Ireland vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby final score, result and reaction from autumn international today
Follow all the reaction from the game in Dublin after Ireland completed a clean sweep of autumn wins
Ireland have beaten Argentina 53-7 in their international match in Dublin.
Ireland 53 (Josh van der Flier 2, Andrew Porter, Caelen Doris, Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tadhg Beirne tries; Joey Carbery 6 conversions, 2 penalties).
Argentina 7 (Mateo Carreras try; Emiliano Boffelli conversion). HT: 24-7.
Follow all the reaction from the game below, live.
Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma speaks to Channel 4
“We really enjoyed analysing [Ireland’s win over New Zealand] - there weren’t too many weaknesses that we found from it.
“It is a great challenge to be here against this great team. It’s been a great week over here.
“We’ve really aligned this last couple of weeks and we want to close the year in a great fashion. We are going to give it a good crack today.”
Clocking in at the office
This could be rather entertaining. The Pumas have been on the road for months and months but will know that they can return home after this weekend, which might just give them a bit of added energy and emphasis, and this Ireland side will be playing an upbeat tune after that win over the All Blacks.
Mike Catt’s attack has really clicked in the last few weeks, and Robert Baloucoune adds even more X-factor on the wing.
About last week...
Right, there’s less than half an hour until kick-off in Dublin, with the stands just beginning to fill behind the great glass expanses of the Aviva Stadium.
Need a refresher of what happened last time out for Ireland?
Player to watch - Julian Montoya
Argentina have a mighty fine captain of their own, of course. Julian Montoya has taken Agustin Creevy’s mantle and arguably expanded upon it, pushing for recognition as perhaps the most complete hooker in the world with a string of star-turns both for the Pumas and at Leicester. Sharp over the ball, strong through contact and canny at the back of a maul, if Argentina are going to produce what would be an upset at the Aviva then you would suspect Montoya may be at the heart of it.
Player to watch - James Ryan
Let’s take a moment to focus on the stand-in Ireland captain. James Ryan leads Ireland from the second row this afternoon and will bring to an end a year of ups and downs internationally for the lock.
It would have been virtually inconceivable two years ago that Ryan would fail to make a British and Irish Lions selection that eventually included six locks, but an ill-timed dip in form and some mild doubts over his physicality were enough to count Ryan out of Warren Gatland’s travelling party for South Africa.
Yet Ryan, perhaps with a point to prove was utterly outstanding in victory over New Zealand and will be hoping to continue his resurgent form this afternoon as captain.
Player to watch - Lucio Cinti
Argentina aren’t short of outside backs at the moment and they appear to have unearthed another gem in Lucio Cinti. Bound for London Irish and the conclusion of this Autumn Nations Series, the long-striding Cinti was one of a group of Youth Olympics gold medallists who helped power an excellent Argentina Sevens outfit to bronze in Tokyo this summer, with Ignacio Mendy and Marcos Moneta similarly making huge impacts in Japan.
Cinti, who can also play in the centres, should develop nicely at the Brentford Community Stadium, where London Irish have recruited a little group of South Americans including former Pumas captain Agustin Creevy. Argentina often look at their best when playing with a certain vibrancy and this is an exceptionally attacking backline that might relish an open contest if Ireland are willing to dance.
Player to watch - Joey Carbery
It is a big day for Carbery, making only his ninth Ireland start in the absence of the injured skipper Johnny Sexton. After such injury woe it would be great to see such a talented fly-half get a real clear run over the next couple of years. He’ll have a chance against an Argentina defence that can at times leave spaces to exploit and an opposite number still figuring out his game at fly-half.
“I never worked with him when he had his best [form], so I’m still learning about Joey myself,” said Ireland attack coach Mike Catt of Carbery.
“But over the summer and the past three or four weeks we’ve had together, him and Harry [Byrne] and Johnny have been exceptional in how they’ve progressed, in how they’ve helped each other and how they’re competing against each other for those spots.
“It’s a very, very healthy environment for that to happen. [Carbery’s] hopefully going to get a few opportunities today to really do what he’s good at and go out and enjoy himself.”
Ireland begin to build
It’s been a largely encouraging year for Andy Farrell, with the head coach’s vision for his version of Ireland beginning to crystallise as he looks to build towards 2023. It always looked a tough job in Dublin, following a figure as influential and particular as Joe Schmidt, but Ireland have now won seven straight and have every chance of finishing the autumn unbeaten with another win this afternoon.
Joey Carbery’s return to fitness and form is a particular boon for the Ireland head coach, and Farrell has begun to blend youth and experience effectively. There is plenty to be optimistic about, certainly.
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