Ireland v Argentina: Five takeaways as '19-point swing' saves Andy ...

Following Ireland’s 22-19 victory over Argentina in the Autumn Nations Series clash at the Aviva Stadium, here are our five takeaways.

After Ireland fell to just their second home defeat in the Andy Farrell era, the Dublin faithful expected a response and they got one but perhaps not in the emphatic fashion they would have hoped as the men in green overcame a stubborn Argentina team by just three points.

Argentina got off to what looked like a bright start when Matias Moroni raced over the try in the second minute of the match but his score was ruled out for his own actions earlier in the passage of play as he made a high tackle on Jack Crowley and spent 10 minutes on the sidelines for his sins.

The hosts responded to their slow start and took full advantage of being a man up with Crowley and Mack Hansen crossing for tries during the sin bin period with Joe McCarthy following before the break as Ireland led 22-14.

A blinder of a try from Juan Cruz Mallia closed the gap to just six points with the pinpoint accurate boot of Tomas Albornoz keeping Argentina in the game and closing the gap to just three points gave Los Pumas a shot at victory but ultimately, it was the Irish defence that stood firm to hold onto the win despite failing to add a single point in the second half.

Ireland unconvincingly edge Argentina to bounce back from All Blacks defeat claiming a hard-fought three-point victory

One thing is crystal clear from Ireland’s two outings this November, the defence is brilliant. Simon Easterby’s defence has kept two of the most instinctive and lethal attacks to just a try apiece over 180 minutes, this after holding the Boks to four over two matches including three in the first Test.

However, there is one caveat and it’s a big one. They are conceding too many penalties. The defensive system is working wonders in shutting down attacks but far too often they are overeager and are gifting the opposition kickable penalties. New Zealand and Argentina did their homework and realised that this is the case knowing that they won’t break through the defensive line easily so when a gimme opportunity at three points comes around, best you take it.

For Easterby and Farrell will be fuming at the penalty count but at the same time, pleased that they only tries that have been scored past them this November have been from moments of magic.

Another work on has to be the Irish scrum which has come under the spotlight, particularly with Tadhg Furlong sidelined. Finlay Bealham was able to turn the screws on the Pumas liability in the set-piece, Tomas Gallo and there was a notable improvement when debutant Thomas Clarkson trodded onto the pitch while Andrew Porter again failed to really impose himself in set-pieces.

It is no coincidence that Argentina have found some of their best form in recent memory since Albornoz was handed the keys to the side. The fly-half was outstanding again with his typically aggressive attacking nature just what Los Pumas needed to get back in the game.

The pivot is a massive running threat all on his own but has all the tools to execute his vision from pass to kick. He is a hell of a player and can really get that Argentina attack bouncing when he gets the right service from his forwards. It is not just on attack, however, as Albornoz made some solid defensive interventions including a crucial mark near the end of the game.

Albornoz did miss a relatively simple drop goal attempt and perhaps he should have backed himself again with the clock in the red. These are the things he will learn as his young Test career grows. What is certain is that we are going to see a lot of the fly-half and under former pivot Felipe Contepomi it will be interesting to see how far Albornoz goes.

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Stereotypically, Ireland are renowned for their stellar discipline and lack of cards since Farrell took charge of the team back in 2021 while Argentina are the polar opposite but that was certainly not the case today as for a second week in a row the hosts conceded double digits in the penalty count and had two players visit the sin bin.

Finlay Bealham was the first to be sent for a breather on the sidelines after a far clearer croc roll than the one that saw Scott Cummings being given his marching orders against South Africa last week. Luckily for Ireland and the tighthead, it was just a yellow card this week but his fellow forward Joe McCarthy was sent to the sin bin after a plethora of penalties and he was the last to infringe.

Argentina have a history of ill-discipline with second rower Tomas Lavanini holding the record for the most cards in international rugby history and while Matias Moroni was sent for an early 10-minute spell on the sidelines for a high tackle and a poor clearout saw Francisco Gomez-Kodela miss the end of the match, collectively Los Pumas managed to stay on the right side of the whistle.

The penalty count at full-time stood at Ireland 13, Argentina 6 – a figure that a year ago would be almost unthinkable and still now rather perplexing. During the Rugby Championship this year Felipe Contepomi’s team were the most disciplined for much of the tournament and for the most part today, they were the more disciplined team on the park but were let down by the actions of centre Moroni and prop Kodela.

Moroni’s high tackle was effectively a 19-point swing as his score was ruled out and Ireland racked up 12 points in his absence while Los Pumas were hamstrung by Kodela being off in the last knocking of the match as they attempted the comeback.

As for Ireland, time and time again, they conceded silly penalties that wasted good field position and gave Argentina a route back into the match which Albornoz duly took and punished. The Irish defence was the real winner today as despite all the pressure it was put under, the structures remained firm even when they were down a man with a moment of individual brilliance from Mallia resulting in Argentina’s only try of the match.

It wasn’t just ill-discipline in terms of penalties that almost cost Ireland the match but also discipline in delivering the basics. The always excellent Tadhg Beirne coughed up a clear try but held the ball in the wrong hand while James Lowe did similar in a threatening position.

While Los Pumas walk out of the Aviva without a victory Contepomi will be silently smiling to himself about how well his side did in Dublin in a shift that shows just how far they have come.

To go from seemingly scoring an early try to conceding two during the first 10 minutes is a hammer blow for a team of any calibre. While Argentina would have been forgiven for showing some form of panic, the team calmly went about their business and grew into the game.

By the hour mark Argentina had Ireland on the ropes and did so well by that point to keep on the right side of the penalty count which unfortunately for them fell away at the end. Still, Contepomi will be proud of his men who have had a sensational season, one of the best in recent memory and certainly the best since the inception of the Rugby Championship in 2012. The development benefit of that move is beginning to show off.

A win would have shaken the world and truly announced Los Pumas as a credible threat. However, it was not to be but this performance on the back of their season is worthy of high praise. Today’s outing will not go unnoticed by France who are next on the Pumas’ hitlist.

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