Argentina vs Australia player ratings: Adam Ashley-Cooper bags hat-trick but David Pocock leads the way for wonderful Wallabies

Man-for-man marking from Australia's 29-15 World Cup victory over Argentina on Sunday

Adam Ashley-Cooper dives over for the second of his three tries (Getty Images)

Three tries from Adam Ashley-Cooper helped Australia beat a spirited Argentina 29-15 and seal their place in the Rugby World Cup final next Saturday against their fierce rivals New Zealand.

The Wallabies shot out of the blocks with two tries in 10 minutes. The lock Rob Simmons scripted a Nicolas Sanchez pass and intercepted the ball to go all the way inside two minutes, and after the fly-half composed himself to land a penalty, Ashley-Cooper scored his first try after a beautifully floated miss pass from Bernard Foley.

The Pumas recovered and began making in-roads, but Ashley-Cooper’s second try of the half – a replica of his first as Giteau read the defence as Foley had – gave Australia a comfortable 19-9 lead at the break.

Sanchez landed his fourth penalty of the match to reduce the deficit to just one score only for Foley to restore the lead, but when the Pumas’ 10 landed his fifth effort at goal the raucous fans started to believe.

Argentina knocked at the door and it took a stern defence to keep them out, but when a scintillating run from his own half took Drew Mitchell across the pitch from left to right, Ashley-Cooper was given a simple run in for his hat-trick to seal the victory.

So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery below to find out.

Who do you think was the man of the match? Leave your thoughts in the comment box below.