Ireland have secured their position as 8th in the rugby playing world, this all important position and result now means that Ireland will be better positioned when the 2011 rugby world cup pools are announced in December.
It certainly wasn’t Ireland at their best but a significant improvement from the New Zealand game. Critically Ireland kept their cool against an Argentinian side who was willing to rile a packed Croke Park with late challenges and swinging knuckles against the home side.
The forwards exerted enough pressure to control the pumas pack with Paul O’Connell leading the charge on numerous occasions. Defensively Ireland looked strong down the middle however did seem to lack a touch of creativity to break the Argentinian line.
We now look forward to France and the Six Nations on the 7th February.
Team:
G Murphy; T Bowe, B O’Driscoll, L Fitzgerald, R Kearney; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery (R Best 14), J Hayes, D O’Callaghan,P O’Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace (D Ryan 77), J Heaslip.
Ireland were unable to retain the triple crown for a third year running after a slow burning loss against Wales. There was a tense atmosphere in Croke park which allowed Ireland to stumble into the lead at half-time. Throughout, the Welsh defense looked impenetrable and it proved to be so as Ireland could not manage to muster a try. There seemed to be a lack of energy in the Irish team and also a lack of game plan. We can only hope that Ireland improve before they take on the English in the final match of the 2008 Six Nations. 