Penalty count cost us, not drop-goal, says Eddie

IT WAS A result that will, in the words of Irish captain Simon Best, “have no relevance” on what transpires in their World Cup Pool D match, but try telling that to the majority inside the richly atmospheric but non-hostile (except if you’re a visiting place kicker) stadium, who wildly celebrated Felipe Contepomi’s 81st minute drop goal.

As a squad and as a nation, a test win over a highly ranked country can only bolster the Argentineans’ confidence ahead of the World Cup, even if they are missing up to 25 players for these two tests.

It mattered to the five amateur club players on the Pumas side, who were pushing hard for inclusion in Marcelo Loffreda’s World Cup squad.

In a test match that only occasionally tipped the surface of the levels required at international standard, Ireland didn’t play badly and O’Sullivan couldn’t fault his side’s efforts — pointing out that his players did everything to win the game — and praised the contribution of the four new caps: Brian Carney and replacements Tony Buckley, Tomás O’Leary and Barry Murphy.

Yesterday morning as the Ireland squad prepared for the 475km bus return trip to Buenos Aires, O’Sullivan hadn’t altered his view from Saturday night that indiscipline proved Ireland’s achilles heel. The tourists conceded 13 penalties to the Pumas nine.

“The one thing that killed us — and the game was lost on this and not on the drop goal at the end if you want to be broadminded about it — (was) our penalty count and our indiscipline. We gave away a few silly ones going in at the side.

“In fairness to the referee they were all legitimate, though there was one harsh call on Trevor (Hogan) when he went in at the side of the ruck.

“It’s one part of our game that is usually very good — our average penalty count in the Six Nations has been six or seven penalties a game. Against France, for example, we had three penalties over the eighty minutes.

“It’s a part of our game we work very hard on, but it went pear-shaped — you can’t give up 13 penalties in a test match and then think we’re going to be alright here.”

Forwards coach, Niall O’Donovan, was hugely satisfied with the set pieces, and the scrum, which didn’t yield an inch. There were some exceptional performances, most notably from Jerry Flannery, who returned to the glory of his 2006 Six Nations form. Neil Best also put down a marker, while Simon Best played a captain’s part in the scrum.

Gavin Duffy dealt comfortably with the high balls raining down on him from the boot of Contepomi, and held his nerve, amongst the cat-calls and whistles, to land a late penalty from wide on the right.

The 500 or so Irish eyes amongst the 31,000 attendance were focusing on the performance of Paddy Wallace, who, until his withdrawal with a knee injury in the 61st minute, produced a composed, touchline kicking performance and moved the ball intelligently and at the appropriate time. Geordan Murphy didn’t look out of place on his introduction but looked ill at ease when put in the position to land a drop goal in the last play of the game. It was partially blocked and, seconds later, referee Lyndon Gray blew the final whistle.

“Paddy is 50-50 for Saturday’s game, so on the back of that, Jeremy Staunton is flying out and will touch down in Buenos Aires (on) Monday morning,” said O’Sullivan.

“He tweaked his medial ligament, but it’s a minor injury. I thought he played very well. I thought we all played well. The problem was he got a knock early on. As the game went on it got sorer and he couldn’t kick with it. That was the problem. He could run past but he couldn’t kick.”

Another to make his mark was debutant, Brian Carney who kept the Puma defence on its toes. He intercepted a Contepomi pass in the eight minute and raced unchallenged from 65 metres under the posts. Paddy Wallace added the conversion to his 6th minute penalty.

Ireland were full-value for their early lead, putting a nervous Puma side under pressure at set piece and open play. But the Pumas grew in confidence as the half developed and Irish indiscipline helped their cause, Contepomi eating into the lead with two penalties in the 18th and 39th minutes. It stood 6-10 to Ireland at the break and the Puma out-half added a 47th minute penalty to bring the margin down to the minimum.

The 51st minute brought the first real glimpse of an Irish maul. As it rumbled unstoppably towards the line, referee, Lyndon Gray, awarded a penalty try as the Pumas tried to pull it down illegally. Wallace added the extras to keep Ireland in command at 9-17. There were some handbags as the maul dissembled, and Neil Best and Esteban Lozada were sent to the bin.

Contepomi added his fourth penalty in the 56th minute to make it 12-17 before Duffy took over the kicking duties — narrowly missing from the left side. The Leinster out half then stepped forward and initiated the move in midfield that led to Hernan Senillosa’s magnificent try on 75 minutes, which the out-half converted.

Duffy won back three points for Ireland with an under pressure kick, but after Mick O’Driscoll stole a lineout around the Pumas ‘22’, the ball was somehow knocked back to the Argentine side, recycled and Contepomi stepped into the pocket to land a sweet drop goal.

The roar that greeted it had to be experienced to be believed.

Argentina — Tries – Senillosa; pens Contepomi (4); cons Contepomi (1); drop goals Contepomi (1).

Ireland: Tries – Carney, Pen try; pens – Wallace (1), Duffy (1); Cons – Wallace (2).