Pumas no match for Eddie’s masters of the mud

Ireland 16 Argentina 7

The much vaunted Argentinean pack capitulated in the heavy conditions at Lansdowne Road as Eddie O'Sullivan's side swapped their dancing shoes for construction boots.

Hardly a match for the purists, but the nine-point winning margin did not flatter Ireland. Coach Eddie O'Sullivan said after his side's sixth successive victory: "It has been a good half-year but we know there is another half to come."

Victories over Australia and Argentina, two of Ireland's opponents in next year's World Cup, has given the squad a huge surge of confidence but O'Sullivan warned: "The real test will come next October. We are happy, of course, and this victory was psychologically good for the players. But we can't take anything for granted, just enjoy the occasion for what it was."

One thing it did prove there is life beyond Keith Wood. While O'Sullivan and everyone else associated with the team hopes for an early return for Ireland's inspirational skipper, at least they will be happy in the knowledge they have found an able deputy. Indeed, Shane Byrne won the man-of-the-match award on Saturday with a near-perfect performance.

The critics will say there is a soft underbelly in Leinster rugby. The team performances of the men in blue suggest differently, with Byrne to the forefront when the going got tough for Ireland on Saturday. He and Victor Costello shone like beacons in the flood of Lansdowne Road.

Another much maligned Leinster player, Girvan Dempsey grows with every outing. He coped brilliantly under the high ball and his only mistake was to turn his back when Argentina took a quick throw in to score a 23rd minute try. Neither he nor Shane Horgan will ever do that again.

Ireland dominated out of touch and they scrummaged strongly against a side with a big reputation. By half-time the Pumas had surrendered up front with Byrne, Costello, Reggie Corrigan, Anthony Foley and Keith Gleeson to the fore for Ireland.

Snapping at the heels of a dominant pack, Peter Stringer was superb and far more influential than the man with a reputation for haunting Ireland Augustin Pichot. Stringer took pressure off Ronan O'Gara at all the right times, and pushed Ireland forward with some magnificent kicks O'Sullivan said: "The conditions were terrible as they were for the Australian match. But they were the same for us as for them. We have taken pride in playing an expansive game and we would have preferred a dry day. When that wasn't the case, it was a question of adapting to whatever conditions prevailed.

"I thought we did that better than Australia and we did it better than Argentina."

O'Sullivan was delighted with the run of victories. "I don't put much stock in equalling Ireland's record number of successive victories. All I am concerned about is winning each game as it comes. We have got to the stage now that we are confident but will never take anything for granted." Next week, it's back to the cut and thrust of the Celtic League and then the Heineken Cup. "We are rivals from time to time, but there is a growing belief that we can move on further from here," according to hooker Byrne.

You sensed that he would even be content with playing second fiddle to Wood when he returns. But don't bet on that either.

CONNACHT, with captain Tim Allnutt and vice-captain Warwick Waugh out for the rest of the season, have wholesale injury problems as they prepare for Friday's Celtic League quarter-final against Munster at Musgrave Park. With such a young side, Connacht can scarcely afford to use experienced players but also definitely out is long-serving prop Dan McFarland, while another prop, Ronan McCormack, is also doubtful.

Steph Nels' main injury concerns at this stage are Darren Yapp, Michael Swift, Ronan McCormack, Marnus Uijs, and Colm Rigney.

The Connacht team to play Munster will be announced tomorrow.

IRELAND: G. Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure), S. Horgan (Leinster/Lansdowne), B. O'Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock) captain; K. Maggs (Bath), J. Bishop (London Irish), R. O'Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), P. Stringer (Munster/Shannon), R. Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), S. Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock), J. Hayes (Munster/Shannon), G. Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), M. O'Kelly (Leinster/St. Mary's), V. Costello (Leinster/Blackrock), A. Foley (Munster/Shannon), K. Gleeson (Leinster/St. Mary's).

Replacements. L. Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock) for Longwell, injured 28 mins), A. Quinlan (Munster/Shannon, 73 mins), M. Horan (Munster/Shannon, 75 mins).

ARGENTINA: I. Corleto (Stade Francais), G. Camardon (Roma), J. Orengo (Grenoble), L. Arbizu (Bordeaux) captain; D. Albanese (Leeds), F. Contepomi (Bristol), A. Pichot (Bristol), M. Reggiardo (Castres), M. Ledesma (Narbonne), O. Hasan (Agen), I. Fernandez Lobbe (Castres), R. Alvarez (Perpignan), S. Phelan (C.A.S.I), G. Longo (Narbonne), R. Martin (S.I.C).

Replacements. M. Durand (Champagnat) for Alverez (63), J. Fernandez Miranda (Hindu) for Arbizu (70), N. Fernandez Mirdanda (Natal) for Phelan (75).

Referee. C. White (England).