Ireland opened their November campaign with a commanding 42-12 win over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, with full-back Hugo Keenan scoring three tries in his first home test appearance in more than a year.
The six-try victory moved Ireland to the top of the Nations Championship northern hemisphere standings before the rest of the weekend's matches. Argentina remain fourth in the southern hemisphere table, according to The Namibian.
How the match unfolded
Argentina actually struck first. In the 11th minute, fly-half Tomas Albornoz sent a crossfield kick into the try area, and wing Mateo Carreras outjumped scrum-half Craig Casey, the smallest player on the pitch, to open the scoring. Albornoz missed the conversion, leaving the Pumas 5-0 ahead.
The lead lasted barely ten minutes. Casey forced a turnover penalty that put Ireland back on the front foot, and right wing Rob Baloucoune burst through the Argentine midfield before offloading through Mack Hansen to Keenan, who finished the move. Sam Prendergast converted for 7-5.
Ireland's second try followed a similar pattern. Flanker Nick Timoney pierced the defence after hooker Dan Sheehan had launched the attack, and Sheehan was on hand to crash over the line himself. Prendergast's conversion made it 14-5.
By the half-hour mark the contest was effectively settled. Keenan produced a solo effort, taking Hansen's pass and beating three Argentine defenders to touch down, and Prendergast converted for 21-5.
Discipline and injuries deepen Argentina's troubles
Argentina's problems multiplied before the interval. Captain Julian Montoya failed a head injury assessment and took no further part, forcing referee Luke Pearce to inform a surprised Pablo Matera that he was now skipper. New defence coach Shaun Edwards, the former Wasps and Wales strategist, watched from high in the stands as his side conceded penalty after penalty.
Pearce eventually lost patience and yellow-carded Justo Piccardo. As News24 reported, the Pumas' indiscipline has been a recurring problem all year, and Ireland punished it in Dublin.
Prendergast and Keenan finish the job
Ireland kept their foot on the accelerator after the break. Prendergast, the 23-year-old fly-half, broke the Argentine line and sprinted over for his first test try, two years after making his debut against the same opposition. He converted his own score to make it 28-5.
Carreras grabbed his second try of the night, with Albornoz converting to narrow the gap to 28-12, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Keenan ran on to Ryan Baird's pass for his third try, and Prendergast converted for 35-12 with half an hour still to play.
Replacement Efrain Elias was then sin-binned for a high tackle on Keenan, reducing Argentina to 14 men again. Ireland took immediate advantage, with Ronan Kelleher going over, and Ciaran Frawley converted the final points of the night for 42-12.
The Guardian noted that Keenan, like Hansen, was returning after a long injury absence, making the hat-trick a personal milestone as much as a team statement.
What the result means for the Nations Championship
The win puts Ireland in pole position in the northern hemisphere standings ahead of the remaining fixtures this weekend. Their November schedule now takes them to Fiji on Saturday week, followed by the biggest test of all: world champions South Africa a fortnight later.
For Argentina, the defeat raises familiar questions about discipline and game management. They continue their campaign against Italy and France, with the Pumas facing an uphill struggle to climb the southern hemisphere table.
Before kickoff, the crowd honoured Irish rugby legend Fergus Slattery and Ireland's 2024 European 1500 metres champion Ciara Mageean with a minute's applause.
FAQ
What was the final score between Ireland and Argentina?
Ireland beat Argentina 42-12 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, scoring six tries to Argentina's two.
Who scored a hat-trick for Ireland?
Full-back Hugo Keenan scored three tries in his first home test appearance in over a year.
Where do Ireland and Argentina stand in the Nations Championship?
Ireland moved top of the northern hemisphere standings, while Argentina stayed fourth in the southern hemisphere table.
Who do Ireland play next?
Ireland face Fiji on Saturday week, then world champions South Africa a fortnight later.