Ireland vs Argentina, Build-Up and Match Thread

[Notch]

First topic message reminder :

Ireland's date with destiny fast approaches. Win and we are absolutely certain of a Second Tier seeding at the 2015 RWC. Lose... and we are at the mercy of other results. Argentina sit just ahead of us in the World Rankings table in sixth and will also be looking to copper-fasten their spot. There'll be no love lost between the two sides; these games are always confrontational and Argentina have a fair bit of momentum coming into this with a very credible win in Cardiff. They failed to register a win in their debut rugby championship season but the lessons learned make them a much more dangerous beast than the naive bruisers we've faced in the past. They've kept all their passion and physicality, but now have a fine young generation of elusive and skillful backs and a much better balance to their game. Two of those- Horacio Agulla and Lucas Amorosino- have been omitted by Santiago Phelan for this game but watch out for Juan Jose Imhoff and Gonzalo Camacho.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3885_8259078,00.html

Argentina: Marcos Ayerza, Marcelo Bosch, Maximiliano Bustos, Gonzalo Camacho, Manuel Carizza, Santiago Cordero, Agustín Creevy, Tomas Cubelli, Tomas De la Vega, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe (capt), Santiago Fernandez, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Juan Cruz Guillemain, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Jose Imhoff, Martín Landajo, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Tomas Leonardi, Nahuel Lobo, Manuel Montero, Bruno Postiglioni, Federico Sanchez, Leonardo Senatore, Gonzalo Tiesu, Joaquin Tuculet, Tomás Vallejos, Nicolas Vergallo.

Talking of backs, Ireland coach Declan Kidney has a number of decisions to make after a much-changed backline ran rampant against against an admittedly under-strength and uncommitted Fijian side. Media and fans have been clamouring to see more of the likes of Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Paddy Jackson but when he selects his side the Cork man has to counter-balance their obvious potential against the naivety of our last opponents and the value of experience. It would be no surprise if he mainly stuck to the conservative option; expect a few new faces but no radical, fundamental change. He'll be hoping Johnny Sexton recovers from an injury picked up in the warm-up on Saturday; he's scheduled to return to training on Thursday, the same day the team is named.

Teams to be edited in when they are announced. Discuss.

[Golden]

WOOO!!!!

Was it a forward pass though?

[Notch]

Sexton!

Brilliant stuff. This is so much better in attack. That was a good step form Sexton too.

[Cari]

Jebus! It's all Gilroy...talk about making a statement.

Great try for Sexytoes!

OK, so my prediction wasn't so far fetched

[wales606]

Brilliant finish by Sexton too, great decoy running from Gilroy aswell

Jeez Ireland look good in attack today.

[Golden]

The players look to be looking for the offload a lot more today as well

[rodders]

Go on Jonny boy!

In Deccie we trust!

[wales606]

You can stop now Ireland...you are making Wales look bad.

[Cari]

14-3 after 18 minutes.

Uh-oh Pumas on the attack though...

[RogerLewis]

Sexton is amazing.

This really shows how rubbish Wales are.

I dunno why Gatland is moaning. Wales deserve the criticism.

[rodders]

Why on earth wasn't Gilroy playing for you guys in the first games?

Kidney problems

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Unreal stuff Ireland. Ryan, sexton and gilroy having stormers

[Golden]

what was wrong with that penalty?

[Cari]

But Ireland give away ANOTHER penalty at the restart. again!

14-6

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Makes you wonder
a) How Ireland have managed to be so bad in many other recent games when they are clearly a decent side
b) how Wales managed to lose to this pile of turd that used to be called Argentina

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

The referee has no idea about the breakdown. He must from D4 as he has pinged POM and Earls.

[wales606]

Sexton is amazing.

This really shows how rubbish Wales are.

I dunno why Gatland is moaning. Wales deserve the criticism.

In fairness, Argentina were not falling off tackles and leaving gaps everywhere when Wales played them, although equally, Ireland have shown more cunning in attack in 20 minutes than Wales in 120.

[Notch]

I thought those were two good turnovers form Earls and O'Mahony. We should probably get Henderson on early- we have two jacklers in the back row!

[KiaRose]

what was wrong with that penalty?

Loked like a good steal by Earls to me, much like POM's in the first minute.
Must learn t play the ref though - and quickly

[Cari]

Pumas struggling at the lineout.

Sanchez down with a bad head.

Ah...bad luck Earlsy.

[Notch]

Clever kick from Zebo, good reading of the game

[eirebilly]

Nearly great stuff from Earls and Zebo

[Cari]

Oh dear...Sanchez really has had a bad knock to the head...he's walking like a drunk. Hope he's OK.

[wales606]

Sanchez off injured.

Hernandez to 10? Or do they have a FH on the bench?

[eirebilly]

Thats a try again

[Golden]

Back play looks a lot better today. They are actually running switches and decoy runners. They never usually do that sort of thing.

WOO!!!! Another try

[Cari]

Try for Strauss? TMO...the ref's asked try or no?

That's a try.

[wales606]

Another try? Looks like its grounded, just.

[wales606]

Ireland are on fire. Argentina look shell shocked.

[KiaRose]

TRY- well done Strauss

[Notch]

Hernandez will go to 10.

This is so typical of Ireland- we only perform when it's least expected! Argentina are stunned, it's already a long way back. Suddenly the margin of defeat comes into play.

[eirebilly]

Really shocked by the way Ireland are playing today. Enjoying this

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

This is getting ridiculous. Only one Argentinian has turned up and hes dressed as the ref

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Unreal

[Golden]

We better not let up at anytime in this match. Play this match at 100% for the full 80 minutes. We need the performance

[mystiroakey]

wow- good stuff ireland!!

impressive performance from you lot!

[Cari]

yep. Try no.3.

Awkward conversion angle for Sexytoes...goes in front of the sticks.

19-6.

[Notch]

Three restarts now and we've given them possession and field position from each one. Thats a concern.

[rodders]

O'Strauss

[mystiroakey]

you irish have somehow started to look like one of the best NH teams-- nothing wrong with dat offcourse- just proves how fragile that best in the NH is these days!!

[Cari]

Sounds like Sanchez is going to come back on following a concussion test. Irish penalty.

[Golden]

Surely Sanchez shouldnt be coming back on

[eirebilly]

Jaysus, Gilroy looks more than at home on the International stage

[wales606]

Sanchez is back on, even though he couldn't walk straight a minute ago.

Gilroy = Shane MKII?

[Cari]

I don't normally like comparisons, but Gilroy really reminds me of Shane. It's lovely to watch - and it could mean that he's a big future in front of him.

[Notch]

Every time Gilroy touches the ball, the crowd picks up- he looks as to the manor born at this level. No fear!

[Cari]

Shane Gilroy!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

You know DOD and Sin will be delighted because Kidney will be safe now for another while. This is Ireland's annual and only good performance.

[KiaRose]

He looked really punch drunk a few minutes ago when he went off. Can you get rid of concussion that quickly?

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Oh dear...Sanchez really has had a bad knock to the head...he's walking like a drunk. Hope he's OK.

And he's back

[Cari]

He looked really punch drunk a few minutes ago when he went off. Can you get rid of concussion that quickly?

I'm not sure... hopefully the medical staff know what they're doing...

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