TV View: It's a tough gig, this watching sport on television for a livelihood. But when it's midnight on a Friday, and Ellen Barkin and Al Pacino are stoking it up on Sea of Love, watching Argentina versus France on Sky Sports really is work, writes Gerry Thornley.
But it was also another chance to run the rule over Ireland's World Cup bugbears of four years ago and crunch pool opponents later in the year. Conor O'Shea, our upwardly mobile expat TV pundit, was in Buenos Aires, and though he didn't mention Ireland once he clearly had that fateful meeting in mind. The Pumas, he told us, were "a team that could cause damage in the World Cup".
Interestingly, coach Marcelo Loffreda had opted for Gonzalo Quesada over Leinster's new recruit, Felipe Contepomi, and O'Shea noted the French were having joy in "putting pressure on the ponderous Quesada".
That said, a stunning couple of early tries underlined the Pumas' threat from broken play and counterattacking, and with Quesada metronomically kicking his goals, they went into the break 21-12 to the good.
Perhaps it was drawing the short straw, but another London Irish connection, flanker Chris Sheasby, wasn't holding back at such an ungodly working hour in Sky's London studio. Regarding the way Argentina lay up offside, Sheasby commented: "I have to say Andrew Cole (the referee) has been absolutely appalling. It's not even subtle. It's basic cheating. They're nowhere near behind the back foot."
O'Shea fell in with the consensus that Yann Delaigue's injury was a good thing in that it meant the introduction of the twinkle-toed Toulouse half back Frederic Michalak. Delaigue gets a tough press over here, unfairly, but as happened with Toulouse's second-half performance against Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-finals, the change sparked the French back line.
Well though France played in coming back to lead 32-30 late on, Quesada landed a fine 35-metre drop goal with the last kick to ensure the Pumas a third successive win over France.
"They're well set for the World Cup," concluded O'Shea.
Nearing 2 a.m. back in the studio, though, Sheasby didn't ... think Argentina had deserved to win, again bemoaning their killing of the ball at any expense.
Up again at 8 a.m. for the All Blacks-Wales game - this really is a tough gig - the post-match analysis of New Zealand's record thumping of the Taffies was altogether more saccharine.
"Obviously the boys will be disappointed," said Scott Quinnell, offering further irrefutable proof that he, we and Wales would all be better off if he was still playing for them.
Evaluating the All Blacks backlash after their defeat to England the previous week, Michael Lynagh advised us "we must remember that England were a little bit tougher". Really?
The former Wallaby outhalf was far more up for it when looking ahead to his country taking on England, lamenting coach Eddie Jones's "strange decision" to sideline Elton Flatley for missing his alarm call for training one morning. "He's disciplined the whole team, not just Elton Flatley."
England were good, damn them, very good, while, of course, Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison were unbearable (as we would be if Ireland ever did anything like this). "Memorable" was intoned incessantly. Lauding England's "attitude", "skills", and a host of other attributes, Harrison was almost Thatcheresque in telling his viewers to "be proud of them. Shout it out. They're worth shouting for".
"England will come here as favourites (for the World Cup) after that magnificent performance," reckoned noted pundit Barnes. Which, of course, is how we all want it.
Later at Ascot, Aussie commentator Jim McGrath quipped "we're just looking for (better) odds", before no doubt filling his wallet with more loot on double sprint winner Choisir, romping home at 13/2 after his 25/1 win earlier in the week.
Yet, in the day's most telling observation, Lynagh noted: "Australia and New Zealand are making seven and eight changes. Woodward knows his team and that's very important."
Right now, England are ahead of the rest because Clive Woodward is ahead of messrs Mitchell, Jones, Laporte and Straeuli. "I think you need to go to the World with an experienced team, and we will," said a contented Woodward.
So, by the by, will Argentina.
Young, gifted and inexperienced teams don't win World Cups. Witness the All Blacks cracking under pressure in the semi-finals against France four years ago. Older, gifted and experienced teams do - look at the Wallabies four years ago. The All Blacks, Australia and perhaps France might yet hit on a settled, experienced team. But they'd want to be quick about it.