Key events
35th min: Argentina lose the ball after van der Flier nips in to steal it from Cinti who charged over the gainline. Ireland send it down the line before Lowe hoofs a clearance that finds touch.
34th min: Gibson-Park dallies on the ball at the base of the ruck and is clattered by Montoya who forces the knock-on. Scrum to Argentina on Ireland’s 22. A bit lapse that from a veteran scrum-half.
TRY! Ireland 22-9 Argentina (McCarthy, 32)
They would not be denied! McCarthy barrels over from close range after Lowe, off the back of a neat move from the line-out, found the gap in the line. It looked simple but that was slick interplay with Henshaw involved in the build up as well. Crowley slots the extras.
31st min: Ireland set the maul from the line-out and several backs also add their weight. But Argentina hold so Ireland have to go through the hands. The Pumas defence is brilliant but so is Ireland’s skill on the ball. Ringrose throws a dummy that no one buys. Doris with a carry but it’s Argentina who come away with the ball! Remarkable defence! Bertranou box kicks but it’s not long. So Ireland will get another line-out inside the red zone, albeit a little further back.
28th min: Ireland claim the restart and they set an attack inside Argentina’s 22. Kelleher with a strong carry. Henshaw attacks the midfield channel. Porter slips a tackle. Hansen finds Henshaw in the left tram. 10 phases now. Good from Ireland but Argentina hold firm. Ringrose to Henshaw. Half a chance. Gibson-Park is taken out without the ball and that’s a penalty. Needless from the Pumas. They were keeping Ireland at bay. Crowley again nudges to the corner and the crowd responds. Bealham back on.
Penalty! Ireland 15-9 Argentina (Albornoz, 26)
His got his kicking boots on tonight! Argentina stay within touching distance despite not quite clicking just yet.
26th min: Argentina concede a free-kick at the scrum. Crowley lifts a high kick into the heavens but there’s an obstruction call as Kelleher found himself in front of the ball carrier. We’re inside Ireland’s half so Albornoz points to the sticks.
24th min: Gibson-Park smokes a box kick that provides some relief after the restart. Argentina have the line-out around half-way. Ruiz has to throw as Montoya is off for a blood check. Lowe gets low a little later and wins a turnover on the ground. Another box from Gibson-Park is brilliantly claimed by Isgro and Gonzalez spills it in contact so it’ll be an Irish scrum on half-way. Clarkson comes on to make his debut as Bealham is in the sin-bin and we need a complete front-row.
Bealham’s yellow remains yellow. Lucky, but perhaps the right call.
Drop-goal! Ireland 15-6 Argentina (Crowley, 21)
Crowley nails the drop goal! The attack was going nowhere so he figured he’d have a go. And he slotted it over. What a game he’s having.
21st min: Ireland make a mess of the line-out and they’re pushed back beyond Argentina’s 22. They still have the ball and Porter charges into contact. Crowlety drops into the pocket….
19th min: Oviedo makes a stiff tackle on Ryan, but he tips him over the horizontal so it’ll be a penalty. Crowley nudges it into the corner and Ireland will have a chance five metres from the line.
Penalty! Ireland 12-6 Argentina (Albornoz, 18)
That’s a sweet strike from Albornoz. The deficit is now just 6.
Yellow card! Bealham (Ireland, 17)
Definite croc-roll and Bealham is sin-binned! This might get upgraded to red. This’ll be an anxious wait.
Potential croc-roll from Bealham. They’ll take a look on the big screen.
17th min: Argentina clear their lines with a big hoof from Albornoz. Crowley, full of confidence, opts to run it back and makes metres. Gibson-Park hoists a box that Hansen chases, but the winger knocks on as he climbs.
15th min: Ireland spill the ball from that scrum. Argentina opt to clear with a kick but Henshaw is running back into the maw soon enough. Ringrose straightens and gets over the gainline. Bealham with another carry. Better continuity this from Ireland. Ryan now and Beirne gets it in the left tram, he’s riding two tacklers, reaches out and tries to dot down, this will be a stunning try! But NO! He’s knocked it on over the line! Excellent defence from Moroni, back on the field, who made grounding a challenge. Goal-line drop-out.
13th min: Ireland win the ball back after Petti claimed the restart. But the Irish kept him up and then made the ball unplayable from the maul. Scum for the home side just on Argentina’s 22.
Penalty! Ireland 12-3 Argentina (Albornoz, 12)
Argentina are on the board with a simple nudge over the poles.
Moroni’s yellow card will remain a yellow. Right call.
“At what point are we going to just accept collisions happen in rugby? Two guys going low for a ball is not foul play. No hint of a head injury as Crowley didn’t go for an HIA. Terrible, it’s killing the game.”
That’s from Brent Lindsay. I disagree. Have to make the game as safe as possible.
11th min: Argentina get great ball off the scrum but Beirne hammers Gonzalez with a monster hit that stops the momentum. But Henshaw strays off-side so Argentina have a free hit inside Ireland’s 22. Nothing doin’, as there’s a spill, so they come back for the penalty.
9th min: Argentina finally get some possession and they make inroads. Matera charges over the gainline, but a ball carrier isolated and Ireland pinch it back. Then there’s a knock-on so Argentina have the scrum feed inside Ireland’s 22 on the left with a short blind side. Good platform to strike.
