Australia vs Argentina - Rugby World Cup Semi Final

RAIN and injury clouds continued to unhappily linger over key Wallabies at their London training base overnight.

Star trio David Pocock, Israel Folau and Scott Sio played next-to no part in Australian training sessions and remain in considerable doubt to play against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Monday.

Pocock (calf strain) didn’t train, but instead rode an exercise bike, while Folau ran for a short while before leaving the field and icing his injured ankle again.

Sio (elbow) also participated briefly but appears to be in major doubt to line up against the Pumas.
David Pocock is restricted to working on the stationary bike during a Wallabies training session.

David Pocock is restricted to working on the stationary bike during a Wallabies training session.Source:Reuters

Coach Michael Cheika has conveyed an optimistic tone this week about Pocock and Folau, and said he’ll give them both as long as possible to prove their fitness.

The indications are that Sio’s elbow is more serious but he will not be replaced.

But with the Wallabies having a day off on Thursday, Pocock and Folau would likely have only one more chance to engage in their first full training session on Friday and be a chance of making the team — which is named on Saturday morning (AEDT).

Kurtley Beale and Ben McCalman would keep their roles at fullback and no. 8 in the event of both being ruled out, while James Slipper is in line to step up for Sio.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/r...-1227577974869

Slipper was schooled by the Argies in the scrum in the game in Argentina a few months back. Sio made a huge difference off the bench. Pocock has been outstanding. Without a real fetcher we really struggle...see last week. Beales is in good touch. We have plenty of quality backs. Its a shame Henry Speight isnt getting any game time. Injuries are the curse of the end of tournament...see Ireland. Here's hoping we can get the job done and have our best team on the paddock for the final. If you wanted the darkness to play anybody prior to a world cup final...you would want it to be the boks. They will bash them.

Sio officially ruled out. Hopefully we can at least get parity with Slipper. We can get by without Folau but will likely lose the breakdown without Bam unless Fardy has another blinder and keeps us in that contest. $3.10 Argentina is overs, 6.5 line is the go. Wallabies by 2.

Sio was never going to be fit for this game, hopefully he is a chance for the final should we beat the Argies.

Agree that we can get by without Folau as Beale has actually playing well this tournament but I think we need Pocock.

Don't give the Argies a fast start like the Irish did or we'll get to play in the game that no one wants to play in.

Argies have been playing great rugby, they have benefited enormously from the Rugby Championship. Shows were the Rugby at the highest level is played.

It seems these days the RWC is not about who is best, but who is left.

Still think we can win without Pocock with Hooper at 7 and McCalman at 8, Sio is the big concern for me. Our scrum in the group stage was our platform onto bigger and better things and sio was the reason for that, terrible refereeing in the QF to allow our man to be injured by Scotland's illegal tactics :P. just want to see parity in the scrum

Maybe name pocock on the bench and bring him on for the last 20. hope cheika has tapered off the hard stuff now in training and we put them away in the last 30.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Herbasimplex

Argies have been playing great rugby, they have benefited enormously from the Rugby Championship. Shows were the Rugby at the highest level is played.

It seems these days the RWC is not about who is best, but who is left.

Still think we can win without Pocock with Hooper at 7 and McCalman at 8, Sio is the big concern for me. Our scrum in the group stage was our platform onto bigger and better things and sio was the reason for that, terrible refereeing in the QF to allow our man to be injured by Scotland's illegal tactics :P. just want to see parity in the scrum

Maybe name pocock on the bench and bring him on for the last 20. hope cheika has tapered off the hard stuff now in training and we put them away in the last 30.

---

I think this is a good option. I would say Pocock at 90% is still better than McMahon so if the game is really tight at the end you can bring Pocock off the bench to win some crucial penalties. Otherwise if we are well in front (hopefully) then he can stay on the bench. You could do the same with Folau but we probably have more versatility with someone else on the bench.

FOLAU AND POCOCK FIT FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL

10/23/2015


David Pocock will return to the starting side for Australia’s semi-final clash with Argentina.

David Pocock and Israel Folau will return to action for the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup 2015 Semi-Final against Argentina at Twickenham on Sunday (Monday 3am AEDT).

