In a thrilling encounter at Lansdowne Road on Friday, Ireland triumphed over Argentina with a narrow 22-19 victory, recovering from their recent loss to New Zealand.
Despite leading by 13 points at halftime, Ireland faced serious pressure in the second half as the Pumas showcased their skill and discipline, almost clinching their historic first win on Irish soil.
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“It went right down to the wire there,” expressed Ireland captain Caelen Doris in his post-match remarks to TNT Sport.
“We were pleased with our start. A good vibe during the warm-up translated well into the match, and I felt very confident at half-time. However, the quality of the Pumas really showed in the second period.”
The match began with promise for Ireland, but the Pumas thought they had scored early through Matias Moroni, only to see him exit the field receiving a yellow card for a head collision with Irish fly-half Jack Crowley.
Just moments later, it was Crowley who was celebrating as he crossed the try line for his second Test try, converting it successfully to give his side a 7-0 lead in the fourth minute.
A mere minute after Crowley’s try, Garry Ringrose sliced through the Argentine defense, leading to an exquisite pass from Jamison Gibson-Park to Tadhg Beirne, who generously set up Mack Hansen for the try.
The Australia-born wing marked his 10th Test try; although Crowley missed the conversion, Ireland surged ahead to 12-0 within just six minutes.
Ireland maintained relentless pressure, but were denied a third try when Beirne’s attempt to ground the ball went awry due to a knock-on.
However, Irish discipline faltered as they lost prop Finlay Bealham to a yellow card in the 17th minute for a dangerous tackle.
Head coach Andy Farrell looked on regretfully as Bealham departed, allowing Albornoz to capitalize with a penalty, narrowing the score to 12-6.
Crowley added a well-placed drop goal, extending Ireland’s lead to 15-6 until Albornoz struck again with a penalty to trim the deficit to 15-9 just before Bealham returned to the pitch.
Resisting multiple waves of Irish attacks, the Pumas ultimately buckled after the half-hour mark, allowing Joe McCarthy to steamroll over for his second Test try, which Crowley converted to widen the Irish lead to 22-9.
In contrast, Ireland’s defensive line stood firm as they repelled several late-half acquisitions by the Pumas, aided in part by Ringrose’s turnover that ensured a cushion of points heading into the break.
However, the Pumas exhibited an impressive response after the interval, with fullback Juan Cruz Mallia breaking through the Irish line amid missed tackling attempts from Ringrose and Hansen to score a try.
As the Irish discipline slipped once more, they conceded three penalties in rapid succession, prompting referee Paul Williams to send McCarthy to the sin bin, incensing Farrell from the sidelines.
Albornoz notched his 100th Test point with a smoothly executed penalty, reducing the gap to 22-19 with just under half an hour remaining.
Despite the penalty count surging to 10 against the Irish after Crowley inadvertently took out Albornoz mid-air, the Pumas’ fly-half misfired on a drop goal attempt shortly thereafter.
Farrell initiated a flurry of substitutions just past the hour mark, including the introduction of 21-year-old Sam Prendergast for his international debut in place of Crowley.
One of the loudest cheers of the evening erupted in the 67th minute when prop Cian Healy entered the fray, matching Brian O’Driscoll’s record of 133 caps for Ireland.
Things became tense for the Irish, who were relieved when Pumas substitute Francisco Gomez Kodela received a yellow card for a head shot on Doris, momentarily easing the pressure.
Despite being a man down, it was Argentina that pressed on the attack in the closing stages, inching into Ireland’s 22-meter area before the hosts remarkably managed to reclaim possession and seal the win.
How does Caelen Doris believe the victory over Argentina will impact Ireland’s confidence moving forward?
**Interview with Ireland Rugby Captain Caelen Doris Following the Thrilling 22-19 Victory Over Argentina**
**Editor:** Caelen, congratulations on a hard-fought 22-19 victory against Argentina. Can you share your thoughts on the match and how it felt to reclaim a win after the loss to New Zealand?
**Caelen Doris:** Thank you! It was a thrilling match, and we’re really pleased with the outcome, especially after the disappointment against New Zealand. The atmosphere was electric, and I think we showed great character to bounce back. Our first half was strong, and we had a solid lead, but we knew that the Pumas would come out firing in the second half, which they did.
**Editor:** You led by 13 points at halftime, but the second half saw the Pumas putting you under a lot of pressure. What adjustments did you try to make during that time?
**Caelen Doris:** We talked about maintaining our defensive intensity and limiting our errors. Argentina is a quality side, and we knew they would capitalize on any mistakes we made. They showed their skill and discipline as the match progressed, but we worked hard to keep them at bay and managed to secure the win.
**Editor:** There was a moment when Matias Moroni scored but got sent off for a yellow card shortly after. How did that impact the game’s momentum from your perspective?
**Caelen Doris:** That was a pivotal moment for both teams. It gave us an opportunity to take control early on. We capitalized on the space and got some early tries, which helped set the tone. But we also knew that with the Pumas, you can’t afford to relax at any point, and unfortunately, we let our guard down at times.
**Editor:** You mentioned your strong start and how confident you felt at halftime. What do you think contributed to that positive vibe before the match?
**Caelen Doris:** We had a great warm-up, and the team’s energy was high. I think the group really came together, focusing on our game plan and trusting each other. That collective belief helped us to start strong, and we knew we had to carry that momentum throughout the game.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, what do you think this victory means for the team as you prepare for future matches?
**Caelen Doris:** This win is crucial for us, especially in terms of building confidence and team cohesion. It shows that we can respond under pressure. We’ll analyze our performance to identify areas for improvement, but ultimately, we’ll carry this victory as a positive step forward in our journey. We have a lot to look forward to.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Caelen. Best of luck with the upcoming matches!
**Caelen Doris:** Thanks! I appreciate it.