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Jonathan Sexton scored a second half try. Dan Sheridan/INPHO
Match Report

Cave and Sexton star as Ireland survive early scare in Argentina

Joe Schmidt’s men looked in trouble after Manuel Montero’s first-half try but they battled back with fine tries before and after the break.

Argentina 17

Ireland 29

IRELAND GOT THEIR summer tour underway with a 29-17 win over Argentina in Resistencia. A Manuel Montero try had the home side 10-6 ahead after half an hour but tries from Chris Henry, Jonny Sexton and Andrew Trimble sealed the tie.

Ireland should have crossed the whitewash in the opening stages, following a superb Darren Cave line break, but debutant flanker Robbie Diack opted to cut inside rather than pass to Simon Zebo or Felix Jones on the overlap. Two Sexton penalties had the Six Nations champions 6-0 up. Ireland were soon to have a man advantage — Benjamin Macone was sin-binned for taking Trimble out in the air, but Argentina had the next two scores.

Nicolas Sanchez’ penalty cut Ireland’s lead in half after 26 minutes before Montero scorched in a superb try. Joaquín Tuculet sparked the score with a great take before Nicolas Sanchez left Luke Marshall trailing. He found Montero in support and the winger dumbfounded Sexton and Trimble to score in the corner.

TRY ARG

Ireland regrouped and took advantage of the extra man in the pack, with Chris Henry mauling over. Sexton missed the conversion and Ireland led 11-10 at the break. Sexton punctured the Argentine defence two minutes after the re-start and powered over after a wrap-around give and go with Marshall.

SEXTON

The game was effectively over after 57 minutes when Trimble raced in a try from 50 metres out after a smart intercept in midfield. Sexton missed the conversion and a leg injury saw him withdrawn for Ian Madigan five minutes later. The Leinster out-half added two penalties in the closing stages as Ireland closed out the game.

Cave looked to have scored the try his performance merited but his legs were dragged out of touch before he could touch down. It mattered little but Schmidt will be pleased that his players were still looking for scores after a straining first hour.

He will be less pleased, however, with his team allowing Tomas de la Vega to force his way over for a converted try with two minutes remaining. The victory was only Ireland’s second official away win over Argentina.

Argentina scorers

Tries: Montero, de la Vega

Conversions: Sanchez, Gonzalez Iglesias

Penalties: Sanchez

Ireland scorers

Tries: Henry, Sexton, Cave

Conversions: Sexton

Penalties: Sexton (2), Madigan (2)

Luke Marshall tackled by Joaquin Tuculet Luke Marshall tackled by Joaquin Tuculet. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Argentina: J Tuculet; S Cordero, J De La Fuente, G Ascarate, M Montero; N Sanchez, M Landajo: L Noguera Paz, M Cortese, R Herrera; M Carizza, T Lavanini; R Baez, T De La Vega, B Macone.

Replacements: J Montoya, B Postiglioni, N Telaz Chaparo, M Alemanno, J Ortega Desio, T Cubelli, S Gonzalez, Iglesias, L Gonzalez Amorisino.

Ireland: F Jones, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall (F McFadden); S Zebo J Sexton (I Madigan), C Murray (K Marmion): J McGrath (D Kilcoyne), R Best (D Varley), M Ross (R Ah You); I Henderson P O’Connell (D Toner); R Diack, C Henry, J Murphy (J Heaslip).

As it happened: Argentina v Ireland, summer tour 1st Test

David Humphreys leaves Ulster for Director of Rugby position at Gloucester

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