Ireland bid to avenge Lens defeat

Ireland come face to face with World Cup Pool A rivals Argentina today bidding to avenge their infamous defeat in Lens four years ago.

Enough players were involved from that match in the last World Cup to ensure some settling of old scores, with seven Irishmen and 13 Argentinians all meeting again at the sunny Adelaide Oval.

Ireland enjoyed an excellent build-up to the match, gathering momentum with comfortable wins over Romania and Namibia.

Argentina on the other hand had only four days’ rest after their match with Romania, and they also lost their opening game to hosts and reigning champions Australia.

The awesome power of the Pumas pack persuaded Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan to shuffle his resources and pick his most physically-intimidating back row.

That meant no place in the starting line-up for Eric Miller, while Keith Gleeson did not even make it onto the bench.

Instead, Munster’s Alan Quinlan donned the number seven jersey and Victor Costello started at number eight, while Simon Easterby was on the blindside.

David Humphreys, who kicked seven penalties and a drop goal as Ireland’s only point-scorer in the match four years ago, maintained his slight edge over Ronan O’Gara to play at fly-half.

Argentina named Mauricio Reggiardo at loosehead prop despite his preference for tighthead, while captain Agustin Pichot started at scrum-half after suffering a slight fever.

The Pumas fly-half was Gonzalo Quesada, who nailed seven penalties and a conversion in Lens, while the only try-scorer on that day, Diego Albanese, also started.