By Brendan Cole
Ireland v Argentina is live on RTÉ Two, RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ.ie on Saturday from 2.30pm.
Unfortunately given what happened against the All Blacks last week, there’s an awful lot on the line in this one. As everyone knows by now, defeat to Argentina could well see Ireland slip to ninth place in the world rankings going into the next rugby world cup. That would mean ending up in a pool with two big guns.
It’s not overstating things to say that a bad result here could set Irish international rugby back years over the next decade. Funnily enough, Argentina, along with the other top ranked sides, are probably among those who would rather that a rankings switch didn’t happen as the chances are Ireland will represent a stiffer test than Scotland in New Zealand in 2011.
Even so, Ireland should expect no quarter from Argentina. There is still bad blood – both historic and recent - between these two squads.
If the match itself stays true to the form of previous clashes, this will be dour, life or death rugby pockmarked by cheating, cynicism and mutual suspicion (from both sides, might I add).
The template for Argentina is to grind the opposition forward pack into submission up front and toy with the wide men through the boot of Juan Martin Hernandez. They can, of course, play rugby but nowhere is it better understood that rugby is at heart a game of pushing, shoving and striving first and field position and chasing second than by Los Pumas.
One wonders if Ireland are philosophically in the same sort of groove. Certainly, the evidence of last week’s sorry performance against New Zealand is that they still have rather deep issues with their rugby thinking.
On the one hand, it was good to see that a more pro-active and dynamic defensive system has successfully been introduced. Yes, three tries were conceded but there were 60 or 70 minutes when an obviously below par Ireland still looked competitive and the impact of the ridiculous – the law is an ass in this case – Tommy Bowe sin bin/penalty try double whammy can be allowed for.
On the other hand, Ireland’s attacking play still seems to veer from slow conservatism to over elaboration without ever hitting a middle ground. Even more of an issue was the yet again anaemic ruck. By and large, New Zealand did not have to struggle for their ruck ball and ultimately, Ireland paid for that. The lesson from the Munster match needs to be learned; Argentina must be made to suffer at every recycle.
The umbilical cord between backs and forwards was also wobbly rather than sure. Strange to say given that he normally polarises opinion like no other but few Irish fans would have quibbled if Peter Stringer had been dropped straight into the national XV after his magnificent performance on Tuesday night. He once again looks as though he might have a bit of what this team needs.
If he is to respond, Tomás O’Leary simply must pass the ball better. The base of the ruck will be one of the trickiest environments on the field with the likes of Patricio Albacete, Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Juan Leguizamon in the Argentinian eight.
Further more, Ronan O’Gara will also have his work cut out opposite Juan Martin Hernandez, whose value at Test level is mainly his surgical kicking and superb tackling.
Where Ireland may find they can make hay is at the end of the Argentina defensive line, where it is sometimes possible to isolate a front rower. Luke Fitzgerald’s magical footwork could come into its own while Brian O’Driscoll also looks a class above a few of the men opposite. Geordan Murphy will hopefully add a little vision and unpredictability while Rob Kearney’s kicking may be good foil for the Hernandez boot.
Other variables abound. Can Tony Buckley make an impact off the bench or will his physique prove his undoing in the scrum? Might Eoin Reddan or Keith Earls add some game changing pace and flair?
The Croke Park factor – or lack thereof - must also be mentioned. Whether it’s because vast swathes of the crowd are routinely miles away from the action, or because the prawn sandwich brigade and the thousands of extra tickets compared to Lansdowne Road have brought in a more fickle crowd, the case for the proposition that something is missing at this venue has all but been proved at this stage.
A lack of involvement due to distance from the field is likely to be the main problem – with some of the seating literally not at the races. With a full house unlikely and a 2.30pm kick-off, Ireland will probably have to contend with a lack of atmosphere as well as everything else. Hopefully, Munster’s heroics on Tuesday will have restored a public appetite for the game that was severely lacking at around 7pm last Saturday evening.
But getting back to on-field matters, this match basically depends on Ireland really bossing the breakdown and then being snappy and accurate at half-back. O’Leary, the back row and Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan will have to outwork, out-tackle and out-carry – Stephen Ferris and O’Connell must be careful in that regard of this dogged and wily Argentinian pack. The lineout and scrum will need to be near perfect and with wind and rain forecast, a lot will then come down to Ronan O’Gara.
Solid platforms, accuracy, guts, hard work and a little razzle dazzle?
Come on Ireland.
Ireland: G Murphy; Bowe, B O'Driscoll, Fitzgerald, Kearney; O'Gara, O'Leary; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, Buckley, O'Kelly, TBA, Reddan, P Wallace, Earls.
Argentina: A Agulla; F Leonelli, F Martin Aramburu, M Avramovic, R Carballo; J-M Hernandez, N Vergallo; R Roncero, M Ledesma, J P Orlandi; R Alvarez Kairelis, P Albacete; M Durand, J-M Fernandez, J-M Leguizamon.
Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, M Ayerza, E Lozada, A Galindo, A Figuerola, S Fernandez, B Stortoni.
