Ireland must earn seeding reward

Ireland must beware the giant strides Argentina have taken this season if they are to avoid a defeat today that will have serious consequences for the next three years.

Anything but a win today at the Aviva Stadium and Ireland will lose top-eight status in the world rankings, relegating Declan Kidney’s side to the third tier of seeds for the Rugby World Cup 2015 pool draw in nine days.

A formidable Argentina side stands between them and that security and after a win earlier this month in Wales and an impressive debut against the southern hemisphere’s big guns in the Rugby Championship this summer, Ireland assistant coach Les Kiss has warned against expecting anything but a serious challenge today in Dublin.

“You cannot disregard what they’ve gained from the Rugby Championship and that’s why there’s a massive respect for this challenge and where they are now,” Kiss said. “We’re under no illusions that we’re going to have to front up and if it gets down to trench warfare they’re as good as anyone, but we rate ourselves in that area as well.”

Kiss said there had been no surprises in the Argentine team named on Thursday, with Juan Martin Hernandez back in the side at full-back having missed last week’s defeat to France and the formidable Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe captaining the side from the back row.

“When you look at it there’s a team that you’ve got to have a lot of respect for. There’s a back row that’s been through the mill and they’re very effective and it’s going be a physical affair.

“Even if the rain comes in I think it’s going to be a great battle.”

Speaking earlier following Argentina’s captain’s run at the Aviva, Lobbe said his side were intent on chasing a first win in seven visits to Dublin.

“It would be awesome just to get the little bit of history for this group,” the Pumas captain said. “We are going to try and enjoy it, give of ourselves and put everything, all the hard work of this year, into this last 80 minutes [of the season].”