Ireland end on high as Pumas fail to pounce

Ireland 29 Argentina 9

On the positive side, Ireland emerge with two victories from four Tests, over Samoa and Argentina, and one can add a rousing performance in defeat to New Zealand. In the debit column will be a sorry defeat to South Africa at the beginning of the month and misfiring set-pieces — sometimes the lineout, others the scrum — all of which will give head coach Kidney plenty to mull over during the Christmas and New Year break before preparing in earnest for the most important year of his coaching career, one that will include a World Cup as well as the annual Six Nations championship.

On a frigid day at the Aviva — braved by an official attendance of 30,476 — that was not conducive to fast, flowing rugby, Ireland did score two tries against the Pumas, something France could not manage a week before in the rain.