Ireland Development XV 12 Argentina 24Torrential rain, a strong wind and sodden underfoot conditions guaranteed that the boot would be the favoured option for most of the proceedings at Donnybrook last night, which suited the physically more dynamic Argentinans.
Their ability to take the tackle on their own terms and offload meant the home side spent most of the night on the back foot. In adversity, though, several players stepped up to the crease, Des Dillon, David Quinlan, Donncha O'Callaghan and Mark McHugh, in particular, enjoyed stand-out nights.
The interpretation of Welsh referee Hugh Watkins was a little puzzling, to put it mildly, but it would be churlish not to recognise the merit of Argentina's victory, one built by an impressive pack. The Irish will rue the concession of a couple of soft tries, and a penalty try.
The suspicion that Argentina might bully their younger opponents in the scrum proved well founded, not least when securing the first try of the night. Watkins penalised the Irish scrum in the first instance no more than five metres from the home side's line. The Irish were penalised a second and third time, loosehead Simon Best being identified as the culprit.
Eventually a penalty try was awarded and Best headed for the touchline after getting a yellow card: it was a very harsh double whammy for the young Ulster prop. He was soon followed, however, by Argentinian second row Patricio Albacete, who earned a 10-minute sabbatical for killing a ball at a ruck.
If the physical contest was going the visitors' way, there were notable pockets of resistance, particularly O'Callaghan, Dillon and in the lineout, Aidan Kearney. Outhalf McHugh kicked beautifully from the placed ball - he skewed a couple of punts from the hand - registering four successful penalties from as many attempts.
Quinlan made some hard yards in the centre but given the appalling conditions, opting for backline gambits was akin to playing Russian roulette.
The Irish could ill afford the largesse they demonstrated on 32 minutes when Scott Young and Brian O'Riordan were caught ball-watching from a speculative chip, allowing Hernan Senillosa to hack on and win the race to touch down.
It looked a generous decision, given Watkins's distance from the incident. Juan de Fernandez converted both tries, the second a superb effort from the touchline.
The visitors' third try, nine minutes after the interval was attributable to the conditions, Young dropping a high ball, Gavin Duffy knocking on and Martin Gaitan strolling over to put the visitors 19-12 in front.
Thge Argentinians continued to press and fully deserved their fourth try of the night when replacement prop Mauricio Reggiardo enjoyed his two-yard plunge, ably assisted by several of his beefy colleagues.
SCORING SEQUENCE
3 mins: McHugh penalty 3-0
13 mins: McHugh penalty 6-0
17 mins: McHugh penalty 9-0
24 mins: penalty try, J Hernandez Miranda con 9-7
26 mins: McHugh penalty 12-7
32: Senillosa try, J Hernandez Miranda con..12-14
Half-time: Ireland 12, Argentina 14
49 mins: Martin Gaitan try 12-19
76 mins: Reggiardo try ........ 12-24
IRELAND DEVELOPMENT XV: S Young (Ballymena); T Robinson (Buccaneers), G Duffy (Galwegians), D Quinlan (Blackrock), M Lawlor (Shannon); M McHugh (St Mary's), B O'Riordan (UCD); S Best (Belfast Harlequins), P Shields (Ballymena, capt), P Bracken (Galwegians); D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), A Kearney (Dungannon); A McCullen (Lansdowne), D Dillon (UCD), J O'Connor (Galwegians). Replacements: J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon) for O'Connor 24-34 mins; S Moore (UCD) for Young 50 mins; N McMillan (Ballymena) for O'Connor 50 mins; Fitzpatrick for Bracken 56 mins; D Browne (Galwegians) for Kearney 65 mins; J Flannery (Galwegians) for Shields 70 mins; J McWeeney (St Mary's) for Lawlor 71 mins; K Campbell (Dungannon) for Robinson 73 mins.
ARGENTINA: B Stortoni; JM Nuñez Piossek, M Gaitán, M Contepomi, H Senillosa; J de la Cruz Fernández Miranda; N Fernández Miranda (captain); M Selzo, JJ Villar, S Gonzalez Bonorino; P Albacete, P Sporleder; M Durand, I Fernández Lobbe, M Schusterman. Replacements: R Alvarez for Fernandez Lobbe half-time; J Fernandez for Gaitan 57 mins; M Reggiardo for Bonorino 75 mins. Yellow cards: S Best (Ireland) 24-34 mins; P Albacete (Argentina) 26-36 mins; D O'Callaghan (Ireland) 55-65 mins.
Referee: H Watkins (Wales).
