It's been something of a rollercoaster season for Irish back-row forwards this season, thus testing Ireland's depth there more than usually, and for none more so than Jordi Murphy.
A late contender for the Irish number seven jersey in light of Sean O'Brien's long-term absence when making his first Heineken Cup start away to Castres in January, Murphy was promoted above Tommy O'Donnell three rounds into the Six Nations to make his debut as a replacement in that taut and losing endgame in Twickenham.
Another cameo off the bench would follow a fortnight later in the win at home to Italy, before he was the only unused sub in the win in Stade de France. Yet he now makes his first test start against Argentina on Saturday at number eight having been missed out on the Leinster match-day squad for both their Pro12 semi-final and final wins due to the fine form of Rhys Ruddock and Shane Jennings, and the return of Sean O'Brien. If nothing else, he should be fresh as well as rarin' to go.
“I’m just generally excited really. The team and I have settled in well I think and we’ve had two hard days training now, we’re getting all our moves together and kind of gelling together as well. We’re just looking forward to a battle on Saturday. It’s my first start for Ireland so I’m really excited about that and I’m just looking to repay the faith the coaches, Joe especially have shown in me to give me that first start.
“One of the dreams you’d have growing up (is to represent your country). Obviously it’s happened for Leinster a few times now and I had two games off the bench for Ireland but I’ve been looking for that start and I’m going out to make the most of it and leave a mark.”
Despite the Pumas resting all their European-based contingent as they look ahead to the Rugby Championship, Murphy is under no illusions as to the competitiveness of Saturday's fixture.
“They are an incredibility combative side,” he said. “Really hungry, they come at you from all angles really. And you just can’t knock off at all because they are a big team on their scraps.
“They really pounce on opportunities if they think you switch off at all. We’ve watched a lot of their games on tape and a lot of their tries come from team knocking off or knock-ons and they just pounce on the ball and play quickly and get their tries. So they are just a really combative, aggressive side and we’ll have to meet that.
“Obviously they don’t have some of their Top 14 players but they have been playing as a squad really since March. They’ve had quite a lot of games under their belt and a few faces coming back. Strong players like Sanchez, those kind of boys might be playing. So we really have to come out from minute one.”
