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Three tries from Adam Ashley-Cooper helped Australia beat a spirited Argentina 29-15 and seal their place in the Rugby World Cup final next Saturday against their fierce rivals New Zealand.
The Wallabies shot out of the blocks with two tries in 10 minutes. The lock Rob Simmons scripted a Nicolas Sanchez pass and intercepted the ball to go all the way inside two minutes, and after the fly-half composed himself to land a penalty, Ashley-Cooper scored his first try after a beautifully floated miss pass from Bernard Foley.
The Pumas recovered and began making in-roads, but Ashley-Cooper’s second try of the half – a replica of his first as Giteau read the defence as Foley had – gave Australia a comfortable 19-9 lead at the break.
Sanchez landed his fourth penalty of the match to reduce the deficit to just one score only for Foley to restore the lead, but when the Pumas’ 10 landed his fifth effort at goal the raucous fans started to believe.
Argentina knocked at the door and it took a stern defence to keep them out, but when a scintillating run from his own half took Drew Mitchell across the pitch from left to right, Ashley-Cooper was given a simple run in for his hat-trick to seal the victory.
So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery below to find out.
Show all 30 1 /30Argentina vs Australia player ratings Argentina vs Australia player ratings <b>Argentina:</b> Joaquin Tuculet - 6 out of 10 Good support for Amorosino’s break that should have resulted in a scoring chance, but the full-back lost the ball. Nervy start to the match, but performed much better after the break.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Santiago Cordero - 6 out of 10 His attacking running was extremely useful as he found the smallest of gaps, but his defence – especially in the first-half – was all over the place.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Marcelo Bosch - 6 out of 10 Brought in for the magnificent Matias Moroni, Bosch was a more sound defensive option. Held his own against Kuridrani, though only had one good break with the ball in hand.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Juan Martin Hernandez - 5 out of 10 Started the move at the end of the first half that nearly resulted in a try, but it was his pass that was slightly behind Tuculet. He picked up a knock early in the match though and never recovered, eventually leaving the field shortly after the break.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Juan Imhoff - 5 out of 10 Made one darting runs to gain some momentum, but his next tackle saw him receive a worrying blow to the head and that ended his day’s work early. A real shame as he's been one of the players of the tournament.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Nicolas Sanchez - 6 out of 10 Faultless with the boot as he landed all five kicks at goal, but his creativity turned against him as Argentina struggled with the Australian rush defence. It was his pass that was intercepted for the opening try, but while his skills have dazzled in the World Cup today they hindered.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Martin Landajo - 5 out of 10 It takes something to keep the exciting Tomas Cubelli on the bench, but Landajo hasn’t quite shown he possesses that. Lacked direction and his box-kicking wasn’t to the standard needed in a World Cup semi-final.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Marcos Ayerza - 7 out of 10 The one advantage Argentina held was in the scrum where Ayerza again enjoyed success. Wasn’t able to get his hands on the ball regularly though.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Augustin Creevy - 5 out of 10 Forced off the field after half an hour with what seemed to be a leg injury.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Ramiro Herrera - 8 out of 10 Herrera made a complete mess of Slipper in the scrum that not only produced points for his side but also saw off the loosehead prop after 52 minutes. His contribution in defence was noticeable too, and it was a much better showing than last time out when he should have seen red.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Guido Petti - 6 out of 10 Never in a million years should he have seen yellow for a shoulder charge on Israel Folau. He returned with the bit between his teeth and ran hard, before being replaced by Matias Alemanno short of the hour mark.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Tomas Lavanini - 6 out of 10 Became more prominent as the game wore on, although he was unable to secure ball at the lineout as he and replacement hooker Julian Montoya faltered.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Pablo Matera - 6 out of 10 Has improved by the game during the World Cup but he could not impose on the Australian back-row as he has done the smaller nations.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe - 7 out of 10 Seeing him at full throttle with the ball is a joy to watch and it happens more than should be expected. Nearly sent De La Fuente away late on when the pumas were chasing the game.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Leonardo Senatore - 6 out of 10 The No 8 disappointed as he failed to carry over the gainline. Withdrawn from the action fairly early in the second half for Facundo Isa, and he didn’t looked best pleased about it.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings <b>Australia:</b>Israel Folau - 6 out of 10 Has looked a shadow of himself during this tournament and it may be that he’s not 100 per cent fit. His one telling contribution was to kick the ball into his own team-mate, Kuridrani, and he was replaced by Matt Toomua late on.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Adam Ashley-Cooper - 8 out of 10 He won’t have many easier hat-tricks. Matt Giteau laid the first two on a plate for him, although he intelligently came across to the left to bag his second as all good wingers do. His third was a simple case of picking the ball up and putting it down where he wanted.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Tevita Kuridrani - 7 out of 10 He couldn’t impose himself on the Argentinean backs, though that didn’t stop him from trying. Tackled very well out wide given that most of the opposition were half his size and twice as agile.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Matt Giteau - 9 out of 10 Proved the worth of a play-making 12 as he pulled the strings, creating Ashley-Copoper’s second try. He took on the brunt of kicking in open play too, although the sight of him limping off after 48 minutes will be cause for concern.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Drew Mitchell - 8 out of 10 Such a strong runner when he has the ball. His crowning moment came when he ran from his own half and jinked across the pitch to beat defender after defender before feeding Ashley-Cooper for the try that sealed it. There’s something about Twickenham that brings the best out of him.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Bernard Foley - 7 out of 10 Happy to let Giteau take control after his wobbly performance last week. He missed one effort at goal, part apart from that he did what he needed. A neat chip over the defence before collecting it nearly produced a try for his side.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings Will Genia - 7 out of 10 Much better today as he knew when to attack and when to clear his lines. Looked to control things from the base and ordered his forwards around like the general he once was.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 1. James Slipper - 4 out of 10 Absolutely monstered in the scrum as he conceded four penalties before being replaced by World Cup debutant Toby Smith after 50 minutes.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 2. Stephen Moore - 6 out of 10 Reliable at the lineout and a workaholic with the ball, but it’s his leadership that is beginning to stand out. Knows how to speak to referees without getting on the wrong side of them.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 3. Sekope Kepu - 5 out of 10 Actually performed ok given he was up against Ayerza, though he gave away a penalty in the first half and will feel he could have contributed more.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 4. Kane Douglas - out of 10 Impressive in the lineout as he continues to come of age. Looked to get involved much more when the ball was chucked about at will and justified his selection ahead of Dean Mumm.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 5. Rob Simmons - 8 out of 10 Read Sanchez’s pass from a mile away to score after just a minute, and he contested the ball superbly whenever it was airborne.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 6. Scott Fardy - 8 out of 10 Fardy is becoming just as important to the back-row as Michael Hooper is. The blindside does more carrying than anyone with the ball and is a beast in defence. He may not get the plaudits but he has been every bit as good as his fellow flanker.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 7. Michael Hooper - 8 out of 10 He never runs out of gas. Gave the Argentina defence a torrid time as he led the rush defence, usually taking aim at the 10 and 12.
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Argentina vs Australia player ratings 8. David Pocock - 9 out of 10 We’re fast running out of superlatives for the back-row master of the breakdown. By the 20th minute he had already secured three turnovers – two of them as penalties – and Argentina hadn’t had that much possession by then. Ferocious in defence too, and he lifts the side by example.
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