11 ANDREW TRIMBLETook a superb line for a definitive line break in the first half and also brilliantly flicked a restart back into play. His peripheral influence on the game in the second half had nothing to do with his appetite just Ireland's facility to kick ball away. 6/10
9 PETER STRINGER
He gave a quick, accurate service all afternoon and did very well on occasion to avoid Pumas’ forwards who drove through occasionally poorly-protected Irish ruck ball.
6/10
12 GORDON D’ARCY
For the second game in succession he was the pick of the Irish backline and on this occasion the team. His late try was a fitting embellishment to a top-quality performance. He made several line breaks and always gave his pack a target going forward.
8/10
13 BRIAN O’DRISCOLL
Mistimed one flick-on pass in trying to guarantee an overlap early on but his contributions were invariably positive including a couple of slaloming breaks. Ireland’s second-half kicking game rendered him a spectator.
6/10
3 TONY BUCKLEY
His opposite number Rodrigo Roncero was penalised on at least three occasions in the first half so the Irish prop deserves credit for the way in which he dug in. Carried more often and defended rucks powerfully.
8/10
8 JAMIE HEASLIP
He’s probably been Ireland’s outstanding player in the November Tests in terms of consistent excellence and much of it has been the heavy lifting of forward play in terms of making tackles and carrying ball.
7/10
2 SEÁN CRONIN
His game can be broken down into two categories: around the pitch he was his usual excellent dynamic self in terms of carrying and also defending but the lineout remains an issue. Gert Smal will determine whether the errors were down to the system or individual.
6/10
5 MICK O’DRISCOLL
He once again worked very hard, both in carrying, clearing out and making a significant number of tackles. As the player who calls the lineout, he’ll have a better idea of the reason behind the turnovers in this facet of the game.
6/10
15 GEORDAN MURPHY
One turnover in possession when he was isolated in the first half and didn’t really get the chance to showcase his great lines of running and distribution skills. One great line kick, one out on the full, while solid in tidying up.
5/10
4 DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN
Once again he got through so much work both in attack and defence. On three occasions though he was left to carry the can at restarts: there has to be both communication and organisation glitches in this area. Big tackle count.
6/10
7 DAVID WALLACE
His performance against New Zealand will have disappointed him but this was a return to a display that better represents his ability. He carried the ball more often than not, often into heavy traffic and had to be one of Ireland’s top tacklers.
6/10
10 JONATHAN SEXTON
He contributed 17 points with five penalties and a conversion in a blemish free place-kicking performance. His distribution was assured while he tackled authoritatively. On turnover it was team-mates rather than the Irish outhalf whose first instinct was to kick the ball away post interval.
7/10
6 STEPHEN FERRIS
He scored the second try of his career and the second in as many weeks. He carried ball with tremendous power, broke the tackle time and again and hit with his customary aggression: he had a great hour.
8/10
1 CIAN HEALY
He had a excellent game in all facets of play. One great surge through several attempted tackles in the first half underlined his power with the ball and numerous examples of his punishing tackling throughout the game: worked hard and effectively in the tight.
7/10
14 TOMMY BOWE
He saw Jamie Heaslip’s clever angle for the Stephen Ferris try and hit him with a short pass. Once again he looked to get involved as much as possible but very little came his way in an orthodox fashion: strong running and good defence.
6/10
