Donal Lenihan: Electric Ireland underline why Farrell didn't fight Lowe battle

The hosts started as they mean to go on. 

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and Argentina boss Felipe Contepomi share a joke before the game. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

As campaign openers go, Friday night’s game against Argentina couldn’t have worked out much better for an Irish side with a number of question marks hanging over it. Shorn a number of key players and with so much emphasis on the need for the Irish attack to show signs of evolution, six tries scored was a fair reflection on the attacking shape Ireland delivered, especially off first phase.

Previewing the game on these pages on Friday morning, my main focus was directed on two key units of the team. The return of Mack Hansen and Rob Baloucoune out wide offered Ireland something different, an X-factor that top teams like France, New Zealand and South Africa have in abundance.