IRELAND 28-19 ARGENTINA
Ireland avenged their World Cup 2015 loss to Argentina with a comprehensive victory, at the Aviva Stadium, but they will be happier with the manner of their performances in recent weeks and the discovery of several new stars.
Ireland made most of the first half running and were 6-0 up, through two Johnny Sexton penalties, when a superb team move saw Chris Farrell and Sexton cut Argentina to shreds. Always with a nose for a score, Jacob Stockdale was suddenly on Sexton’s shoulder then racing free for a converted try.
Los Pumas came back strong in the final stages of the first half but the home fans were content with the 13-0 half-time lead.
Argentina hit back with three second half tries but Stockdale’s second – a brilliant solo run – and CJ Stander’s score off a rolling maul settled the contest.
Here’s how we rated Joe Schmidt’s men in green:
Rob Kearney – 9
Looked back to his 2008-2013 vintage best at times. That take over his head, with the two arms outstretched? Get out of town! Opened Argentina up on a few occasions in the first half and was a hard man to put down. Try-saving tackle on Sanchez in the last quarter. Threw himself into Leguizamon but was unable to prevent his try in the corner. Chased back well to halt a searing Moyano breakaway.
Adam Byrne – 7.5
Acquitted himself well and made an early line break to settle himself in. Kicked the ball up the line when we would have loved to see him take on his man. Didn’t miss a tackle, which will please him as his defence has been widely questioned. Moved into midfield for the last 20 minutes.
Chris Farrell – 7
Tomas Lezana won’t forget his trip to Dublin for a while…
CHRIS FARRELL!!!!!!
Brick bloody wall! 💪🏻 💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/RELtfRMH2v
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) November 25, 2017
Early line break to get his team going and showed lovely, soft hands to set Sexton away for Stockdale’s first try. Slipped at one stage for a missed tackle out wide but was otherwise solid. Settling in nicely now and will go back to Munster with a lot of confidence.
Bundee Aki 7.5
Ireland’s defensive lightning rod in the backline. Such an enforcer. Kept chasing and harrying to shut down a 3-on-2 in the first half. Was used on a number of dummy runs against South Africa but got to carry a bit more this time out.
Jacob Stockdale – 10
We’re going 10/10 Godammit! What an absolute star this lad is. Four tries in four Tests and a sense that there is much more to come. Argentina aimed all their early restarts at him but soon learned better. Nice step on Tuculet and a high ball claim to settle into the game. Nice support line for his first try and pure pace and ruthlessness for his second. 90 metres gained off just 6 carries. Gem.
Johnny Sexton – 8
Argentina were scared stiff of the man, and rightly so. Pulled the strings in so many threatening attacks and, once again, kicked well. Lovely line, line break, burst and pass to set up Stockdale’s first and supplied him with the pass for his second. Clanged a post with one conversion and took a lot of punishment, but should be happy with his performance.
Conor Murray – 7
Solid game from Murray – varied it well and kept his team humming. Rarely misses a tackle and so it proved again. Only went too long on his box kicks and most gave his teammates a great opportunity to compete or get their opposite number grounded.
Cian Healy – 8
Jack McGrath has got the point – Healy is back and feeling good. Another fine game from the prop and he is bang in form again. At one stage, he made three tackles in the space of 10 seconds. All successful. Gave away a second half penalty but that is often the trade-off with such an industrious loosie at the breakdown.
Rory Best – 7
80-minute shift from the Ireland captain. Did well again and his lineouts are looking solid. The scrum was marching too. Could not hold onto O’Brien’s offload and slapped down an Argentinean pass out wide.
Tadhg Furlong – 8
Was so, so dominant in the scrum and kept showing up in set- and broken play. Teamed up with Farrell for that monstrous brick-walling of Lezana.
James Ryan – 6
Will look back on his first Ireland and feel he could have done more. That would be him being harsh on himself, but he would be correct. Nice and forceful with his tackles ut did not make much ground with his carries and got his feet in a muddle to get sacked on one maul near the Irish 22.
Iain Henderson – 7
Big defensive shunt on Lavanini once again demonstrated his raw power. A few decent carries, was part of a very good Irish scrum and did not miss with any of his 10 tackles.
Peter O’Mahony – 7
Does the spade work at rucks and around the fringes to let O’Brien and Stander off the leash. Lovely anticipation and brute force to stop Leguizamon in his tracks and prevent a possible score.
Sean O’Brien – 8
Penalised for not rolling away, in the first quarter, but Sanchez did not make Ireland pay. Dream of an offload would have been on highlight reels for years to come but Best could not hold on. Top class performance and was so effective at the breakdown. 14 lusty tackles in 62 minutes.
CJ Stander – 8
Has been immense in the Guinness Series and is looking back to his best. 20 carries but over half of them must have been the two- and three-metre gains that put Argentina on the back foot. Tackled like a demon too and was rewarded with a nice try off a rolling maul. Did miss four tackles, a couple of which he will be livid about.
Replacements
Devin Toner (for Ryan ’50) – 6
Played a key role in the maul for Stander’s try.
Andrew Conway (for Farrell ’60) – 6
Sublime aerial take in the final 10 minutes.
Dave Kilcoyne (for Healy ’60) – 6
One brutalising carry that had the crowd in awe.
Rhys Ruddock (for O’Brien ’62) – 5
Game got a bit stretched at the end but he did okay.
John Ryan (for Furlong ’70)
Ian Keatley (for Sexton ’75) N/A
James Tracy (for O’Mahony ’75) N/A
Came on and played back row for a while.
Luke McGrath (for Murray ’77) N/A
