Ireland opened their November campaign with a 42-12 win over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, scoring six tries of such variety that head coach Andy Farrell admitted his only regret was that his side failed to be more ruthless in the closing quarter.
The victory, Ireland's first outing of the season after a sluggish summer tour, settles the nerves of a support base looking ahead to next year's World Cup with hope rather than dread. There was a moment, barely ten minutes in, when old worries stirred: Mateo Carreras crossed for Argentina to make it 5-0, and the memory of chasing the All Blacks in Auckland came flooding back. It did not last.
How the tries came, and why they mattered
According to RTE.ie, the most pleasing aspect of the win for Farrell was the sheer variety of Ireland's scoring. The first try saw the back three of Mack Hansen, Rob Baloucoune and Hugo Keenan combine to send Keenan in. The second came when Dan Sheehan crashed over from a lineout strike inside the 22, after Nick Timoney had been stopped inches short following a wonderfully rehearsed move.
Ryan Baird stole an Argentine lineout to set up the third before half time. Sam Prendergast then sliced between two backrow forwards for the bonus-point score. Keenan's hat-trick try was perhaps the pick: Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Baird, three forwards, stringing together three delicate passes to send him under the posts. The final score came the old-fashioned way, the pack mauuling its way over from close range.
Two delicate kicks from Hansen nearly produced another in the corner, and Ciarán Frawley broke the line late on, but the 50-point barrier stayed intact.
Beirne: 'Proper team tries'
Second row Tadhg Beirne, who will be 35 when the World Cup comes round, said the collective nature of the scoring was the real takeaway.
“I think what was pleasing about a lot of those was just some of those tries were proper team tries,” Beirne said. “Everyone was involved in them. I think that's probably the biggest takeaway from the game.”
Beirne acknowledged the dressing room left the field slightly frustrated, feeling Ireland failed to capitalise on territory and chances in the final quarter. “But that also shows how good a performance it was to be walking away feeling a little bit like that,” he added. Radio France Internationale carried similar remarks from Farrell, who said he was delighted with the performance overall while noting his side could have been “more ruthless”.
Timoney's case for the number six shirt
Nick Timoney continued his impressive run of form with 10 carries and 11 tackles across the full 80 minutes, and the case can now be made that the 31-year-old is Ireland's first-choice blindside flanker going forward. He came within inches of a try of his own in the build-up to Sheehan's score.
“I kind of thought I had stepped the full-back and was in but didn't quite get there,” Timoney told RTÉ Sport. “Stuff like that just gives a glimpse into how good the coaching staff have been and how good the prep is and the analysis. They have everything planned to within an inch. I'm sure the coaches up in the box will be happy, that's their fingerprints all over it.”
Timoney believes the win sets a standard for the season ahead. “The fans have been talking about first impressions being huge and I guess this is our first impression of where we are as a team this season, and we've got to kick on from here. It's obviously a massive 12 months,” he said, adding that Argentina remained dangerous throughout and that elements of Ireland's defensive effort deserved real credit. Extra.ie reported Farrell's view that Ireland “missed a chance to be ruthless” despite the emphatic scoreline, while an archived match report described a performance built on precision, pace and pressure.
What this means for the season ahead
For a squad that spent the summer being second-guessed after the defeat in Auckland, this was a statement of intent delivered on home soil in front of a full Aviva crowd. The contrast with July could not have been sharper: there, early sloppiness left Ireland chasing; here, after Carreras's early score, the response was immediate through Dan Sheehan and Craig Casey counter-rucking to win a penalty, and from there Ireland never looked back.
The next 12 months build towards the World Cup, and Farrell now has a squad playing with direction and, judging by the mood in the camp, an honest sense of what still needs fixing. That mix of satisfaction and frustration may be exactly what a side needs with a long road ahead.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score between Ireland and Argentina?
Ireland beat Argentina 42-12 at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, scoring six tries and conceding two.
Who scored tries for Ireland?
Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick, with further tries from Dan Sheehan, Sam Prendergast and a maul score, while Nick Timoney came inches short of adding another.
What did Andy Farrell say after the match?
Farrell said he was pleased overall, particularly with the variety of Ireland's tries, but felt his side could have been more ruthless in the final quarter.