QF3: Ireland v Argentina, 18 October

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IRELAND v ARGENTINA

18 October 2015
KO: 13:00 BST (UTC+01)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [tbc]

Ref: Jerome Garcès (France)
ARs: Romain Poite (France)and Chris Pollock (NZ)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

A. Head to Head

15 Played 15
10 Won 5
0 Drawn 0
5 Lost 15
331 Points 283

B. Recent Form

14 June 2014
Estadio Monumental José Fierro, Tucumán
17 – 23 to Ireland

7 June 2014
Estadio Centenario, Resistencia
17 – 29 to Ireland

24 November 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
46 – 24 to Ireland

28 November 2010
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
29 – 9 to Ireland

22 November 2008
Croke Park, Dublin
17 – 3 to Ireland

30 September 2007
Parc des Princes, Paris, France
30 – 15 to Argentina

2 June 2007
Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
16 – 0 to Argentina

C. TEAMS:

IRELAND


15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
6. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) captain

Replacements;
16. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock/Leinster)

ARGENTINA


15. Joaquin Tuculet
14. Santiago Cordero
13. Matías Moroni
12. Juan Martín Hernández
11. Juan Imhoff
10. Nicolás Sánchez
9. Martín Landajo
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Agustín Creevy (c)
3. Ramiro Herrera
4. Guido Petti
5. Tomás Lavanini
6. Pablo Matera
7. Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
8. Leonardo Senatore

Replacements:
16. Julián Montoya
17. Lucas Noguera
18. Juan Pablo Orlandi
19. Matías Alemanno
20. Facundo Isa
21. Tomás Cubelli
22. Jerónimo De La Fuente
23. Lucas González Amorosino

Munchkin wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

Notch wrote:Best case scenario for us really.

Best for the team.
For us on 606 a bit of a disasters as chunky will be whipping himself I to a paranoid conspiracy frenzy ready to to unleash his "proof" on us all

I can just imagine the froth bubbling over  I'm sure World Rugby will receive a letter of complaint.

A letter? I was thinking more a crazed crayon scribbling

carpet baboon wrote:

Notch wrote:Best case scenario for us really.

Best for the team.
For us on 606 a bit of a disasters as chunky will be whipping himself I to a paranoid conspiracy frenzy ready to to unleash his "proof" on us all

Phil / Chunks is in a bit of a frenzy on twitter alright (teaming up with Andy Howell and Stephen Jones).

Just reading the tweets. The outrage is hilarious

Was there the same level of outrage at Pocock getting off?

O'Brien and Bosch both get one week bans.

No one can complain really. Brought it on themselves.

And for one of them, that's their RWC over.

If our journey ends next week, this will return to haunt O'Brien big time.

Yes, if we need one player to get through then we don't deserve to get through anyway, but the media and follower emotions don't work that way. The Blame game will glide back to an eejit that did something dumb in a massive game against France.

SOB can consider himself a little lucky to only receive a 1 week ban, pretty sure that Schmidt would have torn shreds off him for that as well.

I think a lot of time will be spent on control this week, Ireland can ill afford more indiscipline.

Is Bosch the only player missing for Argentina?

Sin é wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

Notch wrote:Best case scenario for us really.

Best for the team.
For us on 606 a bit of a disasters as chunky will be whipping himself I to a paranoid conspiracy frenzy ready to to unleash his "proof" on us all

Phil / Chunks is in a bit of a frenzy on twitter alright (teaming up with Andy Howell and Stephen Jones).

You got to love me Jones. "Ireland are a disgrace they have shamed the sport. Oh and a couple of ozzies were a bit naughty too,but Ireland should be thrown.out"

His rage soothes me.

But the discrepancy between bans is a loadof Love sacks to be fair.

So there's talk of Sexton being available for Sunday - I reckon that's a bit of a bluff to keep the Pumas guessing.

Can't see that he'll be fit enough and reckon Madigan will start at 10.

SOB is a lucky boy and so are we - if we can scrape through here it will be a big boost to have SOB and Sexton back.

The pumas sounding very confident though.

He is lucky, no denying it.

