Eire rating three tries en path to beating Argentina 22-19 in Dublin however Andy Farrell’s aspect didn’t rating a degree within the second half; a 22-9 benefit at half-time virtually totally worn out, with Juan Cruz Mallia scoring a dizzying solo effort for the Pumas on Friday night time
By Michael Cantillon
Final Up to date: 15/11/24 11:54pm
Eire fly-half Jack Crowley helped his aspect to a 22-19 win over Argentina in Dublin on Friday night time
Eire held on to return to profitable methods on house soil in opposition to Argentina after final week’s defeat to New Zealand, however a poor second-half show wherein they didn’t rating a degree will show vastly irritating for head coach Andy Farrell.
Tries from out-half Jack Crowley, wing Mack Hansen and lock Joe McCarthy had seen Eire construct a 22-9 half-time lead, however an abject second-half efficiency noticed the Pumas come again into issues as full-back Juan Cruz Mallia scored an excellent solo strive.
Pumas 10 Tomas Albornoz kicked 4 penalties and a conversion along with that strive as Argentina bought inside three factors, however they may not rating once more.
In what was a primary assembly between the pair since November 2021, the end result sees Argentina stay winless in Dublin of their historical past – the one Tier 1 nation the Pumas have by no means crushed away from house – for the reason that duo began going through each other formally in 1990.
Argentina headed into this contest having crushed New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in the identical Rugby Championship marketing campaign for the primary time ever, however have been instantly on the back-foot when centre Matias Moroni was sin-binned for a excessive sort out on Crowley in simply the third minute.
Crowley kicked into the nook for a giant Irish likelihood, after which confirmed guile and power to step inside and over himself within the subsequent attacking sequence.
The Irish playmaker transformed for 7-0, and inside moments the hosts have been over for his or her second strive by Hansen within the sixth minute after centre Garry Ringrose made the telling break and flanker Tadhg Beirne was unselfish in passing again inside for the rating.
Crowley’s conversion was astray, and a poor error from lock James Ryan in spilling possession inside his personal 22 granted Argentina a transparent alternative to reply. When Robbie Henshaw was caught offside, Albornoz kicked over the close-range effort for 12-3.
On 16 minutes, Beirne romped over the try-line by contact down the left wing, however a TMO evaluation proved he misplaced management within the act of grounding and the strive was scratched off.
Bealham yellow carded for croc-roll
Down the opposite finish, Irish prop Finlay Bealham was quickly proven yellow for a croc-roll motion at a ruck on counterpart Joel Sclavi, permitting Albornoz to fit over off the tee for 12-6.
Eire’s 14 have been again attacking deep within the Pumas 22 earlier than lengthy when Guido Petti was penalised for a harmful elevate sort out and the house aspect turned down a shot for factors. Scrappy lineout ball pressured Eire again, however Crowley then executed a beautiful drop-goal to increase the lead past a rating once more.
Pointless obstruction by hooker Ronan Kelleher handed Argentina one other kickable penalty on 26 minutes, and Albornoz once more produced a beautiful strike for 15-9.
An imposing Hugo Keenan aerial take put Eire again close to the try-line from the restart, earlier than relentless stress ultimately gave option to a 3rd strive by way of McCarthy after wing James Lowe had pressured his method shut off a beautiful Henshaw inside cross.
Crowley transformed for a wholesome 22-9 benefit, however a slack mistake from scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park in getting turned over at a ruck in his personal 22 gave the guests territory to assault from. Eire held out below immense stress to get in at half-time with out a strive concession.
Argentina started the second interval with confidence-boosting possession, and inside 5 minutes had their first strive by a scintillating Cruz Mallia run and end.
Albornoz transformed to scale back Eire’s result in six factors, and McCarthy was then sin-binned resulting from repeat staff infringements – Albornoz kicking over the straightforward effort to make issues 22-19.
Eire’s second-half slumber continued when Hansen handed straight off the park close to midway, however Argentina’s subsequent assault got here to nothing when Albornoz poorly missed a drop-goal huge.
McCarthy returned for no additional factors conceded, however a breathless spell of Irish assault within the Argentina 22 got here to nothing with 10 minutes left, because the Pumas counter-rucked for an important turnover.
That piece of play saved Argentina within the contest, as did a Santiago Carreras breakdown penalty following a Jamie Osborne break, however Francisco Gomez Kodela’s unnecessary clearout to the pinnacle of Eire captain Caelan Doris with 5 minutes to play – for which he was consequently sin-binned – snuffed out any actual likelihood the Pumas had of an entire turnaround.
Regardless, Argentina did have the very last assault as an off-colour Eire surrendered the ball with nearly no time remaining, however a mightily relieved house aspect and help may have a good time victory after a last knock-on.
Eire win ‘ugly’ after ‘4 video games in a single’
Eire head coach Andy Farrell: “It was three or four games in one, wasn’t it, really? Obviously the overriding feeling is we’re delighted to get the win.
“There are some things we would have liked to study from final week and a few issues that we did not deal with there on the sphere. However we stated final week we had an opportunity of profitable ugly. We did that this week, in order that’s a plus.
“We need to be a little bit more patient at times, individually, and trust the team of what we’re about. Hopefully we’re building through this month and we’ll see the best of us in the next few games.”
‘Argentina examined our resilience’
Eire captain Caelan Doris, in his pitch-side interview: “I think there was a bit of a extra pressure on some of us based on our performances last week.
“We felt we began effectively however their high quality confirmed within the second half. It positively examined the resilience, examined our health and our psychological fortitude.”
