Argentina’s entry into the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship, alongside Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, has been credited with much of their recent improvement – they finished above the Proteas in this year’s standings.
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Australia’s hero was Bernard Foley as he landed a last minute penalty, contentiously awarded by South Africa referee Craig Joubert.
“Its a penalty and that’s the way it works”.
“He played well, he carried out the game plan very well”, Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade told reporters.
“We’re not at their level but we’re improving”.
The Pool D winners were made to pay for a nightmare start and poor defending, going 17-0 down by the quarter hour mark with Matias Moroni and Juan Imhoff scorching over for converted tries on the right.
As they often are, the Wallabies will be firm favourites when the two countries clash on Sunday (Monday AEDT) in a World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.
“It is pretty tough”, said Scotland coach Vern Cotter.
Injuries and suspensions may have hurt Ireland today… but so they remain, having never made it to a RWC semifinal.
As for the penalty Cotter said he would look at it later. “He’s the type of guy who will go back and watch the game probably five times tonight”, Nathan White, the prop said.
It’s not something which you could have said of previous Argentine sides who, despite boasting champion halfback Agustin Pichot for three World Cup campaigns, rarely had enough backline brilliance to trouble opponents. “We were very conscious that was what they could do, and we had to be ready to stop that”.
A scintillating opening quarter in which they raced out to a 17-0 lead proved to be the bedrock of their victory despite a spirited Irish comeback to within three points at 23-20.
FORMER captain George Gregan has warned the Wallabies to beware of the Graham Henry factor when they play Argentina for a place in the Rugby World Cup final.
Clinical finishing from full-back Joaquin Tuculet and Imhoff for tries in the last 11 minutes also ensured Argentina would match their breakthrough achievement of reaching the last four in 2007.
It is understood that the players, who have now been released back to their clubs, will have a few weeks off before returning to the pitch.
Man-of-the-match Sanchez converted both and added another penalty as Argentina put the gloss on a very impressive display. We are very happy.
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe was mercurial for the Pumas, in a back-row that was dominant throughout with Pablo Matera and Facundo Isa putting in incredible performances.
“We just did not get the start that we needed, particularly with a group low on experience”, said Schmidt.
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With all the talk coming into the game surrounding the injuries picked up by Ireland in the last game against France, they suffered yet more misfortune early in the game when Tommy Bowe had to be stretchered off.