I don't think Pape was play acting.

I would rather have a smack in the guts than dropped/pushed on my head or neck and I think the lengths of the bans yesterday reflects this.

The question should be is a smack in the guts worth more than a 1 week ban?

Thankfully for Ireland the answer is currently NO.

If there is even the slightest doubt over Sexton, Madigan should play, and I think he has earned the right to be trusted with starting.

rapidsnowman wrote:He is lucky, no denying it.

I don't think Pape was play acting.

I would rather have a smack in the guts than dropped/pushed on my head or neck and I think the lengths of the bans yesterday reflects this.

The question should be is a smack in the guts worth more than a 1 week ban?

Thankfully for Ireland the answer is currently NO.

If there is even the slightest doubt over Sexton, Madigan should play, and I think he has earned the right to be trusted with starting.

Well the answer was yes but SOB being a good country boy with a good record helped him

rodders wrote:So there's talk of Sexton being available for Sunday - I reckon that's a bit of a bluff to keep the Pumas guessing.

Can't see that he'll be fit enough and reckon Madigan will start at 10.

SOB is a lucky boy and so are we - if we can scrape through here it will be a big boost to have SOB and Sexton back.

The pumas sounding very confident though.

So where the French last week then come the game it was like they had the wind knocked out of them

Yeah the difference is the Pumas have a lot more to be confident about than the French had!

Moral of the story.... don't squeeze ass in a queue.  You mightn't get the offended guy, who knocks your lights out, as long in jail as you'd expected.

O'Brien should now start winking at Pape in future encounters.... 'so you seem interested big, boy?  What you say we find a quiet corner in the shower?'  I'd have a field day making him relive the grope to eternity.

I ask myself........................ truly, which side would the Aussies (presuming they make it through their game) prefer to meet in a Semi-final? Argentina or us?

SecretFly wrote:I ask myself........................ truly, which side would the Aussies (presuming they make it through their game) prefer to meet in a Semi-final?  Argentina or us?

I'd say no one wants Argentina.

You think they'd prefer Ireland?

Hmmm. Methinks they'd be happy to have Argentina knock us out.

SecretFly wrote:Moral of the story.... don't squeeze ass in a queue.  You mightn't get the offended guy, who knocks your lights out, as long in jail as you'd expected.

O'Brien should now start winking at Pape in future encounters.... 'so you seem interested big, boy?  What you say we find a quiet corner in the shower?'  I'd have a field day making him relive the grope to eternity.

That technique work for you Fly?

Turning the taunt back on the taunter? Yep, marty...it's a classic of mine

So.... seeing as you dropped a grope in there at the end, you naughty rascal.... shall we go somewhere an play with a bar of soap????

Well if I had the choice I'd rather play Ireland.

We have a flaky 10, a make shift midfield, a full back who can't tackle or pass, wings as slow as cart horses, a middle aged tight head, a hooker who can't throw, a half fit loosehead, an no8 who can't carry and if the opposition counter-ruck and make us commit numbers to the breakdown our whole game plan goes out the window.  

Argentina by contrast are built like bulls and run like gazelles. It's a no brainer.

I hope Argentina are worth the hype then.... 'cause it's certainly growing.

100- nil to the Pumas! Stop the game Ref!

Argentina are the new All Blacks. Can't be denied. Just look at their recent record.....


We should tremble with fear.

If Madigan starts id like to see Cave at 12 Henshaw at 13

Earls will start. Hard to argue against it after his last game. I think it would be a bit risky starting Cave against the Mighty Puma's.

tecphobe wrote:If Madigan starts id like to see Cave at 12 Henshaw at 13

Id like to see Cave full stop, Im starting to think hes missing and no ones telling us

Munchkin wrote:Earls will start. Hard to argue against it after his last game. I think it would be a bit risky starting Jackson against the Mighty Puma's.

You mean after he butchered a simple try and nearly decapitated a team mate?

