Ireland 22-19 Argentina: Better Ireland still seeking answers after nail-biting Pumas win
Seeking a response to their humiliating defeat to the All Blacks seven days ago, Ireland’s victory over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday answered some questions and raised many more.
Andy Farrell called it “a three or four game,” and as a result, the hosts have had their share of the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Ireland never trailed after taking the lead in the second minute, but ended the game with 14 men with a slim 22-19 advantage after failing to score in the second half.
At half-time the game seemed won, but when the final whistle blew the overwhelming mood in Dublin was relief.
Ireland have not lost consecutive games since their first two games of the 2021 Six Nations, so the response to setbacks has often been resolute.
Whether it’s overcoming a first Test defeat in New Zealand to win the series in 2022, or putting the heartache of the 2023 World Cup behind them with an away win in France to kick off the latest Six Nations tour, South Africa, who were clearly beaten this summer, turned things around seven days later – with Farrell’s Ireland proving themselves masters of getting off the canvas.
But being beaten so decisively by the All Blacks last week, when discipline was a huge issue and the attack failed, rarely in recent times has it felt like there are so many issues to address from one game to the next.
Before kickoff, Farrell said some of his players were “lucky” to get a chance to make up for their performance at the start of the fall season. When asked after 82 heartbreaking minutes if he had gotten the response he wanted, he replied “partly”.
