Ireland recorded a rare win on Argentine soil with a 17 – 29 victory against Los Pumas at Estadia Centenario, Resistencia last night.

Tries came from Chris Henry, Johnny Sexton and Andrew Trimble with Sexton slotting over a conversion and two penalties before limping off. Replacement Ian Madigan completed the scoring with two late penalties.

The match didn’t end up the try fest that I was expecting, granted this was a second string Argentina side against an Ireland lite, but Ireland surely had enough “names” on the pitch to justify my hopes for a more convincing win? However this Argentine side, minus their European stars, have racked up a few wins over the last month or so and they certainly looked well drilled in the early exchanges.

Ireland enjoyed plenty of ball in the opening ten minutes but made little headway against the disciplined Argentine defence with a Sexton penalty on the ninth minute all they had to show for almost 100% possession.

Argentina finally got their hands on the ball after the re-start but with the Ireland scrum and line-out dominant any Argentine incursions were quickly snuffed out.

It looked that Ireland might cut loose when Luke Marshall and Darren Cave combined to send Cave on the rampage down the centre of the park but a chance to send Zebo over in the corner was butchered by our Robbie and Ireland had to settle for a second Sexton penalty to take the score to 0 – 6 as the game went into the second quarter.

The Pumas started to work their way back into the game and they got on the scoreboard with a Nicolas Sanchez penalty on the 27th minute, after Cordero went close out wide, to take the score to 3 – 6.

However, any chance of a revival looked unlikely when the Puma’s No. 8 Macone was binned for taking Trimble out in the air. Sanchez and Manuel Montero had other ideas and they combined wonderfully to leave Marshall, Henry, Trimble and Sexton chasing shadows as Montero finished off a mazy run in the corner. Glorious!

Sanchez converted to give Argentina a 10 – 6 lead, but Ireland hit back immediately with Ross and Best leading the charge in a maul from five yards out that ended with Henry crossing in the corner. Sexton missed the conversion from out wide and Ireland took a one point lead into the break with the score at 10 – 11.

Ireland started the second half with some intent and a line-out steal from Diack was powered on by Jordy Murphy before Marshall and Sexton combined for Sexton to scamper over for an uncovered try to put Ireland six points clear.

The Pumas were still causing problems, particularly out wide, but Ireland took a decisive lead when Trimble completed a trademark interception on the halfway line to canter clear on the 57th minute. Sexton converted and Ireland were well set with the score at 10 – 23.

Ireland changed out Marshall, Murphy, Murray and McGrath for McFadden, Heaslip, Marmion and Kilcoyne before Sexton limped off for Madigan and the young out-half knocked over two penalties to secure the game giving Ireland a somewhat flattering lead at 10 -29.

Best, Ross and O’Connell trooped of between kicks for Varley, Ah You and Toner with the job done. Ah You joining Diack and Marmion in collecting their first cap.

Argentina had the last word however as Tomas De La Vega battled his way to the line in the closing minutes for a converted try to give a final score of Argentina 17 Ireland 29.

Ulster Players

Robbie Diack and Iain Henderson certainly kept the boiler house ticking over for Ireland with both players being in the top three for tackles completed with Robbie completing 10 and Hendy 11. Both excelled in the line out with Robbie the go to guy completing five and stealing two, Hendy completed three and stole one. 

Chris Henry weighed in with a massive 15 tackles making him top tackler for Ireland but he did miss two, one of which led to the first Argentine try and surprisingly there were no turnovers. Rory had a quiet day at the office with one late turnover his only contribution of note.

Darren Cave and Andrew Trimble made the most meters for Ireland recording 95 and 65 respectively with Luke Marshall chipping in with 20. They all made five tackles but all were guilty of misses with Trimble and Marshall missing three each and Cave two. Cave and Trimble made some amends making two turnovers apiece. 

The FRU Man of the Match goes to Robbie Diack. 

Ireland: Felix Jones, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Simon Zebo, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Iain Henderson, Paul O’Connell, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Jordi Murphy.Replacements: Damien Varley, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip, Kieran Marmion, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero, Jerónimo De la Fuente, Gabriel Ascarate, Manuel Montero, Nicolás Sánchez, Martín Landajo, Lucas Noguera Paz, Matías Cortese, Ramiro Herrera, Manuel Carizza, Tomas Lavanini, Rodrigo Baez, Tomás De la Vega, Benjamin Macome. Replacements: Julian Montoya, Bruno Postiglioni, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matías Alemanno, Javier Ortega Desio, Tomás Cubelli, Santiago González Iglesias, Lucas González Amorosino