Argentina are a half decent side, but reading most o fthis thread I get the feeling Irish fans view them about as good as Uruguay.

marty2086 wrote:

tecphobe wrote:If Madigan starts id like to see Cave at 12 Henshaw at 13

Id like to see Cave full stop, Im starting to think hes missing and no ones telling us

He's been sent home for an emergency re-sewing as his stuffing started to come out of his ears from his crash-test dummy role with the squad so far.

marty2086 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Earls will start. Hard to argue against it after his last game. I think it would be a bit risky starting Jackson against the Mighty Puma's.

You mean after he butchered a simple try and nearly decapitated a team mate?

Nothing like an extreme over reaction to give me a smile

LondonTiger wrote:Argentina are a half decent side, but reading most o fthis thread I get the feeling Irish fans view them about as good as Uruguay.

Not at all at all, Tiger. But reading these threads, I get the feeling the rest of our friends in these parts seem to view us as a step below Uruguay

marty2086 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Earls will start. Hard to argue against it after his last game. I think it would be a bit risky starting Jackson against the Mighty Puma's.

You mean after he butchered a simple try and nearly decapitated a team mate?

To be fair, other than the fumble, he had a decent game. I thought he did well enough in defence, and that's the part of his game that I had doubts about.

At this stage of the competition, Schmidt isn't going to start Cave ahead of Earls. It wouldn't make sense.

rodders wrote:Well if I had the choice I'd rather play Ireland.

We have a flaky 10, a make shift midfield, a full back who can't tackle or pass, wings as slow as cart horses, a middle aged tight head, a hooker who can't throw, a half fit loosehead, an no8 who can't carry and if the opposition counter-ruck and make us commit numbers to the breakdown our whole game plan goes out the window.  

Argentina by contrast are built like bulls and run like gazelles. It's a no brainer.

Well you've changed your tune Rodders you used to be quite negative about the team.

Looking for a job cheerleading the squad?

I think that is the stout induced paranoia creeping in.

The positive thing though is that you guys have stopped infighting.

funny though that you are all reacting to the very same criticism of Ireland that you throw about at each other when the inter province wang holding competitions kick off.

LondonTiger wrote:Argentina are a half decent side, but reading most o fthis thread I get the feeling Irish fans view them about as good as Uruguay.

No, we (we being me) view them as a decent side. Not the new All Blacks.

All people have suggested is that Argentina are a better team than any faced by Ireland in the WC so far.

LondonTiger wrote:I think that is the stout induced paranoia creeping in.

The positive thing though is that you guys have stopped infighting.

funny though that you are all reacting to the very same criticism of Ireland that you throw about at each other when the inter province wang holding competitions kick off.

??? That being that Argentina are better than Munster?

In case any of you missed it earls was carrying a knock for most of the second half. I've no axe unlike some to grind with Earls. However with all the other injuries his has been glossed over. With Madigan at 10 cave adds a bit more Ballast to midfield and we have another much needed ball Carrier in the absence of SOB

LondonTiger wrote:All people have suggested is that Argentina are a better team than any faced by Ireland in the WC so far.

That's yet to be proven. They haven't really faced tough opposition themselves, bar NZ, and NZ were hardly at their best.

Munchkin wrote:Argentina are the new All Blacks. Can't be denied. Just look at their recent record.....


We should tremble with fear.

Either this comment is tongue in cheek banter or is level of arrogance mostly associated with Will Carling era England. Staggering.

LondonTiger wrote:Argentina are a half decent side, but reading most o fthis thread I get the feeling Irish fans view them about as good as Uruguay.

I get the same impression Tiger. Ireland are a strong side but I would say Argentina are just as strong.

Golden wrote:

rodders wrote:Well if I had the choice I'd rather play Ireland.

We have a flaky 10, a make shift midfield, a full back who can't tackle or pass, wings as slow as cart horses, a middle aged tight head, a hooker who can't throw, a half fit loosehead, an no8 who can't carry and if the opposition counter-ruck and make us commit numbers to the breakdown our whole game plan goes out the window.  

Argentina by contrast are built like bulls and run like gazelles. It's a no brainer.

Well  you've changed your tune Rodders you used to be quite negative about the team.

Looking for a job cheerleading the squad?

