Ireland hold on after second-half Argentina fightback

Ireland got back to winning ways after last week's defeat to New Zealand, but Andy Farrell’s side were given an almighty scare by Argentina, who threatened to pull off a first ever victory on Irish soil.

The Six Nations champions were 22-19 winners in a tense and entertaining contest at Aviva Stadium, but questions will have to be asked of their second-half performance, after they were held scoreless for the final 50 minutes.

Tries for Jack Crowley, Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy put the hosts into a commanding position after half an hour, leading 22-9, but as has been the case this year, a lack of discipline in their own half saw them invite Felipe Contepomi’s side back into the game.

Los Pumas only scored one try on the night, Juan Cruz Mallia’s stunning effort early in the second half, but they were able to maintain scoreboard pressure with four Tomas Albornoz penalties.

That level of indiscipline has to be a worry for Farrell. In their last three games Ireland have conceded 66 points, with a staggering 54 of those coming from penalty kicks.

There were positives, obviously, particularly early on. Joe McCarthy had a standout game, even aside from his try, as he consistently brought a physical edge, while the lineout was the platform for two of the three tries, with some creative manipulation of space.

Sam Prendergast and Thomas Clarkson both got early introductions off the bench for their Test debuts, and both looked comfortable on the international stage. At the other end of that spectrum, Cian Healy came in for Porter midway through the second half to win his 133rd cap, matching Brian O’Driscoll’s all-time record.

The opening 10 minutes were non-stop action, and enough to liven up the Friday night crowd.

After Van der Flier and Lowe both got hands onto Argentinian clearances inside the first 60 seconds, Ireland came on the attack, only for a handling error to allow the visitors clear.

Ireland were sloppy in possession, and a mix-up between Ringrose and Henshaw saw the Pumas pounce, as Matias Moroni touched down for a try in the third minute.

That score wouldn't count, with referee Paul Williams alerted to a head-high shot by Moroni on Crowley back in the Argentina 22, and the centre was sent to the sin-bin, allowing Ireland attack the corner.

From that lineout on three minutes, Ireland dummied to maul before Van der Flier popped the ball up to the onrushing Rónan Kelleher, who was stopped just short of the line. After further carries by Caelan Doris and Andrew Porter, Crowley skipped inside the drifting defence for the game’s opening try, which the out-half converted to make it 7-0 (below).

Four minutes later Ireland were in again, as they made their numerical advantage count.

It started with a dropped ball by Doris in his own half, but Ringrose was quick off the block and caught the defence napping, bursting into the 22. The recycle was smooth and quick as Jamison Gibson-Park swung a pass wide to Tadhg Beirne on the touchline, and he popped inside to Hansen who got over the line to score.

Despite the fast start, handling had been an issue, and when James Ryan spilled the ball in his own 22, it allowed Argentina their first real attack, which quickly yielded three points, a penalty against Henshaw allowing Albornoz tap over some points to make it 12-3.

Two minutes later, Ireland should have scored. After Lowe and McCarthy combined to force a scrum off the restart, Ireland built pressure before moving the ball wide to Beirne, who crashed over the line but spilled the ball in the process.

Just after the quarter-hour mark, Ireland were given a reminder that this game was far from over when Bealham was yellow-carded for a croc-roll on Joel Sclavi, and Albornoz tapped that penalty between the sticks to make it a six-point game.

Ireland were getting plenty of opportunities in the Argentina 22, but when Kelleher and Doris couldn’t get their timing right at a lineout on 20 minutes, Ireland found themselves losing ground on successive phases, before Crowley made the smart decision to take matters into his own hands, opting for a long-range drop-goal which split the posts to make it 15-6.

Just as they did in their last two games, Ireland were allowing their opposition chip away at the scoreboard with penalties, and when Kelleher was penalised for obstruction on 24 minutes, it allowed Albornoz cut the lead again, and get his side back within six.

While there had been one poor lineout error earlier in the game, Ireland were looking far more creative on their own throw this evening, and when they manipulated space to find Ryan at the tail on 31 minutes, they quickly moved the ball into midfield where Henshaw popped back inside to Lowe, who brought play right up to the line.

Once again they got quick ruck ball, as McCarthy charged onto a short pass to score the third try of the night, converted by Crowley to make it 22-9.

The 13-point buffer meant that Argentina had to start chasing the game, and while Ireland continued to offer up penalties, Contepomi’s side started going to the corner and taking five-metre taps, but as the clock moved into the red at the end of the half, Ringrose came up with a vital turnover to get his side into the break.

Having wasted the chance to score late in the first half, the visitors made a better start to the second, getting for a try in the 45th minute when Mallia ran a hard line onto a pass on the edge of his own 22, and the Toulouse full-back's charge caused Keenan to slip before he stepped Hansen to run in and score a stunning try, which Albornoz converted to make it 22-16.

Five minutes later it was back to a three-point game as the Argentinian 10 knocked over his fourth penalty of the contest to make it 22-19, and the infringement came at a further cost with McCarthy sent to the sin-bin for straying offside.

Argentina were owning the third quarter and should have drawn level in the 56th minute. Another penalty, this time against Crowley, allowed them an entry to the 22, but they couldn't take advantage, with Albornoz attempting a drop-goal which floated wide.

It was becoming incredibly tense, as both sides went to the benches early, with Craig Casey the only replacement not brought on by the 65th minute.

The crowd at the Aviva were doing their best to get involved, and three renditions of the Fields of Athenry in the space of ten minutes summed up how much the team on the pitch were in need of a spark.

It looked like they had it on 67 minutes when a penalty against Justo Piccardo gave Ireland a penalty six metres out from the line, but after some sustained pressure the Argentinian defence eventually came up with a turnover at the breakdown, after Sam Prendergast had brought the ball into contact.

With five minutes left, and Argentina on the attack, it looked like the Pumas were primed to snatch a first ever win at Lansdowne Road, but a moment of madness from Francisco Gomez Kodela ended it, as he hit Doris with a shoulder to the head at a ruck which drew a yellow card and a bunker review.

They would get one final chance to attack after Jamie Osborne had been penalised for holding the ball on the ground, but as Argentina worked their way bit by bit through the Irish 22, they forced one final turnover to bring the final whistle, and cue 50,000 sighs of relief around the Aviva.

Ireland scorers: Tries: Jack Crowley, Mack Hansen, Joe McCarthy

Cons: Jack Crowley (2)

Drop-goal: Jack Crowley (1)

Argentina scorers: Tries: Juan Cruz Mallia

Cons: Tomas Albornoz (1)

Penalties: Tomas Albornoz (4)

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne. Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring (for Kelleher, 63), Cian Healy (for Porter, 66), Thomas Clarkson (for van der Flier, 23-28 and Bealham, 53), Ryan Baird (for Ryan, 62), Peter O'Mahony (for Baird, 64), Craig Casey (for Gibson-Park, 73), Sam Prendergast (for Crowley, 62), Jamie Osborne (for Henshaw, 62).

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julián Montoya, Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.

Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz (for Montoya, 61), Ignacio Calles (for Gallo, 22-35 HIA, and 72), Francisco Kodela Gomez (for Sclavi, 51), Franco Molina (for Petti, 51), Santiago Grondona (for Matera, 61), Gonzalo Garcia (for Berranou, 46), Santiago Carreras (for Isgro, 57), Justo Piccardo (for Cinti, 59).

Referee: Paul Williams (NZRU)