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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.
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| 1 |
0 - 5 |
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.
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| 2 |
0 - 7 |
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| 3 |
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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...
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| 4 |
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Penalty to Argentina, taken quickly, and some more poor handling gifts the Australian's possession again. Nervy start from the South American's.
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| 5 |
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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.
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| 6 |
3 - 7 |
Sanchez - penalty goal
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| 8 |
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Games slowed again, and another knock on in the Arg 22 has gifted the Australian's the scrum...
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| 9 |
3 - 12 |
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.
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| 10 |
3 - 14 |
Foley - conversion
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| 12 |
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Bash, barge, bash, barge. Argentina struggling to gain any significant territory, but they do have the ball.
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| 13 |
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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.
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| 14 |
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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.
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| 16 |
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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...
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| 18 |
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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...
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| 19 |
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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.
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| 20 |
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Arg five metre lineout...
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| 21 |
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Australia scrum now and the advantage has swung back. Still five metres out...
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| 23 |
6 - 14 |
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.
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| 25 |
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Australia on the push with some authority here. Power from their forwards is phenomenal, Argentina just look a bit shell shocked.
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| 26 |
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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.
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| 27 |
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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.
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| 28 |
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Penalty given against Australia though for an early shove. Screwed that up and they've gifted Arg some territory again.
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| 29 |
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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.
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| 30 |
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Wallabies are swarming forward here, try looming...
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| 31 |
6 - 19 |
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.
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| 32 |
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...Foley has ruined that conversion kick, though.
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| 35 |
9 - 19 |
Argentina have managed a penalty though after Kepu's penalised. Chance for Sanchez to save a few points.
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| 36 |
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Neat kick and Pumas are now 10 points adrift.
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| 37 |
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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.
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| 38 |
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| 39 |
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Argentina are struggling to get any bodies forward. Australia, once again, proving dominant at the breakdown.
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| 40 |
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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...
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| 40+1 |
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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. "
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| 40 |
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Foley kicks us off. The second half is underway and the Pumas have 40 minutes to save their World Cup.
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| 41 |
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And Australia are gifted the first opportunity for points. Foley's lining up the kick from quite far out, roughly 40-ish metres.
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| 42 |
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Like his last kick, it's gone wide. Let off for Argentina.
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| 43 |
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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?
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| 44 |
12 - 19 |
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...
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| 45 |
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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.
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| 47 |
12 - 22 |
Australia penalty now from 27 metres out with Foley to take...and he finally makes one count. Three points to Aus.
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| 48 |
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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.
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| 49 |
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Australia win the turnover AGAIN. Hooper wasn't involved that time, but they've kick and it's back in Arg hands.
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| 50 |
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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.
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| 51 |
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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.
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| 52 |
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Argentina penalty on the very edge of the right flank for an offside...kicked for the corner.
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| 53 |
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Much more kickable penalty for Argentina here as Aus are penalised for collapsing the maul from the lineout.
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| 54 |
15 - 22 |
Nerves of steel. Tremendous kicker Sanchez. Adds the extra three.
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| 55 |
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Australian lineout along their right. Tuculet had to kick away the danger as Australia threatened again.
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| 57 |
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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.
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| 58 |
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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.
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| 59 |
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| 60 |
15 - 22 |
We've got another lineout now with Australia to throw - their ninth of the game.
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| 61 |
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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.
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| 62 |
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Folau penalised, another scrum to Arg - their fourth - along half way.
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| 63 |
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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.
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| 64 |
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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.
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| 65 |
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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.
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| 66 |
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Australia attacking again but Hooper loses the ball and the Pumas just about manage to clear.
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| 68 |
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Australia move it phase seven in attack but Kurtley Beale drops it - poor from him. Argentina turn to have a go...
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| 69 |
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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.
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| 70 |
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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.
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| 71 |
15 - 27 |
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.
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| 72 |
15 - 29 |
Foley - conversion
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| 73 |
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| 74 |
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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.
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| 76 |
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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.
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| 77 |
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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.
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| 78 |
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Phase nine...
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| 79 |
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Ah, Ashley-Cooper kicks down field and it's very nearly time to call it a day. Both sets of players look absolutely knackered.
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| 80 |
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IT'S OVER! AUSTRALIA WILL FACE NEW ZEALAND IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL!
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| 80+1 |
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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. "
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