Australia beat Argentina to reach Rugby World Cup final

Summary

Semi-final result: Argentina 15-29 Australia
Simmons, Ashley-Cooper 3 tries, Foley 3 cons, 1 pen
Five Sanchez penalties for Argentina
Australia to play New Zealand in final
Use audio icon to listen to Radio 5 live sports extra commentary

Live Reporting

Mike Henson

Argentina 15-29 Australiapublished at 18:40
Just two matches to go.
South Africa v Argentina on Friday 29 October. 20:00 GMT kick-off at the Olympic Stadium.
New Zealand v Australia on Saturday 31 October. 16:00 GMT kick-off at Twickenham.
We will see you there. Bye for now.
Get involvedpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
#bbcrugby
Praise from the Pumaspublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Classy stuff from Argentina...
Match statspublished at 18:29
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Argentina-Australia
Tries: 0-4
Penalties kicked: 5/5-1/2
Tackles: 95-142
Missed tackles: 28-33
Carries: 137-98
Metres: 556-352
Defenders beaten: 33-28
Clean breaks: 13-7
Turnovers conceded: 21-13
Possession: 55%-45%
Territory: 54%-46%
Australia reach the finalpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Australia's defensive line has been battered more in the past 80 minutes than it has been throughout the whole tournament. That's literally - as the pictures of David Pocock's bloodied face show. And metaphorically - as the tackling statistics show. The Wallabies were forced into more tackles by the Pumas than any other opponent at this World Cup.
Image source, #bbcrugby
Player reaction - Pocockpublished at 18:20
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Image source, Getty
Australia number eight David Pocock on ITV: "It was incredibly tough - as we knew it would be. Credit to Argentina, it was physical, but both teams looked to use the ball and both teams were working hard until the 80th minute.
"I thought there were a few pieces of finishing from our back line which was the difference but it was tough."
Aussie blueprintpublished at 18:17
The blueprint for Australia for next Saturday's final against New Zealand will be 8 August.
The Wallabies trailed the All Blacks 19-17 with 11 minutes left in their Rugby Championship decider on that day.
But a 10-point scoring burst from replacement scrum-half Nic White turned the tables and put the silverware on the Aussies' mantelpiece.
Image source, Getty Images
Get involvedpublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
#bbcrugby
'We can improve'published at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Image source, AP
Quote Message
What we did was let the game open up which suited them. I'm really happy with the lads' defence. We had to work hard to stop them from scoring a try. We can improve again and that's really important now. Now tonight we can think we've given ourselves a chance to play in a final and we will work out how we will do it against a dynamic team.
Australia head coach Michael Cheika
"Ignore the whinging poms"published at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch is happy.
Postpublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
"This performance from Argentina was amazing. The way they've adapted their game with their back line - they have come on leaps and bounds. They will grow and grow. This will give them heart to perform at a higher level."
Lies, damned lies and statisticspublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Do statistics tell the full story? Nope, not always. Argentina shaded possession and edged territory, but the more adventurous Australians deserve their place in the World Cup final after a four-try win.
Image source, #bbcrugby
Get involvedpublished at 18:01
#bbcrugby
"Fair bit out of the tank"published at 18:00
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Image source, AP
Quote Message
It was a tough game and we knew it would be. We had to defend a lot. We have an opportunity in a final now. That took a fair bit out of the tank. We know the task next week is huge, we have to recover well.
Australia captain Stephen Moore
"One hell of a final"published at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
"Australia when the opportunities came were so clinical. The skill level was very high. There's a huge question mark over the front five and whether New Zealand will exploit that. But purely on their finishing, they will be a threat in the final. If they get parity against New Zealand in that front five it will be one hell of a final."
Australia reach the finalpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Image source, #bbcrugby
Get involvedpublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
#bbcrugby
Argentina 15-29 Australiapublished at FT
Image source, Getty Images
Australia coach Michael Chieka folds away his glasses and shakes a supporter's hand. It was the result he expected, mission still to be fully accomplished.
Argentina counterpart Daniel Hourcade by contrast is melting into slow, tired tears.
A dream has died. But what a thing of beauty it was while it lived.
Full-timepublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Image source, Getty Images
Hat-trick heropublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 October 2015
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Image source, #bbcrugby