The 13-man lineout was just the beginning...
When an massively unfavoured Argentina team dumped Ireland out of the 1999 World Cup, most of us thought it couldn't get any worse. And in fairness, that defeat was a catalyst of sorts for the changes in personnel and approach that we saw the following year and which led us into the relatively successful Gatland/Eddie era. But it also marked the start of a long and fractious relationship between two of the traditional underdogs of the international game.
It's easy to forget just how much Ireland and Argentina hated each other between 2000 and 2010. The 2003 RWC game was very bad-tempered, two Argies getting banned for eye-gouging while the game in Lansdowne the following year elicited five accusations of eye-gouging and one of mouth-gouging (none of which were proven), with Argentina countering with claims of unsporting behaviour by the Irish throughout.
Fast forward to 2007 and Eddie's Triple-Crown champions were utterly dismantled by the Pumas in Paris, bringing the curtain down on the grimmest of Ireland's RWC campaigns and taking Eddie down with it. I think it's fair to say that some of the lads brought some baggage with them into that game...
There followed a period of relative calm, a couple of test matches here and in Argentina, but as the protagonists of the Ireland/Argentina/Munster/Leinster rivalry of 2003-2009 drifted off, things took on a semblance of normality.
Then...
It's still hard viewing. It's forgotten now that we were only three points behind with 20 minutes to play but the Argies just had more in the tank and were well worth the win. The lowest point of Joe's decade in Irish rugby has (according to him) spurred him to ensure we have better strength in depth so that a repeat of 2015 won't happen again. We're not quite there yet but we are definitely in a better place.
As for the Pumas, let's just say they peak for the RWC; they're ranked ninth in the world, but they play so many games against the SH sides that it's hard to pick up wins, all the while refusing to pick many of their best European-based players.
So to today's game; it's hard to see past an Irish win. Second in the world, an almost fully-fit squad that mixes a hard edge with some real flair.
Jordan Larmour gets only his second test start in what might be the most dangerous attacking back three we've ever fielded, Stockdale picks up his 13th cap which is a pretty impressive stat itself and Earls is the experienced hand. Elsewhere it's pretty much as expected, Henderson edging out Toner and Sean O'Brien making his first test appearance for a year.
For some guys it's as much an audition for next week as anything; while maybe 10 of the jerseys for the NZ game are set in stone, there's still a number of calls to be finalised.
For the first time since the days of Jerry Flannery, there's a question mark over Rory Best's inclusion. Is he still the force of old? Can he last another 10 months? A big performance here would help calm a few nerves after a ropey few games for Ulster.
The Argentina side is composed entirely of Jaguares (Ramiro Herrera is the only Europe-based player in the squad but does not feature today). They have two very inexperienced props meaning Healy and Furlong should make hay.
The Pumas still have some very useful players, especially at 9 and 10, so they're still dangerous, but it's very hard to see past an Irish win here.
And lest we ever forget:
https://youtu.be/oZ86PiVp8rg?t=5895
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