I'm helping Joe do a rope-a-dope on the pumas.

tecphobe wrote:In case any of you missed it earls was carrying a knock for most of the second half. I've no axe unlike some to grind with Earls. However with all the other injuries his has been glossed over. With Madigan at 10 cave adds a bit more Ballast to midfield and we have another much needed ball Carrier in the absence of SOB

If Earls is injured then Cave should start, but he won't. It will be Fitz.

rodders wrote:Well if I had the choice I'd rather play Ireland.

We have a flaky 10, a make shift midfield, a full back who can't tackle or pass, wings as slow as cart horses, a middle aged tight head, a hooker who can't throw, a half fit loosehead, an no8 who can't carry and if the opposition counter-ruck and make us commit numbers to the breakdown our whole game plan goes out the window.  

Argentina by contrast are built like bulls and run like gazelles. It's a no brainer.

Shush Rodders, stop giving away all our weaknesses.

LondonTiger wrote:All people have suggested is that Argentina are a better team than any faced by Ireland in the WC so far.

Which is true. France make nicer wine though.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

rodders wrote:Well if I had the choice I'd rather play Ireland.

We have a flaky 10, a make shift midfield, a full back who can't tackle or pass, wings as slow as cart horses, a middle aged tight head, a hooker who can't throw, a half fit loosehead, an no8 who can't carry and if the opposition counter-ruck and make us commit numbers to the breakdown our whole game plan goes out the window.  

Argentina by contrast are built like bulls and run like gazelles. It's a no brainer.

Shush Rodders, stop giving away all our weaknesses.

just trying to beat the 42.ie shower to it ...

LondonTiger wrote:All people have suggested is that Argentina are a better team than any faced by Ireland in the WC so far.

Who doesn't accept that?  Find the post.

I'd say they're in the same league as France, England and Wales.  Would I laugh at France, England or Wales as opponents?  Not on your life.  Should we tremble at the prospect of having to play them?.... nope.

That's all that is being said here.  People keep popping in to say 'you're not fearing the Argentina threat enough'.  
Are they fearing us?  No.  
They're willing to have a game to see which side comes out on top.  If they win - great victory and on they go.  Very possible it might be so.  
How many times do we have to say that before our friends accept that we're not taking Argentina lightly?

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Argentina are the new All Blacks. Can't be denied. Just look at their recent record.....


We should tremble with fear.

Either this comment is tongue in cheek banter or is level of arrogance mostly associated with Will Carling era England. Staggering.

LondonTiger wrote:Argentina are a half decent side, but reading most o fthis thread I get the feeling Irish fans view them about as good as Uruguay.

I get the same impression Tiger. Ireland are a strong side but I would say Argentina are just as strong.

Arrogant because I don't buy the hype? Fair enough Radge. Ireland have just won two 6N's, have beaten Australia and South Africa in the AI's, have just destroyed France, but according to you I'm arrogant for not buying the Argentina hype, and it is hype, and believing my side can beat them.....

You numpty

I think Argentina will definately pose a bigge threat than the French and with the balance of RWC history in their favour I'd have them as slight favourites. I also had France as slight favourites mind you.
Ireland can win and progress but we face a huge task this weekend made harder still by the pressure of reaching our first RWC semi final.

Keep dreaming!!!!!

SecretFly wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:All people have suggested is that Argentina are a better team than any faced by Ireland in the WC so far.

Who doesn't accept that?  Find the post.

I'd say they're in the same league as France, England and Wales.  Would I laugh at France, England or Wales as opponents?  Not on your life.  Should we tremble at the prospect of having to play them?.... nope.

Argentina are definitely better than those 3 fly. They stuffed the boks on their home soil this summer, something those 3 have never done, neither have we. They should have beaten the ABs on the opening weekend and have blown every other side in their pool to pieces, including physical Tongan and Georgian sides who really put it up the the ABs.

Along with Australia they've been the best side in the tournament by far and I'd back them to hammer France, if you are putting them on par with any of the 6N then that is underestimating them.

... I'll resist a dissection of that opinion rodders until after the game. I think our team has been jinxed enough with injuries already - I won't add to the jinx pressure just now