Ireland V Los Pumas, KO 7:40PM. Live SS1 from 7:30PM

Losty Dublin

Summer tours are not for the faint hearted rugby player at all. Generally, your opposition are one of South Africa, Australia or New Zealand and possible mid week games; this after 9-10 months of hard game time that offers little in the way of rest time for the modern player. With this in mind we have a somewhat easier ride in two games against the Pumas, a team who we have flattered to deceive in the past.

Ireland traveled with a strong squad knowing that a new centre partnership is needed in the long run. Luke Marshall and Darren Cave get capped in BOD and D'arcy's roles of old while McFadden and Madigan, a late call up from the Romania tour, remain ready to slot into the back line as required. Felix Jones starts at full back while to the murmur of his cynics and to the delight of his fans, Zebo gets his chance alongside the red hot Andrew Trimble on the wing. In the pack, Jack McGrath is justly called into the tight 3 as is Damien Varley, Henderson packs in behind him in lieu of the injured McCartney, Robbie Diack earns his first cap in the back row after an impressive season for Ulster and Jordy Murphy has his chance at Number 8.

Argentina have picked a largely home based squad in what is considered a weakened squad for the test, mindful that the forthcoming Rugby Championship approaches for them. That said, the squad were picked with the CONSUR Cup in mind and are coming into the Ireland tests with hefty victories over minnows Chile and Uruguay, Castres young tight head Herrera debuts; Bordeaux stand off Sanchez, Staid's Macome and ex Biarritz Carizza should be familiar to French rugby fans but beyond that it's home based players with low caps all round which, if nothing else, means that they will be something of an enigma.

Overall, Ireland have way too much talent on hand for Los Puma to cope with. Add to this the strong season that was 2013/14, weakened opposition and the battle for the inside centre berth and a wealth of back rows and wings vying for caps and this could get to be cricket scores. Be mindful of the pitch this evening; it's a soccer field by day and measures a mere 90 metres long, try line to try line; Puma's will lean on penalty kicks at goal while line outs and mauls will play a big part for Ireland tonight.

For the stat fans, Ireland have yet to win a full test on Argentine soil. POC collects his 100th cap this evening while the prize for winning this tour is the Admiral William Brown Cup

Argentina: 15 Tuculet; 14 Cordero, 13 De la Fuente, 12 Ascarate, 11 Montero; 10 Sanchez, 9 Landajo; 1 Paz, 2 Cortese, 3 Herrera; 4 Carizza, 5 Lavanini; 6 Baez, 7 De la Vega; 8 Macome

Replacements: 16 Montoya, 17 Postiglioni, 18 Chaparro, 19 Alemanno, 20 Desio, 21 Cubelli, 22 Iglesias, 23 Amorosino

Ireland: 15 Jones; 14 Trimble, 13 Cave, 12 Marshall, 11 Zebo; 10 Sexton, 9 Murray; 1 McGrath, 2 Best, 3 Ross; 4 Henderson, 5 O’Connell (capt); 6 Diack, 7 Henry; 8 Murphy

Replacements: 16 Varley, 17 Kilcoyne, 18 Ah You, 19 Toner, 20 Heaslip, 21 Marmion, 22 Madigan, 23 McFadden

Referee; Glen Jackson (NZ)

CIARAN_BOYLE

To be honest I've no faith in jones, would have zebo and madigan just from todays 23 ahead of him.

bilston

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

To be honest I've no faith in jones, would have zebo and madigan just from todays 23 ahead of him.

I possibly would have played Zebo at 15 but that would have meant starting McFadden and presumably Joe is resting all the Leinster players were possible. Also there has been a lot of furore around Zebo so it seems fair enough to play him in his best position. No harm in giving Jones a start.

19543261

Whoever thought putting the score there was a good idea.

Edit: Definitely not the right thread.

CatFromHue

Schmidt does seem a big of a fan of Jones and he is the only other real competitor for the full back spot until Payne qualifies.

Tony Ward was writing about him today and during the week saying he needs to change how he plays as he is a good player but just not doing thinsg right at the moment.

Tox56

bilston wrote: »

I possibly would have played Zebo at 15 but that would have meant starting McFadden and presumably Joe is resting all the Leinster players were possible. Also there has been a lot of furore around Zebo so it seems fair enough to play him in his best position. No harm in giving Jones a start.

Would have done the same but it could be that Joe simply doesn't see Zebo as a possibility at 15 (with Payne soon to be IQd and obviously Henshaw to return too he's probably right) and this tour is designed as an audition for the wing spot in the AIs. Could be that Jones is simply a placeholder for Henshaw/Payne/Kearney while the wing positions are genuinely up for grabs

Grimebox

Nice write up

Mahatma Geansai

Jones is the type of outside back that Joe has favoured since he has taken charge. He's by no means a world beater or significant attacking threat, but he is an extremely hard-working and solid player. He's the Dave Kearney of fullback play.

