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The Bachelor Australia finale: Who will Richie Strahan choose?

RECAP: Richie Strahan has spoken and revealed who his lucky lady is, leaving Australia in shock. HAVE YOUR SAY

Tiffany Dunk and Shoba Rao
8 min read
September 15, 2016 - 9:12PM
News Corp Australia Network
The Bachelor Finale: Alex loves Richie

IT’S crunch time. After dozens of dates with girls from all over Australia, The Bachelor Richie Strahan has chosen between Alex Nation and Nikki Grogan.

Filming wrapped five months ago in Bali, leaving Richie and his lucky lady to try and keep their romance a secret for as long as they can.

While many have speculated on who will be his final choice, Alex and Nikki say there’s no bad blood between them — even though one has a boyfriend and one doesn’t.

“I know it seems weird to still be friends now when of us has a boyfriend and the other doesn’t,” Nikki told News Corp Australia.

Richie’s top two girls Nikki Gogan and Alex Nation. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Richie’s top two girls Nikki Gogan and Alex Nation. Picture: Dylan Robinson

“But Alex and I genuinely love each other and want the best for each other.”

That was the case throughout the three months shoot for the series during which Alex often visibly struggled watching Strahan romance other women.

Those feelings were heightened given she was also missing her five-year-old son, Elijah.

Despite each woman having declared their love for Strahan on TV, each said they’re happy to finally end their onscreen journey — even if it means a broken heart in the process.

Read our recap of the finale below:

RICHIE PUTS A RING ON IT!

While he didn’t get down on one knee, Richie slipped the diamond ring on Alex’s finger after saying that he wanted to give her something that symbolised his willingness to give her his heart and make their relationship work.

And Alex happily accepted.

“I am so happy, I love you,” she said.

“From the moment I met you Ii knew there was something so special and I felt it straight away.”

“I can’t wait for this chapter to continue and to start our life together is so exciting. As for Elijah, you are going to be wonderful, he’s going to adore you and we are so lucky to have you in our life.”

VERDICT: While Nikki fans won’t be happy, we hope this duo follow the example of recent Bachelor Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski and live happily ever after.

RICHIE DROPS AN L BOMB OF HIS OWN

Everyone at home knew how things would end but now it was Alex’s turn.

As she took her place on the rose-strewn lawn, Richie opened up about his feelings fully for the first time.

“I knew what sort of future I wanted, meeting you has challenged all of that,” he told Alex.

“I have thought about you and I have thought about Elijah and whether I am man enough to take on that responsibility … And I really feel I am.

“Coming down this adventure Alex I was told to follow my heart. And following my heart has led me to you. I love you Alex.

“Alex you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

VERDICT: Those who theorised there was no way Richie would take a single mum to the end without her being the winner have been proven right.

RICHIE BREAKS NIKKI’S – AND AUSTRALIA’S - HEART

When Nikki was the first to step out of the limo, the writing was on the wall – nobody ever arrives first and gets that final rose.

And as a close-to-tears Richie began his speech about what a great girl she was (with an unspoken “but”) the dawning knowledge of what was about to happen hit the 28-year old real estate agent hard.

“Coming into this adventure my family gave me some advice and that was to follow my heart,” he told the shaken finalist.

“And Nikki I really hope you understand that my heart is with Alex.”

But despite her obvious devastation, Nikki stayed classy to the end.

“I love you a lot and I love you enough to… yeah, I do wish you all the very very best,” she said. “I thought what we had was special but what you have with Alex must top all of that so good luck.”

In the limo she tearfully added, “I don’t have any hard feelings towards Rich, he’s been awesome.

“I still love Rich so it will take a while to get over.

“Falling in love is still fun and no regrets, still no regrets.”

VERDICT: Nikki for The Bachelorette please producer gods.

THERE’S A RING!

As he made his final preparations before heading to the final rose ceremony, Richie pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket.

Is he about to propose?

Richie has admitted he’s ready to end the journey and he just told Osher that he is in love. With Nikki having been snapped wearing a sparkler on her left hand at the races recently and plenty of rumours that Richie is already a married man, have we just been given a massive spoiler?

VERDICT: Richie may just have pulled himself of the market for good.

Those on social media are gushing!

THE L WORD IS DROPPED

While Alex was feeling on top of the world after their date on the high seas, she admitted she still had fears he may have stronger feelings for her competition.

“I feel confident in (our) relationship,” she said. “But then there’s Nikki. There is a lot of uncertainty there because I am the harder option.”

Pulling out the poem with which she’d charmed him with on night one, Alex then revealed she is not just falling in love, but she IS in love, with Richie.

“I wanted him to know exactly how I feel,” she said.

