Donal Lenihan picks out three talking points as Ireland face Argentina, bidding to back up impressive autumn victories over Japan and the All Blacks

These are some of the areas Farrell and Paul O'Connell will now focus on to bring Ireland to the next level. When set in those positions again, Ireland need to show a little more patience, and be more accurate in the way they look after the ball.

The next big step on the road is to try and secure a first ever win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil

Donal Lenihan assesses three key battles that could decide Saturday's meeting between Ireland and New Zealand

Ireland must try to implement their attacking shape on their terms

Andy Farrell’s Ireland were the ones who delivered the all-court handling and offloading game, completely overwhelming the Japanese at their own game.

In the past, especially when it came to the Six Nations Championship, everything was geared towards the next game, every selection driven by short term thinking. In that we are noticeably different from many of the top nations who continually tweak their teams, even in the cut and thrust of the Rugby Championship, with a view towards testing their less experienced players and investing in the future.

Munster’s staid kicking and attacking approach left you wondering just what Johann van Graan’s side are trying to achieve

What will prove the signature moment from this tour? What will 2021 be remembered for? Sadly, it may well be Rassie Erasmus’s 62-minute video rant that ultimately proved so influential. How sad is that?

That mental toughness is set to be challenged once again, this time with issues more familiar in nature, writes Donal Lenihan