Having
secured the Triple Crown after being so near to the Six Nations,
Ireland’s summer internationals see them heading
to the sunshine of South America to take on Argentina in a series of
warm-up games for the 2007 World Cup.
These games will give Eddie O’Sullivan’s men a stern test
against the Pumas, especially as the Irish will be taking them on in
the group stages in the World Cup taking place later this year.
And whilst some players may see this as a chance to go through the
motions before departing for their summer holiday’s, the World
Cup is in the mind of every player in Eddie O'Sullivan's squad since
the coach said 50% of his World Cup squad had yet to be confirmed.
In the first test of the series, a late drop-goal by Leinster fly-half
Felipe Contepomi denied Ireland a first ever victory on Argentine soil
as the Puma’s won 22-20.
Eddie O'Sullivan's men, who had led from the sixth minute, looked set
for a win after a penalty try followed debutant Brian Carney's touchdown.
But Contepomi's boot kept the Pumas in touch and then Hernan Senillosa's
try helped edge Argentina ahead. With Paddy Wallace off injured, Gavin
Duffy restored the Irish lead with a penalty but Contepomi snatched
the win.
Former rugby league star Carney had a dream start to his first match
in an Ireland jersey when the Munster man intercepted a Contepomi pass
to race clear to score under the posts.
Ulster's Wallace, having opened the scoring with a penalty, added the
conversion to put Ireland 10-0 up after nine minutes.
Contepomi, though, landed two penalties to peg the gap back to 10-6
by the interval. The home number 10 added another penalty to reduce
the deficit to a single point but the penalty try saw the Irish establish
a 17-9 advantage.
Contepomi's fourth penalty and Senillosa's converted try had Argentina
19-17 ahead. Full-back Duffy drilled over Ireland's last score but
it was not enough as that man Contepomi grabbed his chance with the
match-winning drop in the 80th minute.
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has expressed his disappointment in
the preparations for his side's second Test.
Due to mayoral elections in Buenos Aires the day after the second test,
football matches in the city were moved to be played on Friday, Saturday
and Monday.
One of the matches played on involved Velez Sarsfield, who use the
Jose Amalfitani ground, meaning O'Sullivan's side - and their backroom
staff - were unable to familiarise themselves with the facilities.
O'Sullivan said: 'I'm happy with the players yes, but with the preparations,
no. It is not just that we run around the pitch but our medical people
need to check the facilities, our media person checks where players
will be taken for interviews and our kickers get their lines for the
post and the players have a run out.
'They must have known about the football match before now. At this
level it is unheard of. I don't
even know what the dressing room is like.'
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan highlighted a lack of discipline as
the main reason for his side's defeat, whilst also declaring himself
satisfied with Brian Carney after the 30-year-old won his first cap
since switching from rugby league.
"I talked to the players and said they played well but discipline
was the problem. We gave away too many penalties, especially in the
second half. In the first half, we were controlling the game. Argentina
took the upper hand after the break and took their opportunities very
well. But in the end either side could have won it.
"Brian did a good job," O'Sullivan said of the former Great
Britain player, who is now with Munster. "It was an inexperienced
backline and despite some mistakes, I'm happy with his performance
and I told him that."
Carney is one of several players in the Irish party aiming to stake
a claim for a World Cup place with the majority of the first-choice
side left at home.
The sides meet again in Buenos Aires on Saturday 2nd June ahead of
a World Cup pool match on 30 September.
The Ireland coach is uncomfortable about playing Argentina, who are
in the same World Cup group as his side, so close to the tournament
but believes his selection policy negates any problems.
“It probably would be better we didn't have to play each other.
I think the best way we have to deal with this is selecting some of
the younger players to see if they are ready to fight in the World
Cup squad.
“From here, then I will be able to see who is forcing their way
into my thinking for the World Cup. It’ll be a fantastic experience
for any player to represent their country at a World Cup and it is
this enthusiasm and determination to play on the biggest stage in rugby
that I want to see from my players over the next few months, not only
whilst playing for Ireland, but in domestic rugby too.”
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