Dempsey targets autumn clean-sweep

Full-back Girvan Dempsey has demanded Ireland finish their autumn internationals on a high – so that they are in the best possible shape for next year’s RBS 6 Nations.

The Triple Crown winners face Argentina at Lansdowne Road on Saturday in their final match of the year, where victory will give them an illustrious clean sweep of victories in the November Tests.

South Africa and the United States have already been accounted for in magnificent style but the Pumas, who shocked France 24-14 in Marseille last Saturday, could prove to be the toughest assignment of all.

Dempsey has faced Argentina on two previous occasions and understands the challenge they present – especially up front – but insists his side are ready to meet the tourists head-on.

“You have to work extremely hard for any win against the Pumas. They thrive on physicality, especially up front,” said the Leinster back, who will win his 53rd cap on Saturday.

“They try to dominate the scrums and maul you all over the park. But we’re really up for this one. We want to finish the autumn series unbeaten.

“In previous years when we’ve had a good autumn, it’s meant a good Six Nations too for us and hopefully that trend can continue.”

Ireland’s last meeting with Argentina was during last year’s World Cup when they defeated the South Americans 16-15 in a nailbiting Pool A clash which sent them into the quarter-finals.

Dempsey featured during that match and remains one of only two members of Ireland’s side on Saturday who have scored tries against the Pumas, with the other being 67-cap lock Malcolm O’Kelly.

Dempsey’s 21st-minute touchdown – which arrived after Ignacio Corleto’s spillage of a Brian O’Driscoll bomb – saw Ireland win 16-7 during Argentina’s last visit to Dublin two years ago, a game which holds strong memories for the Leinster back.

“I remember the conditions being the worst I’ve ever played in. There were a couple of inches of rain on the pitch,” said the 29-year-old.

“Guys were slipping and sliding all over the place and the try I got was a lucky one more than anything else.

“Brian put up a garryowen over halfway – ‘a genius garryowen’ as he called it afterwards – their full-back lost it in the wind, dropped it and I was able to pick it up and barrel over.”

Ireland must be firing on all cylinders if they are to account for Argentina, so the availability of flanker onny O’Connor has come as a timely boost to coach Eddie O’Sullivan.

O’Connor, who won his first cap against the Springboks nearly two weeks ago, suffered a knee injury during training on Monday and his inclusion in the line-up was subject to a fitness test.

But the medical team gave the Wasps openside a clean bill of health this morning after he came through a training session without any problems.

The news ends any hopes Denis Leamy may have harboured of adding to the debut Test cap he won in the comprehensive 55-6 victory over the United States last Saturday.

Leamy was not named in Eddie O’Sullivan’s matchday squad but could have leapfrogged substitute Eric Miller into the number-seven shirt with the Leinster forward’s ability to cover all three back-row positions, making him ideal for bench duty.