The hint that the game might be played at a frenetic pace came within the first minute, when Argentina were twice charged down by the hosts.
If there were any doubts around Ireland’s clinical edge after their underwhelming loss to New Zealand, those were quickly dispelled when, with centre Matias Moroni in the sin bin for an illegal hiton Jack Crowley – one which denied the Pumas a try – Ireland scored 12 points. Tries from Crowley himself, spotting the gap in the Argentine defence and cruising through, and then a midfield combo from Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose almost resulted in a terrific try for the latter. Ireland composed themselves and eventually wing Mack Hansen went over.
The Pumas were able to halt the tide somewhat after the shock-and-awe of conceding two quick tries, with two penalties from the boot of Tomás Albornoz; the second following a yellow card to Finlay Bealham for a croc roll on his opposition tighthead Joel Sclavi.
Crowley underlined his credentials as a drop-goal aficionado – his effort for Munster against Leinster a year ago firing his team into the URC final – with a convincing three-pointer from roughly 40 metres out. Ireland held a 15-6 lead after the opening quarter.
Albornoz kept the scoreboard ticking over with another penalty to further underline the impact of Ireland’s losing Bealham to the bin.
Ireland then deployed the rapier and the bludgeon, some exquisite passing inside the Argentine 22 sending the visitors scrambling before lock Joe McCarthy bashed through the line for Ireland’s third try. Crowley converted: 22-9.
Argentina were camped on the home 5m line with a minute left in the first half, and it was a huge credit to the Irish defence that the visitors were unable to score from such an advantageous position. Andy Farrell’s men were clearly on a mission.
On a mission, yes, but their defence wasn’t wholly impregnable. The second half was only four minutes old when free-running fullback Juan Cruz Mallia cut through it with impressive ease, accelerating and sidestepping his way for a magnificent try. It was a sign of how dangerous the Pumas can be – and why they’d enjoyed such a successful Rugby Championship this year – and Albornoz’s conversion meant the game was back on: 22-16.
Try-scorer McCarthy was the next player to see yellow, paying the price for a high number of Irish penalties. Were Ireland now on the ropes? Albornoz’s subsequent penalty, his fifth successful tee kick from five attempts, caused memories of Ireland’s convincing early start to further recede: 22-19.
He's brought down, but it's spread wide to Tadhg Beirne, who is unselfish and pops it back inside for Mack Hansen, who is able to touch it down.
Sam Prendergast, the great green hope of Irish rugby, was introduced to Test rugby after an hour of play, having long been mooted as the long-term successor to former Leinster mentor Johnny Sexton. The 21-year-old got stuck in early with the defensive work as the Pumas attacked fiercely. It was his fellow debutant, prop Thomas Clarkson, who won the initial plaudits, however, winning a scrum penalty – no mean feat against the fearsome Argentina pack.
Clarkson coming on for his first cap was soon complemented by a pleasing juxtaposition: loosehead Cian Healy called into service to go level with Brian O’Driscoll – on commentary for TNT Sports – with cap number 133.
It was too close to call which way the match would go when, with just minutes remaining, replacement Argentina prop Francisco Gómez Kodela was shown a yellow for a dangerous clear-out on Caelan Doris. But again Argentina showed their defiance when under the pump inside their own 22, counter-rucking marvellously to win back possession and give themselves a shot at a result.
Soon Argentina had worked their way right up to the Irish 22, but a forward pass after several phases of promising attack brought any hope of a positive outcome to a crushing end.