TRY! Ireland 12-0 Argentina (Hansen, 6)
And another! That is brilliant from Ireland. It started with Henshaw bursting through a half gap and they flooded through. They went through the phases and Ringrose found a gap himself. Gibson-Park floated a ball into the right tram where Beirne could have gone for the line himself, but a cute inside ball found Hansen who hit it at pace and barrelled over. Wonderful rugby.
TRY! Ireland 7-0 Argentina (Crowley, 4)
Crowley scores! What a mad start to this game. Ireland get great go-forward after a slick strike move from a clean line-out. Kelleher got close but not quite there. Crowley kept the move alive and straightened with a step and slid over. The extras are added off his boot and Ireland are up and running.
Yellow card! Moroni (Argentina, 3)
What a swift turnaround. Moroni thought he’d grabbed the opening score after Argentina pounced on a mistake from Crowley, but earlier in the move, when possession was turned, the inside centre clattered Ireland’s fly-half with a head on head collision. It’ll go to the bunker but I think he’ll be OK. Both players were upright.
Unbelievable! Moroni pounces on a loose ball and he dots down for a try! But they may bring it back as there is head on head contact by Moroni on Crowley earlier in the move.
2nd min: Argentina bobble from the opening kick and their first clearing kick is charged down. So is their second and Hansen has it inside the 22. Argentina’s exit was such a mess there! Hansen again on the ball, he floats one over the top for Keenan on the right wing. Down the left with Dorris in the tram but stout resistance from the Pumas turns possession.
And we’re off! Crowley kicks off. Ireland in emerald green. Argentina in their blue and white hoops.
OK, I’m going to stick my neck out.
Argentina to nick it by a score!
The teams are out and ready for the anthems.
Not long to go now.
I agree. This Pumas side is special. They’ll give Ireland a fright if they click.
Really looking forward to Ireland v Argentina.
Going to be a lot closer than people think.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 15, 2024
This is the 20th meeting of the two sides.
Ireland lead 13-6 and have never lost to the Pumas at home.
Their last match was a one-sided affair with Ireland running out 53-7 winners in Dublin.
Argentina’s last win in this contest was in 2015 World Cup quarterfinals when they scored four tries in a 43-20 triumph in Cardiff.
Andy Farrell has said that some of his players were “lucky” to get selected again after their show against the All Blacks.
Here are his pre-match thoughts:
The week has been good, there have been some lessons that we need to transfer now.
It’s the perfect assignment. It’s a top drawer opponent on top form. The improvement they’ve made over the past 18 months has been phenomenal.
He also had some gushing words for Sam Prendergast – “a confident kid” – who, by some reports, is Farrell’s ideal 10 once he gets some miles in the legs.
The TNT live feed has just flicked on and they’ve kicked off with a speech from Theodore Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
It’s a good speech, to be fair.
Argentina’s coach, Felipe Conteponi, marks his return to Dublin tonight.
As a playmaker, he represented Leinster for six years between 2003 and 2009, before returning as the province’s attack coach for four seasons in 2018.
He’s been fantastic as the Pumas coach, giving them a new identity and a harder edge, encouraging them to attack from anywhere while causing chaos at the breakdown.
Look out for Argentina’s ability to shift the point of contact at breakneck speed. One second they’re going right, the next they’re moving left. This strategy was a handful for the Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies. Can Ireland deal with it?
Argentina team
Pablo Matera returns to the back row after serving a suspension and he’ll play an important part in the Pumas quest to disrupt Ireland’s ball.
Elsewhere, the electric Santiago Carreras returns after an injury to take his place on the bench.
Guido Petti replaces Franco Molina at lock while there is one backs change as Matias Moroni comes in for Matias Orlando
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (capt), Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.
Ireland team
Miraculously, as if he’s defying the laws of nature, Cian Healy is still playing rugby at the elite level.
The 37-year-old prop will equal Brian O’Driscoll’s record for most number of caps in an Irish shirt tonight when he comes off the bench to represent his nation for the 133rd time.
There’s just one change to the team that lost to New Zealand with with Robbie Henshaw’s replacing Bundee Aki – who does not make the squad – in midfield.
On the bench, alongside Healy, prop Thomas Clarkson and the very promising fly-half Sam Prendergast are set to make their debuts.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
This weekend’s rugby feast kicks off with the meeting of two camps in different moods.
Ireland were poor, really poor, against New Zealand last week. Their celebrated cohesion was totally absent and they were well beaten at the Aviva, their first defeat on home soil since 2021.
Argentina, however, were outstanding against Italy, clattering the Azzurri with six different players scoring tries in a 50-18 rout.
The Pumas have already claimed big scalps this year having beaten New Zealand in Wellington, South Africa by a point and Australia by a record score. A win here tonight would send a clear message that Felipe Contepomi’s side is a force to be reckoned with.
Ireland simply have to be better and Andy Farrell will expect a statement. The breakdown will be pivotal. Ireland’s approach requires fast ball but the Pumas are the masters at disrupting. This is where the game will be won or lost.
Please do get in touch via email with any thoughts you might have. I’d love to hear from you.
Kick-off at 8:10 pm. Teams and other updates to follow.
