IRELAND WILL AIM to build on their Six Nations success tonight as they take on Argentina in the first of two Tests against the Pumas.
If you think the series is almost passing under the radar, you would be right.
Despite its prime time billing with kick-off helpfully scheduled for 19.40, the beginning of the post-Brian O’Driscoll era has the feeling of an under-card bout for this morning’s Tests in Australia and New Zealand.
For that, the finger could conceivably be pointed at the looming shadow of the World Cup, the fact that some big names have been left behind in Ireland, or perhaps the hosts. The Pumas have named a much-weakened team for a Test to be played far from the bustling population centre of Buenos Aires; a 25,000 capacity stadium with its fair share of potholes in Resistencia.
Joe Schmidt was typically coy about the chances of the Six Nations champions, making a concerted effort to point out the eight changes he had made since the win in Paris and the lack of experienced combinations that those changes would bring.
However, it is those very selections which add excitement to this game. Ulster’s powerful South African-born blindside Robbie Diack will make his debut in a back row alongside Jordi Murphy and Chris Henry. His provincial team-mate Iain Henderson has been selected to play in harness with Paul O’Connell in the second row as Devin Toner and Jamie Heaslip lurk on the bench.
Most eyes, though, will probably drift to the looser areas of play where Darren Cave wins his sixth cap in the number 13 jersey vacated for good by O’Driscoll after 15 years. And, there’s also the matter of Simon Zebo’s seventh cap, almost a year to the day since his sixth and his call-up to the Lions squad.
The reason for Schmidt’s willingness to experiment is the relative inexperience of the opposition. The Puma pack, ordinarily the epicentre of any Argentine hope, boast only two players with more than 10 caps.
Not that the hosts don’t have bright prospects, they have plenty. Winger Santiago Cordero looks capable of giving even the most sound of one-on-one defenders a hard time, while tight-head prop Ramiro Herrera makes his international debut having already appeared in a Top 14 final for Castres.
Crucially, Schmidt has been careful to blend inexperience with the more recognised faces in this line-up.
Leaving all of the big guns behind on a tour like this would make a mockery of the term ‘competition for places’ and suck the wind out of those hoping to prove themselves. With Conor Murray, Jonathan Sexton, Paul O’Connell, Rory Best, Mike Ross and Andrew Trimble at the wheel, those hoping to make their name will at least have Test match quality service to work from.
The drive towards World Cup 2015 picks up pace in Chaco.
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; S Zebo J Sexton, C Murray: J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson P O’Connell; R Diack, C Henry, J Murphy.
Replacements: D Varley, D Kilcoyne, R Ah You, D Toner, J Heaslip, K Marmion, I Madigan, F McFadden.
