PUMA

AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS 2018

Last night’s scrappy 28-17 victory means it is now two years since Joe Schmidt’s men last lost on Irish soil.

But they were made to work against an Argentina side that stayed within a score of them until the final quarter.

It was only when replacement scrum-half Luke Mcgrath dived over for a converted try in the 66th minute that Schmidt could relax.

Argentina, who saw Nicolas Sanchez kick four penalties, had conjured up the try of the night when flying winger Bautista Delguy dived over midway through the first half.

But Ireland, who last lost in Dublin 722 days ago (a 21-9 loss to New Zealand), managed to get the job done with tries from Kieran Marmion, Bundee Aki and Mcgrath.

Johnny Sexton also chipped in with two conversions and three penal- as the men in green edged to an 11 point victory.

In a see-saw first half, the lead swapped hands six times, with fly-half Sanchez opening the scoring with a third minute penalty.

A potential Irish try from a driving maul was scratched off by the TMO, before Marmion dotted down in the ninth minute.

Argentina’s achilles heel – its scrum – crumbled inside the 22 and from the resulting debris, the Connacht No9 picked up to dart over.

Sexton failed to convert and that allowed the influential Sanchez to restore a 6-5 lead for Argentina with another penalty soon after. The Pumas’ attackties ing threat was all too apparent in the recent Rugby Championship and they produced the try of a chilly evening from Delguy in the 18th minute.

Sanchez almost scrambled over after a superb midfield break from the rampaging Matias Orlando, but the ball was recycled for Delguy to touch down in the corner.