“Telling someone you love them for the very first time is scary. Once you say I love you to someone, that’s you giving your whole heart to someone. It’s very scary being that vulnerable.”

Upon uttering the words “I love you”, Richie planted a huge kiss on Alex.

VERDICT: There is plenty of chemistry between the two - but is he ready to say he loves her back?

ALEX AND RICHIE SET SAIL

The setting for Alex’s final date was far more glamorous than Nikki’s - with the duo cavorting on a luxurious tall ship - but the conversations had were far harder.

Alex took no time bringing up the concerns Richie’s mother had aired the previous day.

“Your mum did have some really valid points when she spoke to me about the fact that I’m a mum and I’m from Melbourne,” she admitted.

“I realised when she said, ‘Does Rich know what it’s like to have a child when it’s not good days?’”

“Sometimes you’ll want to do something and children will say no. There are times where he can get sick and then you have to cancel your plans because you have to stay with him. Have you thought about that?”

Richie assured her that not only had he thought about it, but he’d been thinking of it every day though their journey.

VERDICT: The fact that Richie has put so much thought into his potential future with Alex is a positive sign she could be the last girl standing.

RICHIE AND NIKKI’S MONKEY BUSINESS

Despite being in potentially the most unromantic setting of all time - a park where they fed a horde of hungry monkeys with nuts - Nikki used her final date with Richie to lay bare all of her feelings.

“I don’t have any doubts in my mind about how I feel,” she admitted to the cameras.

“I believe that it works, I believe we are meant to be together, I believe that Richie is my happiness and I can only hope that Richie feels the exact same way.”

As they ended the date, Nikki then told Richie she has never met a man like him - and that she hopes he picks her to end his journey with.

“You are the most incredible man I’ve ever met,” she said.

“At the end of the day I just want you to be happy Rich. I hope that your happy is me.”

“What I feel for you is something that I’ve never felt before. It doesn’t compare to anything else. I’m totally in love with you.”

VERDICT: Richie sealed the declaration with a kiss. If he’s not feeling it, he’s putting on a pretty good front.

THE FINAL FAMILY VERDICT

While Richie’s mum and sister refused to pick a lucky girl for the Bachelor, Kate had some stern words of advice for her rope access technician son.

“I just hope that you really consider all the negatives and the positives. There are always negatives in life and you can’t pretend that they’re not there. “

VERDICT: Alex: 0; Nikki: 1

NIKKI WORKS HER MAGIC ON THE FAMILY

Well now we know where Richie gets his witticisms from.

After being thoroughly charmed by “little whirlwind” Nikki, Richie’s mum Kate handed out this whopper.

“Miss Chill is turning into Miss Grill,” she said before leading Nikki away for a one on one chat.

Despite having concerns Richie could be a rebound after Nikki’s near wedding to her boyfriend of 12 and a half years, Kate had all her worries answered.

“After talking with her I felt more confident that she knew where she was going,” the chuffed mum said.

“I could see Nikki fitting into our family really well. That would please me more than anything.”

VERDICT: If the family get to choose the final rose, Nikki has this one in the bag. Twitter thinks so too.

RICHIE’S MUM NOT IMPRESSED WITH ALEX

First out of the gate for a visit with Richie’s mum and sister was Alex.

And it took approximately 10 seconds for the atmosphere to turn from friendly to frosty.

News that Alex has a five-year old son had Richie’s (or Richard as she likes to call him) mum Kate worried.

“Richie sees life as, ‘We get up in the morning, we go to work we have fun,’” she said to Alex after taking her aside to air those concerns.

“Have you explained to him that there are going to be times that Elijah has tantrums?”

After peppering the 25-year-old single mum with questions, Kate said she had her doubts that Alex had not prepared Richie for the massive responsibility he was potentially about to take on.

“I think Alex should have chatted with Richard a little bit more in depth,” she said.

“A child in the equation is a massive conversation piece, that’s all.”

“I hope she realises the enormity of the obligations that she’s putting him under.”

She also aired her concerns to her son once Alex had left the villa questioning if Alex was prepared to make any compromises of her own.

“This is biggest issue than you seem to have thought about,” she warned her son.

VERDICT: Unless Nikki stuffs up royally, Alex has lost the race for parental approval. His mum’s sent Twitter into a spin.

WE ARE LIVE!!

Get ready to revisit the love stories of Richie and Nikki and Richie and Alex as we see all the clips from the past season. Who will reign supreme? We’re probably a good hour or so away from finding out. but first they have to meet Richie’s mum and sister.

MOMENTUM IS BUILDING

Originally published as The Bachelor Australia finale: Who will Richie Strahan choose?

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