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]

I expect a backlash in the first 20 after half time. We're gonna need to be ready to step it up a gear.

[eirebilly]

Its not in the bag rodders but i really cant see Argentina coming back so much. I would love Ireland to win by +15

[Cari]

My prediction was 32-18. Going by the first half, I think the Pumas score was ambitious...

[Notch]

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

That certainly looks like a factor, of course fatigue is partly psychological. Had they got the opening try it could be a different story. Instead we're putting a lot of pace on the ball, they are behind and yeah- they look passive and tired.

[rodders]

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

Yeah they're clearly not at their best but I'm not complaining. You have to play whats in front of you.

Remember though the Boks didn't show up for the first 35 minutes though.....

[Cari]

I know it's all about the kids, but would anyone mind if Tommy just got the ball and scored a try? Thanks...

[rodders]

Gees Hernandez looks a shadow of his old self.

[Cari]

Oh Tommy - you're supposed to score, not give away points.

24-12.

[rodders]

Tommy's a bit old for those white boots.

[Notch]

Good work Chris Henry

[rodders]

Well played Henry and Ross.... old fellas have their uses too I suppose...

[eirebilly]

Big platform here for Ireland

[Cari]

Tommy's a bit old for those white boots.

We'll see...


Oh dear...looks like another Puma head injury. He's OK though.

[Golden]

Big scrum

[KiaRose]

Great scrum

[rodders]

Great scrum!!

[eirebilly]

WOW

[Morgannwg]

Why are Ireland playing so well?

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Chris Henry has had a very good match so far. I'm very disappointed with Earls again.

[Cari]

Woah...now that was a scrum!

[Notch]

Man, I've never seen us put a Pumas scrum in reverse gear like that. Little things like that just make you think they aren't all there today. We'll take it!

[neilthom7]

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...

Virgin Media Clive watch 1 record 2

[Golden]

Why are Ireland playing so well?

Dont worry it only happens once a year

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

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

Yeah they're clearly not at their best but I'm not complaining. You have to play whats in front of you.

Remember though the Boks didn't show up for the first 35 minutes though.....

Two games ago it was unfair that they had had so much more time to prepare and gel as a team. Amazing how fast that fatigue sets in.

[Cari]

27-12 after another Sexytoes penalty.

[Golden]

Argentina looks rattled all right

[rodders]

Bring on Paddy Wallace!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

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

Yeah they're clearly not at their best but I'm not complaining. You have to play whats in front of you.

Remember though the Boks didn't show up for the first 35 minutes though.....

Two games ago it was unfair that they had had so much more time to prepare and gel as a team. Amazing how fast that fatigue sets in.

When teams win they are battle-hardened. When they lose they are fatigued. Theres always an excuse

[Golden]

Bowe with bags of pace

[eirebilly]

Cue Cari meltdown

[GunsGerms]

Fantasy rugby from Ireland.

[Cari]

SEE RODDERS!!!! THAT'S MY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rodders]

Tommmmmmyyyyy Boooooooowwweeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

[Notch]

YES!

Good to see Sexton use the chip. Vary it a bit. Lovely try.

[wales606]

Bowe gets one too

[KiaRose]

Keep Calm, Cari

[rodders]

He's got his pace back!!!

[Golden]

Where are we in the rankings if we win by 15+?

[Notch]

Argentina are gone, man. They look gone.

25 international tries for Tommy. Nae bad kid!

[westisbest]

That one was for u cari

[Notch]

Where are we in the rankings if we win by 15+?

Gives us a big boost but Top 4 is out of reach. I think 5th is the absolute highest we can go, sixth definitely.

[Cari]

Keep Calm, Cari

I am...you should see me if I was there though...

Another conversion off the post.

32-12.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Rodders, best performer so far? Connor Murray?

[GunsGerms]

Sexton really needs to improve the goal kicking. It has been very bad.

[Golden]

Not bad considering what it could have been

[eirebilly]

ROG would have kicked that

At least they no longer show ROG on the screen when Sexton misses a kick.

[GunsGerms]

Rodders, best performer so far? Connor Murray?

Not by a long shot. He has had a very good game by his standards though,.

[Cari]

Argentina are gone, man. They look gone.

25 international tries for Tommy. Nae bad kid!

Not bad at all Notch. He's Ireland's third all time try scorer - behind BOD and Hickey.

[Golden]

Ryan is playing very well

[eirebilly]

Sexton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Brilliance

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