Ireland A 31 Argentina Jaguars 0:Ireland A ran out comfortable 31-0 winners in the historic first rugby international to be held at Tallaght Stadium tonight, marking the Churchill Cup champions' sixth successive win of a memorable 2009 campaign.
The home side engineered the first scoring chance of the night but outhalf Ian Humphreys missed the sixth minute penalty effort from close range.
The Ulster player quickly got back in the groove in open play, kicking well for field position and setting up the game's opening try after 12 minutes.
A quick attacking burst exposed gaps in the Jaguars defence where Donnacha Ryan and Humphreys linked before lock Ryan Caldwell touched down.
Humphreys' conversion attempt was off target in blustery conditions before the Argentinian side enjoyed their first spell of possession in the Irish half. However Ireland won a penalty which Humphreys cleared to touch.
Fergus McFadden started brightly and made some surging runs through midfield as the defensive duties began to take their toll on the visitors. Ireland soon spread the ball wide to pick up their second try on 28 minutes.
Winger Ian Dowling crossed in the corner after good approach work involving McFadden and Humphreys, with the latter adding an excellent conversion for a 12-0 lead.
The first half was a stop-start affair with Ireland struggling to move through the gears as the visitors remained committed to their defence while Michael Bradley's men lacked precision.
Replacement Ian Keatley, on for Keith Matthews, slotted in at inside centre, and Humphreys booted a close range penalty to touch before time ran out on the Irish forwards and the half-time whistle sounded with the scoreline stalled at 12-0.
Ireland started brightly in the second period. Three minutes in captain Mick O'Driscoll secured lineout possession before hooker John Fogarty rolled in on the end of the maul. With the support of his team-mates, Fogarty wrestled his way over the try-line - much to the despair of the Argentine forwards.
Humphreys' conversion took Ireland into a 19-0 lead, with the attendance confirmed at 4,016.
Ireland’s fourth try came on 53 minutes with the industrious Dowling was involved in the build-up after going on a looping run which saw him combine with his Munster colleague Felix Jones. Space was created and winger Johne Murphy was sent diving over the whitewash with Humphreys converting.
Dowling threatened again off scrum ball in midfield, breaking through a gap only to be called back for an earlier infringement.
The Jaguars were wilting as Murphy slipped in for his second try in the space of five minutes. Quick lineout allowed Humphreys to feed Jones as the fleet-footed fullback made a darting run before passing for Murphy to go over in the corner.
Both coaches unloaded their benches for the final quarter and the visitors had a sniff scoring but lock Tomas Roan was held up inches from the Ireland line.
Ireland denied their opponents a consolation score as Bradley's charges finished the game in complete control to see out another satisfying night for Ireland's second string.
IRELAND 'A':Felix Jones; Ian Dowling, Fergus McFadden, Keith Matthews, Johne Murphy; Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Brett Wilkinson, John Fogarty, Mike Ross, Ryan Caldwell, Mick O'Driscoll (capt), Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan, John Muldoon.
Replacements used: Ian Keatley for Matthews (36 mins), Andy Kyriacou for Fogarty, Ed O'Donoghue for Caldwell (both 63), Bryan Young for Wilkinson, Chris Henry for Muldoon (both 68), Frank Murphy for Boss, Denis Hurley for Dowling (both 70).
ARGENTINA JAGUARS:Belisario Agulla; Francisco Merello, Matías Viazzo, Miguel Avramovic, Tomás De Vedia; Santiago González Iglesias, Martín Landajo; Juan Gómez, Álvaro Tejeda, Gastón De Robertis, Tomás Roan, Mariano Galarza, Agustín Guzmán, Leonardo Senatore (capt), Benjamín Macome.
Replacements used: Francisco Albarracin for Landajo (55 mins), Matias Nahuel Chaparro Tetaz for Gomez, Rodrigo Bruno for Macome (both 62), Matias Cortese for Tejeda (64), Ignacio Pasman for Roan, Gabriel Ascarate for Viazzo, Nicolas Sanchez for Gonzalez Iglesias (all 73).
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Scorers: Ireland 'A' - Tries: Ryan Caldwell, Ian Dowling, John Fogarty, Johne Murphy 2; Cons: Ian Humphreys 3
