Heaslip: Winning matters most

Jamie Heaslip was pleased with Ireland’s hard-headed professionalism in yesterday’s record 29-9 victory over Argentina.

The curtain came down on the Aviva Stadium’s first autumn series with a desperately disappointing Pumas side taking a battering in sub-zero temperatures.

Jonathan Sexton kicked 17 points, converting every shot at goal, while Stephen Ferris and Gordon D’Arcy crossed in a one-sided contest that was a dreadful spectacle.

Ireland led 19-3 at half-time, but some of their decision making was poor after the interval and there was a feeling they had let the Pumas off the hook.

Heaslip, however, felt they had got their tactics right.

“I’m delighted we beat Argentina. I always say I play to win and that’s what happened,” the man of the match said.

“Granted, we probably wanted a little bit more ball in the second half and it did get a little bit loose at times.

“But when we had the opportunity we tightened it down when it got loose.

“Probably one or two decisions we made as a team regarding how to manage the game was off, but we’ll learn from that. As a whole the lads were very happy with the win.”

Ireland finished with two wins from their four matches this autumn, also beating Samoa while losing to South Africa and New Zealand, and Heaslip was unsatisfied with their success rate.

“We have only won two games so we are not too happy with that,” the Leinster number eight said.

“We have to look back and see where we can improve upon it.”

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll failed to finish yesterday’s match because of an injury to his jaw that could require surgery.

Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi felt his side suffered from referee Mark Lawrence’s officiating at the scrum.

The Pumas sent Ireland into retreat at a series of early five-metre set-pieces, but Lawrence eventually gave the home side the put-in.

“We didn’t score in the moments we had to. There were crucial moments that would have led us to victory but we didn’t score,” Contepomi said.

“It was lost there. There was a different interpretation at the scrum.

“Our scrum was going forward and Ireland’s went backwards but the referee says it had been turned around and gave them possession.

“I’m sure he will watch the game and he will be very critical.”