Joe Schmidt closing gaps to prevent repeat of Cardiff nightmare

“I don’t think there’s any team in the world that isn’t vulnerable without their very top players.”

Joe Schmidt insists this evening’s match with Argentina has nothing to do with revenge, but he does not deny that the 2015 World Cup quarter-final defeat has informed the Ireland boss’s approach to this Guinness Series finale, writes Simon Lewis.

No grudges, then, but plenty of lessons to be taken from that Irish nightmare in Cardiff 25 months ago, when Schmidt’s injury-hit, inexperienced side gifted the Pumas a 17-point start in the opening 12 minutes, reeled them back into a three-point game at 23-20 with 28 minutes remaining and then wilted all over again to go down 43-20.