RUGBY:Amid the surfeit of Test matches few games throw up much of a novelty factor any more. But a first Test in the relative rugby outpost of Santa Fe between two inexperienced, experimental rivals has something a little different and refreshing about it. It could be fun; it will certainly be revealing.
First and foremost, these two Tests in Argentina are trials for individuals with a view to the composition of Ireland's 30-man squad for the World Cup.
Can Keith Gleeson hold off Shane Jennings? Will Malcolm O'Kelly prove there's life in the legend yet? If so, which of the other locks will make the most pressing case for inclusion in France? Can Jerry Flannery start reclaiming the number two jersey? And in a land where props emerge from the pampas like raging bulls, can the Irish scrum withstand the heat?
The scrumhalf conveyor belt has started chugging again, but will Isaac Boss fend off the ever-improving Eoin Reddan, who looks to have a quicker service, as Peter Stringer's main rival?
The same cannot be said of outhalf and the next two Saturdays will tell Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan much about Paddy Wallace's ability to take on the responsibility of chief playmaker and goal-kicker.
Can Kieran Lewis and Andrew Trimble provide viable options in the problematic midfield? Along with those two and Barry Murphy, today's three outside backs are among eight candidates for, realistically, two slots, and there will be no more interesting performance today than that of Brian Carney. If he provides more evidence that his experience and skills can flourish, while showing he can adapt to the tackle situation, he looks a likely bolter for France.
These and other questions ought not be answered definitively on the evidence of one Test, but most of this squad will be afforded only one shot. In that context, the result is secondary. Yet only with a cohesive collective effort will individuals flourish. It's the old Munster mantra: do it as a team and the individual rewards will follow.
The laid-back ambience of Santa Fe on yesterday's sleepy bank holiday was surely the calm before the storm, but the vibes from the camp are all good. At face value, it is a talented side, but it has a relatively callow backline and there isn't the traditional hard-edged Munster core running through the team that has virtually been ever-present since that revivalist win over Scotland in 2000. Whenever it has been diluted against frontline opposition Ireland have usually struggled, such as in Murrayfield in 2001 (beaten 32-10) and in Perth in 2003 (beaten 45-16). On each occasion there were only three Munstermen. Today there are just two and one was honed in Wigan.
But will these Pumas, more an unknown quantity than usual, constitute frontline opposition? It's true 10 of them are based overseas, primarily in England, but most are not frontline players for their clubs. Then again, all Pumas seem to become better players when they don the blue and white hoops and their home record is fantastic.
With Marcos Ayerza returning from Leicester and Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino well regarded, they are bound to have a good scrum, though it will be a surprise if Ireland don't have a proficient and varied lineout. In the familiar Martin Durand, Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Juan Manuel Lequizamon, the Pumas appear to have a trademark, ball-carrying, spoiling pack designed for trench warfare. And if it is another traditionally close encounter one imagines home advantage will then come more into play.
It may not be a classic. Forwards coach Niall O'Donovan has warned mistakes are likely and predicts whichever team makes fewest will win. Skills coach Bryan McLoughlin has identified Ireland's ability to obtain quick ball as the key. But Ireland, no less than most teams, have struggled to achieve that against Los Pumas.
"They tend to control the tempo of the game to their own requirements," said O'Sullivan yesterday. "We have a different style of rugby, but we have to be careful in controlling the football because they are very good off turnover ball, and so we have to get the balance right in looking for the spaces but also not being careless.
"Both sides will be trying to impose their own tempo and whoever manages that most successfully will probably win."
As for the second Test, Ireland may field a slightly more experienced team in Buenos Aires. It could well be that today's first Test will underline Ireland's superior strength in depth, which, with a professional domestic structure, should certainly be the case. But of the two, this may be the tougher.
Previous meetings: (1990) Ireland 20 Argentina 18 (1999) Ireland 32 Argentina 24; (World Cup) Argentina 28 Ireland 24; (2000) Argentina 34 Ireland 23; (2002) Ireland 16 Argentina 7; (2003) (World Cup) Ireland 16 Argentina 15. (2004) Ireland 21 Argentina 19.
Forecast: Argentina to win.