TheGoldenAges

Where's the table man :pac:

Great write up, think it'll be an unconvincing performance and we'll win but it'll be ugly.

Losty Dublin

TheGoldenAges wrote: »

Where's the table man :pac:

Always happy to oblige :pac:

English Lurker

Lads, today I'm cheering for your second row. Specifically for your second row. Nothing against the rest of the team, but...

OldRio

Losty Dublin... Wow I like that. Classy.

errlloyd

Stadium is pretty underwhelming

ScrubsfanChris

errlloyd wrote: »

Stadium is pretty underwhelming

First time an international will be played there, low turnout is a bit expected I suppose.

19543261

looking forward to watching Cordero

awec

Their anthem is really weird.

Mahatma Geansai

Hopefully Zebo has a huge game. He'll need it to win the management's favour after being overlooked in the 6N. Looking forward to a good cameo from Marmionn too, as Murray needs a backup going forward.

OldRio

The commentator. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

shuffol

Robbo

Ah the summer has arrived

thomond2006

Yane Horgan

19543261

Dat ruck cleaning

P.Walnuts

I've been out of hte loop for a while....but eh, is cronin touring? and if not why?

danthefan

Well this is all very ordinary.

P.Walnuts wrote: »

I've been out of hte loop for a while....but eh, is cronin touring? and if not why?

Rested, with Strauss injured he's played an awful lot of rugby this season.

umop.episdn

Rory Best enjoyed a little wrap around with Johnny Sexton.....jaysus!

thomond2006

P.Walnuts wrote: »

I've been out of hte loop for a while....but eh, is cronin touring? and if not why?

Rested I think. Had to play a lot of rugby due to Strauss bring out.

19543261

Werent really going anywhere there..huh

yimrsg

Argentina are being made to tackle plenty so far, 28 in the first 5 minutes. It'll sap their energy later on for sure.

matthew8

Argentina don't look like they're attacking any Irish rucks. We look like we could build 50 phases if we wanted to. Not making too much ground though.

Tox56

yimrsg wrote: »

Argentina are being made to tackle plenty so far, 28 in the first 5 minutes. It'll sap their energy later on for sure.

Yeah they've got a big linespeed and put in some big hits, run the legs off them and the gaps will open

UnitedWeStand

Must;ve been at least five minutes just camped on that halfway line. Great handling considering all the other teams handling today. Not too much penetration but don't think you can ever doubt Joe, everything has a purpose.

RuggieBear

shame he has no pace....:pac:

matthew8

Robbie Diack doesn't react well to the line. That looked too easy for Ireland but surely that's a yellow for Argentina?

Tox56

Good to see Cave get a good break, will do his confidence good

Note: Do not let Robbie Diack into scoring positions, that was awful

Mahatma Geansai

Greedy by Diack. Rare to see a break in midfield from an Irish side in recent years.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Zebo and Murray both had hands on the ball at one ruck there

awec

Robbie D gets a nosebleed when he gets too close to the try line.

matthew8

Arg scrum minced. This could be dominance.

Really enjoying Horgan's commentary. Raw, but informative!

And he isn't saying "Beef" every 2 minutes.

umop.episdn

awec wrote: »

Robbie D gets a nosebleed when he gets too close to the try line.

This Argentine team are so poor I'd say he may need a blood transfusion after this game

matthew8

We were really let off the hook there.

Tox56

If theres one thing Murray hasnt improved its his decision making on the opposition goalline, that was just greedy

budhabob

Nice kick through by Jones.

ThisRegard

Terrible decision to chip that.

danthefan

Tox56 wrote: »

If theres one thing Murray hasnt improved its his decision making on the opposition goalline, that was just greedy

It's also about the most telegraphed move on the planet at this point.

matthew8

Murray was over.

Losty Dublin

That Puma attack from a penalty on their try line was some gutsy move.

Mahatma Geansai

Tox56 wrote: »

If theres one thing Murray hasnt improved its his decision making on the opposition goalline, that was just greedy

Ah now. He scored a try there on replay. Very unlucky that it wasn't awarded.

daramike

danthefan wrote: »

It's also about the most telegraphed move on the planet at this point.

No Sexton's wrap around is.

The Lost Sheep

Good work by Cave, Marshall there

Big Nelly

Marshell and cave having a field day

Losty Dublin

Marshall; why did you stop??!!