Ireland young guns go down fighting

Ireland Development XV 12 Argentina ‘A’ 24

Argentina deserved their win, but it wasn’t easy. And afterwards, Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan expressed delight that the “young guns” managed to last the pace and fight an enormous physical battle against a team with immensely more experience.

In fact, Ireland boasted just one international in the 22 man squad - Justin Fitzpatrick - who only played a cameo role.

Argentina, in contrast, had 453 caps between them including two players with over 70 caps each. There were only two uncapped players in the squad.

“I was delighted, not so much with the outcome, but by the display. I wouldn’t pick out anyone in particular but there were a lot of good individual Irish displays out there this evening in very difficult conditions,” said O’Sullivan.

Mark McHugh, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Des Dillon, Mossie Lawlor and reserve Shane Moore were particularly conspicuous but, on a lousy night, this was mostly a team effort that has made Argentina sit up and take notice in advance of Saturday’s big Test game at Lansdowne Road.

The conditions were bad but Ireland, despite having the breeze at their backs, would have been happy enough with the outcome of the first-half, although they trailed by two points.

Argentina led 14-12 at the break with a penalty try, converted by Juan Fernandez Miranda and another score from winger Hernan Senillosa, that was also converted by Miranda - all that in answer to four penalties from Ireland’s Mark McHugh.

Ireland, in fact, should have avoided being behind because the second try was a gift when Brian O’Riordan failed to knock the ball into touch. The penalty try came after young Simon Best, under pressure from his opposite number Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino, gave away a third penalty in succession. Welsh referee Hugh Watson had no hesitation in giving the try.

Mr Watkins hardly endeared himself to the sparse Donnybrook crowd with a succession of controversial

second-half decisions. It had nothing to do with the fact that Martin Gaitin nipped in for another try for the visitors early in the half after a succession of mistakes by the home defence, but he was out of order in allowing Argentina made at least three knock-ons without any one of them being picked up.

Argentina then led 19-12 but they were unable to add to that total following a yellow card for Donnacha O’Callaghan, a very harsh decision noted by the crowd.

Ireland should have clawed back three points when McHugh missed an easy penalty seven minutes from time. Had he got that, one sensed Ireland should have been in with a shout. Instead, Argentina hit back with a try from reserve prop forward Mauricio Reggiardo and the visitors were in a commanding 24-12 lead, commanding but never totally comprehensive given the youthful nature of the opposition.

Ireland, in fact, finished stronger and could well have scored near the end.

As Irish coach O’Sullivan said: “This was a step forward for a very young side, for lots of young guys against much more experienced opponents. I was quite happy with the outcome.”

IRELAND DEVELOPMENT XV: S. Young (Ulster/Ballymena), T. Robinson (Connacht/Buccaneers), G. Duffy (Connacht/Galwegians), D. Quinlan (Leinster/Blackrock), M. Lawlor (Munster/Shannon), M. McHugh (Connacht/St. Mary’s College), B. O’Riordan (Leinster/UCD), S. Best (Ulster/Ballymena), P. Shields (Ulster/Ballymena) captain: P. Bracken (Connacht/Galwegians), D. O’Callaghan (Munster/Cork Constitution), A. Kearney (Leinster/ Dungannon), A. McCullen (Leinster/Lansdowne), D. Dillon (Leinster/UCD), J. O’Connor (Connacht/Galwegians). Replacements. S. Moore (Connacht/UCD), for Young, N. McMillan (Ulster/Ballymena) for O’Connor (both 52). D. Browne (Connacht/Galwegians) for Kearney (67), J. Flannery (Connacht/Galwegians) for Shields, J. McWeeney (Leinster/St. Mary’s) for Lawlor (both 72). K. Campbell (Ulster/Dungannon) for Robinson (74).

Temporary, J. Fitzpatrick (Ulster/Dungannon) for O’Connor (30-34).

ARGENTINA ‘A’: B. Stortoni (Narbonne), J. Piossek (Hairapuca), M. Gaitan (Biarritz), M. Contepomi (Newman), H. Senillosa (Leeds), J. Miranda (Hindu), M. Scelzo (Narbonne), J. Villar (CUBA), S. Bonorino, P. Albacete, P. Sporleder (Curupayti), M. Durand (Champagne), I. Lobbe (Castres), M. Schusterman (SJC)). Replacements. R. Alvarez (Perpignan) for Lobbe (40), J. Hernandez (Deportiva Francesa) for Gaitin (63). M. Reggiardo (Castres) for S. Bonorino (75).

Referee: H. Watkins (Wales)