Pocock (calf) and Folau (ankle) have been declared fit for the clash after Friday's training session and will take their place in the starting XV, along with prop James Slipper who replaces the injured Scott Sio.

Slipper, who captained the side against the USA Eagles in Chicago last month, will start at loosehead prop while Toby Smith comes on to the reserves bench as the Wallabies prepare for their sixth appearance in a Rugby World Cup Semi-Final.

The match will be Slipper's 73rd in the gold jersey, making the 26-year-old the most capped Wallabies prop in history, surpassing Benn Robinson (72 Tests).

Vice-captain Michael Hooper will also celebrate a milestone with his 50th Test appearance in the final four clash, as the Wallabies battle for a place in the Rugby World Cup Final.

Drew Mitchell will once again line up on the wing, needing just one more try to draw level with Bryan Habana and Jonah Lomu as the all-time Rugby World Cup leading try scorer.

With the return of Pocock and Folau, Quarter-Final starters Ben McCalman and Kurtley Beale revert to the bench.

Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika said: “James has been pushing for a starting spot with his performances as a finisher and I know he’ll take it with both hands.

“James is a leader in our squad and has performed well through this tournament so far and in the lead-up matches.

“This weekend is a great opportunity for the lads to improve on last week and take advantage of the chance to play on such a big stage.

“This weekend we want to make Australia proud of their team.”

Wallabies team to play Argentina in Rugby World Cup 2015 Semi-Final #2 at Twickenham, London, Sunday, October 25, 4pm local time (3am Monday, October 26 AEDT)

LIVE on FOX SPORTS 502 from 2:15am AEDT and GEM from 2:30am AEDT Monday



1. James Slipper (72 Tests)

2. Stephen Moore (c) (100 Tests)

3. Sekope Kepu (61 Tests)

4. Kane Douglas (21 Tests)

5. Rob Simmons (58 Tests)

6. Scott Fardy (28 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (vc) (49 Tests)

8. David Pocock (53 Tests)

9. Will Genia (64 Tests)

10. Bernard Foley (25 Tests)

11. Drew Mitchell (68 Tests)

12. Matt Giteau (100 Tests)

13. Tevita Kuridrani (29 Tests)

14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc) (112 Tests)

15. Israel Folau (36 Tests)

Reserves

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (59 Tests)

17. Toby Smith (2 Tests)

18. Greg Holmes (22 Tests)

19. Dean Mumm (42 Tests)

20. Ben McCalman (45 Tests)

21. Nick Phipps (36 Tests)

22. Matt Toomua (29 Tests)

23. Kurtley Beale (58 Tests)

I get the whole no tomorrow thing, but I hope to god bam is genuinely fit. I think we're a good chance of winning it with him in the side, but can't afford to have him crocked for the final should we make it.

Maybe McCalman should come on once their back is broken.

I hope Simmons and Slipper both had some training on their play, so they dont fuck up like last week.

Phew!

I've never seen a more low-key team in victory. They were knackered.

Couldn't help feeling a bit emotional for the Argentinians too.

ADAM Ashley-Cooper scored a hat-trick of tries as Australia ended Argentina’s hopes of a first World Cup final appearance with a 29-15 win at Twickenham on Monday (AEDT).

The Wallabies will now face defending champions New Zealand, 20-18 winners over South Africa on Sunday (AEDT), in next weekend’s final.

Australia and New Zealand, the only two unbeaten teams at this tournament, will be bidding to win the World Cup for a record third time.

Australia led 19-9 at halftime after Rob Simmons’ early try was followed by two from Ashley-Cooper.

The valiant Pumas, who came from 14-0 down to beat Australia 21-17 last year for their first win in the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, narrowed the gap.

But Ashley-Cooper’s third try, 10 minutes from time, sealed a win for Australia, the reigning Rugby Championship titleholders who have undergone a revival since coach Michael Cheika took charge last year.

Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez kicked all of the Pumas’ points with five penalties, in front of an 80,025 crowd that included Argentina football great Diego Maradona.

Defeat meant Argentina, also beaten semi-finalists in 2007, will now face South Africa in Saturday’s (AEDT) third-place playoff.

Argentina recalled centre Marcelo Bosch, back from suspension, in their only change to the side that overwhelmed Ireland 43-20 in the quarter-finals.

