Argentina will have to overcome a 10-point deficit if they are to reach a first Rugby World Cup final after conceding three tries to Australia in the first half of this afternoon's semi-final contest at Twickenham.
In the 46th match of the tournament, Australia registered the quickest score of the World Cup so far to take an early 7-0 lead. Lock Rob Simmons picked off a loose pass and charged clear to go over for his first-ever World Cup try after just 67 seconds, with Bernard Foley converting from a central position.
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Nicolas Sanchez got Argentina on the board with a penalty down the other end, but Australia were threatening every time they got in Los Pumas' half and they had their second try before the 10-minute mark.
Foley was the creator, looping an arced pass to the right wing where Adam Ashley-Cooper collected and charged over in the corner for his 35th Test try. From a much tougher position, Foley, who struggled with his kicking in the quarter-final win over Scotland, again split the posts.
Argentina's defence was shaky in the opening minutes, but they soon settled down and got the crowd going with some big tackles and good rucking.
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Their top try-scorer in the tournament Juan Imhoff had to go off injured in the 18th minute, but it didn't dampen Los Pumas' momentum as more strong play at the breakdown won them a penalty which Sanchez kicked home from out wide.
Argentina were getting more and more into the match, but they handed the initiative back to the Wallabies with 15 minutes of the half remaining when Tomas Lavanini was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Israel Folau.
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Lavanini did appear to be harshly yellow-carded and Australia made their numerical advantage pay thanks to a second try from Ashley-Cooper. This time he was found on the left touchline, but Foley could not convert from a tight angle.
Australia conceded seven penalties in the opening 40 and the metronomic boot of Sanchez cut the deficit to 10 in the 35th minute.
It would have been less at half time, but Los Pumas missed the chance to score a try in the final minute of the half after as Joaquin Tuculet knocked on with the tryline at his mercy after Santiago Cordero surged through the Australian defence.
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