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.

[Notch]

That was a good kick from Lobbe!

[rodders]

Keep them out lads!

[Cari]

Wow, if Sanchez is still drunk, he's playing better for it!

That was thanks to Murray's daft box kick.

[wales606]

Good defence by Ireland to stop the initial break by Argentina.

Ireland are playing well, but a try for Argentina and they are back in the game.

[eirebilly]

Argentina dont look too bad on attack either

[KiaRose]

Good defence if a bit frantic and looked panicky

[asoreleftshoulder]

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.

They'll also be patting Kidnney on the back for picking Gilroy 6 months late.

[rodders]

Nobody over the age of 25 should ever be allowed to play for Ireland again. Old people suck.....

[Golden]

What a take!

[rodders]

Tommy Bowe!!!! Go on the old boys!

[eirebilly]

Calm down Cari

[Cari]

Nobody over the age of 25 should ever be allowed to play for Ireland again. Old people suck.....

No! My Boy is 28!! And he just did a superb take there so

[LuvSports!]

try fest

[rodders]

Zeeeebbbbbbbooooooo!!!!!!!

[eirebilly]

ZEBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wales606]

Another try

[Notch]

Haha!

What a lovely flat pass from Sexton to put Zebo in!

[Golden]

Lovely try

[rodders]

[Cari]

Zeeeeboooo

24-9.

[Feckless Rogue]

First test try for Gilroy
First test try for Strauss
First test try for Zebo

Wow. Injecting new talent into the team might actually be worthwhile?

[Notch]

Well, we asked them to come up with more ideas in attack

[asoreleftshoulder]

What a take!

Great catch and break from Bowe,top quality stuff.

Really happy to see Heaslip follow him up and protect him from getting isolated,he's having one of his better games too.

[Cari]

Awh...bounces off the post. Great kick from Sexy though.

[Cari]

First test try for Gilroy
First test try for Strauss
First test try for Zebo

Wow. Injecting new talent into the team might actually be worthwhile?

Can someone let Kidney know...?

[neilthom7]

Well hello Ireland backline where have you been all Autumn?

[rodders]

Enough of the cavalier stuff lads...settle it down...

[mystiroakey]

yes welcome back ireland

[Cari]

POM looks like he's struggling a bit.

[eirebilly]

Are Ireland not allowed to compete at the breakdown?

[rodders]

Well hello Ireland backline where have you been all Autumn?

Ravenhill... .....

[GunsGerms]

True Rodders. Gilroy has been inspirational.

[Golden]

Every time we score we concede a penalty

[eirebilly]

Well hello Ireland backline where have you been all Autumn?

Ravenhill... .....

Cheeky

[Cari]

Well hello Ireland backline where have you been all Autumn?

Ravenhill... .....

No that's the Boyband Backline

Penalty goes wide.

[neilthom7]

Well hello Ireland backline where have you been all Autumn?

Ravenhill... .....

Haha they haven't even been here Rodders they must have got lost on the bus journey to Dublin lol

[Notch]

This is what happens when we offload the ball, play flat on the gainline and keep the tempo high.

[Golden]

71%possesion

[clivemcl]

Really disappointed with Ireland. I mean, we might have got a few tries THIS TIME, but if you keep passing the ball to each other, you could drop it or something. Not cooL. Cut it out lads and put it to the boot every time like we always do...

[Cari]

Blimey, that turf is cutting up worse than the Millennium Stadium - and that's saying something.

HT 24-9

[Golden]

not a bad first half

[Cari]

Wow Argentina haven't won a lineout yet.

[eirebilly]

Finally a half of rugby that Ireland can be proud of

[KiaRose]

Ireland no turnovers - well we seemed to, but got whistled every time we did.

[clivemcl]

Three matches at once. Sky only let's me record one and watch one. This is horrible scheduling!!

[westisbest]

Good first half. Gilroy looking good, big future ahead of him.
Great to see. Hope we can get another 4 plus tries in second half.

[Golden]

Jeez that Argentinian defensive line looks like Irelands usually does

[rodders]

Finally a half of rugby that Ireland can be proud of

Here here Billser!....

Keep her lit lads! Time to turn the screw, the Pumas won't lie down in the second half so this one isn't in the bag yet.

[Golden]

Could Argentina just be fatigued? They have had a lot of tough games over the last couple of months.

[Cari]

Three matches at once. Sky only let's me record one and watch one. This is horrible scheduling!!

What? You only need to watch this game...

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