Ireland hold off Argentina's fightback after making rapid start

11/15/2024 05:17 PM

• Ireland 22-19 Argentina
• Three first-half tries enough for Andy Farrell's side

Jeopardy is a word with plenty of currency in rugby these days. Mostly it is used in reference to how competitions are structured, but also in describing individual matches. This one had plenty. Not always evident, especially in the first half when Ireland looked a good deal better than against the All Blacks a week ago. But the race down the home straight, with Argentina a man down, had heaps of it. When at last the pressure was relieved for the home team pretty much all of them called the knock on. And then gave thanks for deliverance.

That's what it was. Coincidentally it is 25 years since a long night in Lens when a different sort of finish changed rugby in both countries. Bizarrely it was better for both, albeit for Ireland that bonus was a long time coming. Losing on the night turned into winning in the long run.