Ireland lack sparkle but do just enough to extend winning run
Job done by Ireland. That is now 10 wins in a row at home for Joe Schmidt’s men. But this was far from a vintage performance ahead of next Saturday’s hugely anticipated showdown with the All Blacks.
There were some plus points from those of a green persuasion.
Dan Leavy, who went on for the unfortunate Sean O’Brien – victim of a broken arm towards the end of the first half – was immense at openside.
James Ryan tackled himself to a standstill and was deservedly named man of the match. Luke McGrath did well when he replaced Kieran Marmion at scrum-half.
But too many sloppy performances, including from star man Jonathan Sexton at 10, suggested that Ireland, despite their protestations, were not 100 per cent focused on the challenge posed by the Pumas.
Their line-out creaked, their defence frequently cracked.
While Ireland were convincing winners in the end, Argentina were very much in the contest for an hour. New Zealand will not let them off the hook so easily.
Argentina coach Mario Ledesma hinted as much afterwards. “I haven’t watched it,” he said of England’s defeat. “Apparently England should have won. I heard some things [about the TMO]. But if New Zealand were bad, it’s difficult for them to be bad two games in a row. That’s the only thing I would say.”
Schmidt had warned any of his players tempted to look beyond this game that they would be watching “from the stands” next weekend. So it was interesting to hear the Kiwi admit that he, and a few of the players, had watched the first half of the England-All Blacks game on the bus to the stadium.
Whether it was a lack of focus, or just an off day, Ireland struggled to hit their usual heights. They were not helped by the fact that Robbie Henshaw limped off in the warm-up with a tight hamstring, to be replaced by Will Addison. Schmidt said he was hopeful that Henshaw would be fit for next Saturday.
Nicolas Sanchez scored the first points of the game from the tee, but when Marmion darted over from the base of the scrum, it looked as if Ireland would settle into their groove. They did not. Argentina consistently managed to slice through the green defensive line, the Pumas’ back three of Bautista Delguy, Emiliano Boffelli and Ramiro Moyano proving a real handful.
It was a Delguy try that put Argentina 11-5 up after 17 minutes, rounding off a passage of play which began with a scything break through the middle by centre Matias Orlando.
Ireland just could not find their rhythm. Bundee Aki hit back with a close-range effort following a decent spell of pressure. But again they lost the initiative.
Sexton was making uncharacteristic errors with his kicking; Ireland’s back three – with Rob Kearney absent – were dropping far too many high balls, while the line-out, shorn of Devin Toner, was a mess. Three were stolen in a 15-minute spell either side of the break.
O’Brien – only just back from a year on the sidelines – cruelly departed with a broken arm, although Ireland are not doing badly on the openside front, replacement Leavy putting his hat firmly in the ring with an all-action display.
Ireland went into the break 15-14 ahead, Sanchez and Sexton trading penalties. But it was not until McGrath darted over from close range after 65 minutes, fed by CJ Stander from the base of a scrum, that the crowd started to breathe more easily.
It remains to be seen who Schmidt goes with at scrum-half against the All Blacks, with the Kiwi admitting Conor Murray is in contention.
Thoughts now turn to next weekend and the opportunity to topple New Zealand on home soil for the first time, Ireland having lost out in a violent scrap here two years ago shortly after their first ever win against the All Blacks, in Chicago.
“We’ll be better for tonight,” promised captain Rory Best.
There is absolutely no doubt they will need to be.