Ireland survive Argentina’s comeback and get back on track

DUBLIN: Ireland survived a fierce second-half comeback from Argentina to narrowly beat the Pumas 22-19 at the Aviva Stadium on Friday and bounce back from last week’s disappointing loss to New Zealand.

Ireland led 22-9 at half-time after ruthlessly punishing an early yellow card for Argentina with two tries in the opening seven minutes from Jack Crowley and Mack Hansen. Joe McCarthy added a third after Tomas Albornoz kept the visitors in touch.

A very different Argentina side emerged after the break, with Juan Cruz Mallia cutting the hosts open and Albornoz cutting the lead to just three points before Ireland composed themselves, thanks in no small part to an impressive debut from the bench of the 21- year old flyhalf. Sam Prendergast to hold on.

“I think there was a little bit of extra pressure on some of us based on our performance last week,” Ireland captain Caelan Doris said in an on-field interview, referring to the error-filled 23-13 loss to the All Blacks.

“We felt we started well but their quality showed in the second half. It certainly tested our resilience, our fitness and our mental strength.”

The in-form Pumas came to Dublin thinking of their chance of a first win on Irish soil in their 11th attempt, but immediately dug themselves into a hole when center Matias Moroni was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Irish flyhalf Crowley.

It was Crowley who rounded a way inside a minute to open the scoring and the hosts made further use of the wide open spaces when a blistering break from Garry Ringrose’s break opened things up, handing the easiest finish to wing Hansen.

The largely unchanged Ireland side showed the kind of attacking intent that was sorely lacking last week when they were dominated by the All Blacks, but it was not a flawless response, allowing Albornoz to take the lead away.

KNIFE EDGE

Crowley, one of the underperformers highlighted by Andy Farrell when he said some of his players were “probably lucky” to keep their places, was much improved in the first half and scored an excellent drop goal between Albornoz’s penalties Through.

Argentina were unable to gain a similar advantage as Finlay Bealham was sent to the sin bin and McCarthy extended the lead back to a more comfortable margin when the Irish prop returned.

While the fine attacking rugby Argentina showed this year in victories over France, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia was absent in the first half, it was on full display five minutes into the second half when Toulouse full-back Mallia made a tackle slipped and danced through the Irish. defense for the play attempt.

Ireland looked unsettled and the raggedness of last week’s game returned when Albornoz made it a three-point game and Farrell’s head was in his hands in the coach’s box as McCarthy was booked for persistent Irish fouls.

Farrell described Irish discipline after the match as ‘desperate’.

The match was suddenly on a razor’s edge and with Crowley among those making mistakes, Farrell handed the reins to Prendergast and got an equally big impact from the rest of the bench, including a record 133rd appearance in green for Cian Healy.

The composed Prendergast added some much-needed pullback to the Irish attack and helped wrestle the match back in their favour, while a fourth yellow card of the match for substitute Francisco Gomez Kodela increased Argentina’s task.

Felipe Contepomi’s men gave the Irish another scare at the death, but the Six Nations champions stayed close to their own line for the first time since 2021 to avoid back-to-back defeats.