Australia made three changes with the fit-again full-back Israel Folau and No 8 David Pocock returning in place of Kurtley Beale and Ben McCalman respectively.

Pocock, badly missed at the breakdown by Australia in their nailbiting 35-34 quarter-final win over Scotland forced several turnovers on Monday (AEDT).

A dry day made conditions ideal for running rugby and it took Australia just 68 seconds to score the game’s first try when lock forward Simmons intercepted Sanchez’s inside pass.

Bernard Foley added the easy conversion and Australia led 7-0.

Fly-half Foley was then involved at the other end when, after Argentina exploited a huge gap in Australia’s cover, he made a try-saving tackle on Bosch.

But an offence in the build-up led to an easy penalty for Sanchez.

Thoughts of an immediate Argentina revival were dashed when Australia scored their second try in the ninth minute.

A knocked-on tap and go from Pumas scrum-half Martin Landajo led to an Australia scrum, much improved under he guidance of former Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma, before Foley’s miss-pass freed left wing Ashley-Cooper for a try in the corner.

Foley kicked a tricky conversion and Argentina, who scored two early tries against Ireland, now found themselves on the receiving end with Australia in charge at 14-3.

The Pumas suffered another setback when in-form wing Juan Imhoff went off injured in the 18th minute.

Argentina forced a 23rd-minute scrum penalty and Sanchez, becoming the tournament’s leading points scorer as he passed the 79-point tally of Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw and South Africa’s Handre Pollard, cut Australia’s lead to 14-6.

Argentina, however, found themselves a man down in the 26th minute when lock Tomas Lavanini was sent to the sin bin by English referee Wayne Barnes for a ‘no-arms’ tackle on Folau.

The sheer speed as much as anything else prevented a fair challenge.

Things got worse for Argentina when influential skipper and hooker Agustin Creevy went off on the half-hour mark.

Australia were now encamped in Argentina’s 22 and the pressure told when another miss-pass, this time from centre Matt Giteau, sent in Ashley-Cooper for his second try.

Foley did not convert, but Australia were 19-6 up before Sanchez’s third penalty cut their lead to 10 points.

That was how the match stayed until the break but it could have been so different had the Pumas scored a try in the closing moments of the half.

Argentina wing Santiago Cordero broke clear and offloaded to Juan Martin Hernadez but, in sight of the line, the centre’s pass went behind full-back Joaquin Tuculet and the chance was lost.

In the second half, Sanchez kicked two penalties either side of a Foley effort to leave Australia 22-15 in front.

Argentina pressed hard in the final quarter before a cross-field run by Drew Mitchell opened up their defence and led to a try for fellow wing Ashley-Cooper.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/ru...the-all-blacks

I thought Wayne Barnes was ordinary....not inconsistent, but he just didn't seem to want to make any call at all.

The ball on the floor was a bloody mess, with both sides realising that the support had about a week to get in and disrupt the pilfer for Barnes to call that he didn't survive the cleanout.

Some of the scrum calls were mystifying as well, however I think the Argies were playing with the ref as much as the Wallabies, they were clearly superior and used us as a training session to work on not gettign caught rolling under and pulling out of the hit and getting away with it.

/agree Gigs, a completely different approach to the breakdown had us amazed while we watched it in the wee small hours. Made Poey and Fardie's game even more impressive.

I was thinking, pretty much every time he's written about or mentioned in the commentary, Scott Fardy is called the most underrated forward in the Wallaby pack. At what point does he stop being underrated? :)

When the people who write about him actually notice the massive amount of work he does in the team during the game, rather than reading the stats and being surprised by it.

Just a figure of speech really. I think everyone knows how good he's going. His workaholic efforts allow Hooper to play his unorthodox game. I was sceptical but it's been an absolute winning combination in the back row. More credits to the coach.

I think there might have been a hint of sarcasm about Sheik's post - as in we hear every 5 minutes about how he's flying under the radar...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sheikh

I was thinking, pretty much every time he's written about or mentioned in the commentary, Scott Fardy is called the most underrated forward in the Wallaby pack. At what point does he stop being underrated? :)

---

Never heard of the bludger :rolleyes: