , Argentina
61'Player substituted - Ramiro Herrera , Argentina
61'Drop goal-missed
60'We've got another lineout now with Australia to throw - their ninth of the game.
59'
59'Player substituted - Stephen Moore , Australia
59'Substitute on - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
58'Argentina's pack romps through that scrum and they've taken control, running the ball over to the other side of pitch. Ref quickly brings play back for their penalty however.
58'Player substituted - Guido Petti , Argentina
58'Substitute on - Matias Alemanno , Argentina
57'Australian build to phase 10, Foley's chip and chase proves fruitful as they gain a few extra metres, but the ref eventually awards the scrum on the right edge, inside the Pumas 22.
56'Player substituted - Scott Fardy , Australia
56'Substitute on - Ben McCalman , Australia
56'Substitute on - Tomas Cubelli , Argentina
56'Player substituted - Martin Landajo , Argentina
55'Australian lineout along their right. Tuculet had to kick away the danger as Australia threatened again.
55'22-15 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
54'Nerves of steel. Tremendous kicker Sanchez. Adds the extra three.
53'Much more kickable penalty for Argentina here as Aus are penalised for collapsing the maul from the lineout.
53'Player substituted - Sekope Kepu , Australia
53'Substitute on - Greg Holmes , Australia
53'Player substituted - James Slipper , Australia
53'Substitute on - Toby Smith , Australia
52'Argentina penalty on the very edge of the right flank for an offside...kicked for the corner.
51'This is like the Aus-Wales quarterfinal, but on the Wallabies 22 rather than their try line. Argentina smashing their way one by one into the Australian line, but they literally can not find anything. Superb defending.
50'Argentina have chucked a couple of nice phases together here, they've taken this one to phase eight so far on the edge of the Aus 22...Will this pay points, though.
49'Australia win the turnover AGAIN. Hooper wasn't involved that time, but they've kick and it's back in Arg hands.
49'Player substituted - Leonardo Senatore , Argentina
49'Substitute on - Facundo Isa , Argentina
48'Argentina look like they've taken a leaf out of their opponents book here as they're pushing Australia back into their own 22 for one of the only times this game. Folau has to kick.
48'22-12 Penalty goal - Bernard Foley , Australia
47'Australia penalty now from 27 metres out with Foley to take...and he finally makes one count. Three points to Aus.
47'Player substituted - Matt Giteau , Australia
47'Substitute on - Kurtley Beale , Australia
45'Cordero forces Giteau into touch down their right and the quick throw back into play doesn't launch the counter attack they were after. Aus back in possession.
45'19-12 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
44'Sanchez success. This is starting to look better for Argentina as they're notwjust a converted try back despite losing Imhoff and Creevy. Australia on the prowl now as they look to gain a bigger lead again, they're within the Arg 22 already...
44'Player substituted - Juan Martin Hernandez , Argentina
44'Substitute on - Jeronimo de la Fuente , Argentina
43'Powerful scrummaging from Argentina as they manage to obtain the penalty just outside the 22. Sanchez to take and show Foley how it's done, I guess?
42'Like his last kick, it's gone wide. Let off for Argentina.
41'And Australia are gifted the first opportunity for points. Foley's lining up the kick from quite far out, roughly 40-ish metres.
41'HALF TIME ANALYSIS

ESPN's Sam Bruce @SamBruce86 had this to say:

"Australia have scored three tries to none in the first half at Twickenham but the boot of Argentina fly-half Nicolas Sanchez has ensured the Pumas remain in the second semi-final. The unlikely source of Rob Simmons got the Wallabies rolling with a shock intercept try inside two minutes before Bernard Foley found Adam Ashley-Cooper with a delightful cut-out pass just seven minutes later. A yellow card, on the advice of the TMO, to Pumas lock Tomas Lavinini increased the pressure on the Pumas on 25 minutes and Ashley-Cooper soon had his second after a sound Wallabies build-up. The Pumas have looked dangerous in patches but a couple of key tackles from the Wallabies and poor final passes have the South Americans trailing 19-9 at the break. "
41'+119-9 End of first half
40'Foley kicks us off. The second half is underway and the Pumas have 40 minutes to save their World Cup.
40'So close! Just as we look like getting an Arg try after a great line break from Cordero, it's just about closed down by Australia. Cordero offloads right to Hernandez, but some later dodging handling from Tuculet restricts the full back from securing the looming five points. Scrum now...
40'19-9 Start of second half
39'Argentina are struggling to get any bodies forward. Australia, once again, proving dominant at the breakdown.
38'
37'Australia lineout is stolen by Argentina and they have the chance to build an attack, albeit from the back. Sanchez's line break gains a few yards, but they still have a lot of work to do.
36'Neat kick and Pumas are now 10 points adrift.
36'19-9 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
35'Argentina have managed a penalty though after Kepu's penalised. Chance for Sanchez to save a few points.
32'...Foley has ruined that conversion kick, though.
32'19-6 Try - Adam Ashley-Cooper , Australia
31'AUSTRALIA TRY!
Matt Giteau shows Ashley-Cooper the way to his second try down the left. Fantastic pass opened the path for the winger. Argentina completely stretched and couldn't hold out the bombarding Australian players.

31'Player substituted - Agustin Creevy , Argentina
31'Substitute on - Julian Montoya , Argentina
30'Wallabies are swarming forward here, try looming...
29'Creevy's off for Montoya. Going from bad to worse for Argentina. How do they save this. We've got another scrum just inside Arg territory after Aus manage to turn the ball over.
28'Penalty given against Australia though for an early shove. Screwed that up and they've gifted Arg some territory again.
27'Australia lineout deep in the Pumas 22 has come useful again. Driving maul leads to scrum from five metres out. Lineout once again proving a vital weapon in the Wallabies armory.
26'And that's just been proven as Tomas Lavanini has just been sin binned for a poor tackle on Folau - the ref penalised the forward for not tackling with his arms. Yellow not what Arg need right now.
26'Yellow card - Tomas Lavanini , Argentina
25'Australia on the push with some authority here. Power from their forwards is phenomenal, Argentina just look a bit shell shocked.
24'14-6 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
23'Well, that was painful viewing. It had to be reset twice, but eventually Australia fault for collapsing and Argentina gain the penalty. Impressive push from the Pumas, nice work.
21'Australia scrum now and the advantage has swung back. Still five metres out...
20'Arg five metre lineout...
19'Not a lot comes from the lineout and we're back to playing chess-like rugby on the half way. Each side taking their turn, but neither making much ground. Injury stoppages slowing the game massively.
18'Argentina have definitely have their fair share of the ball here but it's nearly all been in their 22. Australia quick and in their face immediately. We've got an Aus lineout along half way now...
18'Substitute on - Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino , Argentina
18'Player substituted - Juan Imhoff , Argentina
16'Australia have built it to phase 7, with Kepu carrying well, but they're quickly shut down and forced back 20 or so metres. We go again...
14'After a brief injury stoppage (no one seriously hurt), we're back to battling along the half way. Australia's lineout reintroduces play but it's not long before the ball is back in Argentina's grasp.
13'Australia have pushed the Argentina's so far back they've given it to Sanchez who's had to kick up field to get the men in yellow away. Cheika's side have come flying out but how long can they keep this up for. So far, Argentina look nothing like the side that beat Ireland last weekend.
12'Bash, barge, bash, barge. Argentina struggling to gain any significant territory, but they do have the ball.
11'14-3 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
10'12-3 Try - Adam Ashley-Cooper , Australia
9'AUSTRALIA TRY!
Looks so easy for the Wallabies. Fantastic scrum which pays dividends further along the line when Ashley-Cooper swiftly plants down in the corner. Simple, effective, ruthless. Huge challenge for Argentina now.
8'Games slowed again, and another knock on in the Arg 22 has gifted the Australian's the scrum...
7'7-3 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
5'Argentina exploit a huge gap in the Aus line and if it wasn't for Foley's very last gasp tackle on Bosch they would've definitely scored right under the sticks. Pumas attacked well just then and they've got a kick-able penalty for their efforts.
4'Penalty to Argentina, taken quickly, and some more poor handling gifts the Australian's possession again. Nervy start from the South American's.
3'And we've now got the first scrum just on the Wallabies 22 after a knock on. 30kg different in the packs, in favour of Australia, but will that show here? Arg to feed...
3'7-0 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
2'
2'5-0 Try - Rob Simmons , Australia
1'The Pumas get us under way here at Twickenham. Kick off is easily collected by Kuridrani who off loads to Foley, who then boots up field into Argentinian hands.

AUSTRALIA TRY!
Simmons! Suicide from Argentina as Sanchez's pass is intercepted just inside the Pumas half. Never looked comfortable as soon as he was given the ball and Argentina already have a mountain to climb.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the semifinal clash between Argentina and Australia!

Follow our men on the ground, Tom Hamilton @tomESPNscrum, Sam Bruce @SamBruce86 and Rob Bartlett @RobBartlettESPN, who'll be providing us with first hand insights straight from Twickenham.

You can read ESPN's preview, produced by Sam Bruce, HERE.

ARGENTINA XV: Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Marco Ayerza, Agustin Creevy, Ramiro Herrera, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Leonardo Senatore.

AUSTRALIA XV: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, David Pocock.

MATCH FACTS

  • Australia have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, including their most recent encounter in Mendoza this year.

  • Australia are tackling at an astonishing 98 percent success rate at this World Cup and are missing an average of just 15.4 tackles per match. The Pumas, meanwhile, can only boast an 85 percent success rate while missing an average of 25.2 tackles per match.

  • Pumas winger Juan Imhoff is having a tournament to remember with the rising star recording 10 clean breaks and five tries in five appearances. Bernard Foley has made the most breaks (7) by an Australian while Drew Mitchell has four tries.

1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby World Cup 2015 News