Ireland player ratings: Keenan, Hansen and Casey earn top marks against Argentina

Mick Cleary takes a look at the individual showings inside what was a really high-level Irish team performance.

SEE YA LATER: Ireland's Craig Casey lets fly. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

15 – Hugo Keenan

Busy, busy, busy, a hat-trick hero. Keenan was visible in attack, reliable in defence, the full-back running through the gamut of his duties, one early hit on Delguy setting the tone. Great lines and clever support work earned him his tries. 9 

14 – Robert Baloucoune 

Gliding as well as grafting, the after-burners that the Ulster wing applies with such potency showed when teeing up Keenan’s try and was also matched by a willingness to work hard in defence, scrabbling for every scrap. 8 

13 – Robbie Henshaw 

The years may weary some but Andy Farrell trusts his experienced men to shore up the midfield as well as create openings for the speedsters outside them. No Ringrose but Henshaw did as his mate would do – be industrious, be present, run hard and support constantly. 7 

12 – Stuart McCloskey 

The Ulster centre has simple but valuable assets – a sturdy presence in defence, a punching target in attack, starting for the tenth time in succession. Rarely faltered. 7 

11 – Mack Hansen 

The wandering minstrel, here, there and everywhere. The man with the bionic foot was back in harness after long-term injury issues and hell bent on showing that he could still cut the mustard. He certainly can. 9 

10 – Sam Prendergast 

Accomplished. Prendergast was perceptive in attack, shredding the defence for his try and creating openings around him. There were occasional glitches such as the ill-directed kick-pass that found Carreras. A happy evening on the whole. 8 

Ireland's Sam Prendergast on his way to scoring his side’s fourth try. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

9 – Craig Casey 

A big chance taken, Casey stepped up to the plate on a relatively rare outing in the starting shirt. The Munster man zapped the ball away from the base to keep his team on the move forward, proving that he could handle the pressure of a World Cup even if out-jumped for Carreras' first try. A road-test comfortably passed. 9 

1 - Andrew Porter 

One of a trio of high-profile injury returnees, Porter needed to put his calf problems behind as well as any lingering trauma from last year’s tight forward humiliation against the Springboks. Part of a much improved performance by the Ireland pack. 7 

2 – Dan Sheehan (capt) 

Leading from the front to great effect before an HIA cut short his night. A terrific double involvement for his try. The trusted lieutenant has made a decent fist of stepping up to the captain’s role in the absence of Caelan Doris. 7 

3 – Tadhg Furlong 

The furore over the genital-grabbing allegations against Furlong illustrated just how important he is to the cause. Ireland’s most experienced player was all too aware that he had to apply himself to the task and he did just that. 7 

4 – Joe McCarthy

Ireland needed McCarthy to bring his strong provincial form into the test arena if the dangerous and powerful Pumas back-row was to be tied down and they most definitely were with the Leinster lock to the fore. 7 

5 – Tadhg Beirne 

Ireland’s set-piece difficulties in the summer at the scrum and lineout had to be redressed and quickly if the team were to challenge in this Nations Championship. Beirne headed a terrific defensive performance in the lineout to deny Argentina ball. 8 

6 – Ryan Baird 

The mature presence in a tyro back-row, Baird recovered from an early wobble when he was brushed off by Pumas’ fly-half, Tomas Albornoz. Good lineout work. 7 

7 – Nick Timoney 

To the fore, hard-edged and versatile. Another player to be presented with a wonderful chance to show that he has what it takes to be trusted with a starting place, leaving Andy Farrell with good back-row options for the future. 8 

8 – Sean Jansen 

Willing and productive. There were big boots to fill for the 27-year-old as he stepped up for Doris and Conan, looking to bring the same whole-hearted form that he has shown for Connacht to the test arena, one notable over-the-ball turnover near his own line catching the eye. 7 

Replacements 

The game was as good as done by the time the bench began to empty but if a gee-up was needed it came with the immediate impact that Josh van der Flier made when he came on early in the second-half, a tackle and a turnover within sixty seconds showing that the replacements were intent on making their own mark with a World Cup only a year ago. 

Ronan Kelleher had already come on for an HIA-afflicted Dan Sheehan, the back-up hooker grabbing a trademark try from a lineout maul. Sam Illo spoiled his home debut by getting a yellow card. 7