Ireland laboured to a patchy 28-17 victory over Argentina in Dublin, losing Sean O’Brien and Kieran Marmion to serious-looking injuries.
Marmion, Bundee Aki and Luke McGrath scored Ireland’s tries as the Six Nations champions started their November campaign with a staccato win over the stubborn Pumas. Bautista Delguy crossed for Argentina, who edged ahead in the second-half through Nicolás Sánchez’s third penalty before Ireland battled back as Johnny Sexton finished with 13 points .
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Joe Schmidt’s men lost O’Brien to an arm injury and scrum-half Marmion to a leg concern – and that after Robbie Henshaw had pulled up in the warmup with a hamstring complaint.
Ireland could now be without British and Irish Lions Test star O’Brien and Marmion for next weekend’s eagerly anticipated clash with New Zealand in Dublin.
The luckless O’Brien, who was starting his first Test in almost a year following shoulder and knee trouble, now looks set for another stint on the sidelines.
The Ireland captain, Rory Best, said: “We were probably a little bit slow out of the blocks and they were winning the 50-50s. We had to really dig deep and grind parts of that first half out.
“There’s a lot to work on and we know next week against New Zealand is a big step up and we know we are going to have to be a lot better.”
Ireland’s haste and expectations almost got the better of them from the start here. Sánchez’s shot at goal put Argentina into an early lead before the hosts punted three penalties to the corner.
But just when Ireland looked to be leaving their opponents’ 22 empty-handed, up popped Marmion to nip home after a potent scrum. Sexton missed the conversion before Sánchez slotted a second penalty after sloppy Irish work in losing the restart. Matías Orlando and Jerónimo de la Fuente then carved open Ireland’s midfield for a fine Pumas score, with Delguy diving in gleefully at the corner.
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Ireland’s inaccuracy bit again when the pack bungled a set lineout move, knocking on just five metres out. The forwards traded stony faces and blank expressions – then powered Argentina off their own scrum ball to set up a try. Aki scythed through traffic to storm home as Ireland continued to chase control.
Sexton traded penalties with Sánchez for Ireland to carry an edgy 15-14 lead into the break.
Sánchez booted his third penalty to push the Pumas into a 17-15 advantage to start the second half.
Ireland edged back in front 18-17 approaching the hour, but had to face the final quarter without Marmion. His replacement, McGrath, nipped in for Ireland’s third try, sealing the win and settling frayed nerves.
“It was a real test match, really arduous,” said Schmidt. “They were hard at the back, hard off the ruck and hard off the line and really squeezed us.”