Good afternoon, folks. Welcome along to our liveblog of Ireland’s third and final fixture in this November series.
After victories over South Africa and Fiji, Joe Schmidt’s side are aiming to complete a clean sweep as Argentina visit Dublin.
We’ll keep you posted throughout the game on events at the Aviva Stadium, where kick-off is at 5.30pm.
Here’s how the teams will line up:
Ireland
15. R. Kearney
14. A. Byrne
13. C. Farrell
12. B. Aki
11. J. Stockdale
10. J. Sexton
9. C. Murray
1. C. Healy
2. R. Best (captain)
3. T. Furlong
4. J. Ryan
5. I.Henderson
6. P. O’Mahony
7. S. O’Brien
8. C.J. Stander
Replacements:
16. J. Tracy
17. D. Kilcoyne
18. J. Ryan
19. D. Toner
20. R. Ruddock
21. L. McGrath
22. I. Keatley
23. A. Conway
Argentina
15. J. Tuculet
14. R. Moyano
13. M. Moroni
12. IS. Gonzalez
11. E. Boffelli
10. N. Sanchez
9. M. Landajo
1. S. Botta Garcia
2. A. Creevy (captain)
3. N. Tetaz
4. M. Alemanno
5. T. Lavanini
6. P. Matera
7. M. Kremer
8. T. Lezana
Replacements:
16. J. Montoya
17. L. Noguera
18. E. Pieretto
19. G. Petti
20. J.M. Leguizamon
21. G. Bert
22. J. De La Fuente
23. S. Cancelliere
We’re about 40 minutes away from kick-off…
We’re now hearing the national anthems, then it’s down to business.
Sean O’Brien is ‘a nutjob’ according to ROG.
"Sean O'Brien has an aura. And when he gets on the pitch he is a nutjob."
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) November 25, 2017
Ronan O'Gara discusses the Carlow man pic.twitter.com/RIg8VwF0P7
Johnny Sexton left the field before the anthems and has yet to return. Watch this space…
Panic averted. Johnny’s back.
KICK-OFF: Argentina get us started and go deep into Ireland’s 22.
Ireland playing their way out, good use of the ball through the phases.
Argentina off their feet and Ireland get a penalty in front of the posts. Should be a handy one for Sexton. Promising start by Ireland.
Sexton slots it over and Ireland lead 3-0 with just over three minutes on the clock. Furlong picked up a knock as well but he looks okay.
Adam Byrne gets his first chance to make an impression on his debut, doing well with a kick-chase to put Argentina under pressure.
Proud moment for the Leinster winger earlier…
Argentina’s defence being made to work very hard here but they’ve got a scrum just inside their own half over a knock-on.
Poor pass from Murray but Ireland have a penalty due to offside from Argentina. Sexton receiving treatment for a knock so Murray kicks for the corner.
Crossfield kick to the corner by Murray but Byrne denied a debut try by an awkward bounce.
Huge effort from Ireland at the scrum as they drive the Pumas back — how the tables have turned! — and it earns them a penalty in the same position where Sexton scored from earlier.
The Leinster out-half makes no mistake and extends Ireland’s lead to six.
Argentina get a penalty at halfway and they’re going to go for the posts.
Boffelli takes the kick, he had the distance but it’s just off target.
Farrell knocks on from a wayward pass by Aki and Argentina get another scrum. However, the Pumas are penalised for the feed and Sexton goes high and long.
TRY! Ireland 11 Argentina 0 (Stockdale, 21)
Superb try for Ireland. Farrell shows brilliant hands to release Sexton, who plays the ball to Stockdale to run in the game’s first try. Sexton adds the extras to put Ireland 13-0 up.
So far, so good for Ireland, who have enjoyed 68% possession.
Frustrating game so far for Argentina, who have lacked Ireland’s accuracy with the ball in hand. Five handling errors so far from the visitors.
Sexton with a kick in behind for Stockdale to chase but it goes into touch. Argentina struggling to live with Ireland so far but it’s relatively early days yet.
O’Brien with a good break for Ireland and then makes what would have been a sublime offload but it’s just a little too short for Best, who would have been away. Really good break before that as well from Byrne, who’s enjoying it out there on his debut.
Kearney’s clearing kick is blocked and it goes into touch. Ireland make good progress with a maul from the subsequent line-out, before Murray kicks clear.
We reckon Jacob Stockdale enjoyed that try…
Sanchez makes a nice break for Argentina but brilliant defensive work from Kearney wins possession back for Ireland.
Argentina enjoying their best spell of the game now, controlling possession inside Ireland’s half, but the home side defending resolutely and giving them little to work with.
Argentina get through 17 phases before Stander steals possession and Murray sends up a box kick to give Ireland’s defence a moment of relief.
The referee goes to the TMO to check a no-arms tackle on O’Brien but there’s nothing in it. Both hands were used.
Kearney runs a superb line and makes significant progress as the clock ticks past the 40-minute mark. Ireland in possession in Argentina’s half, perhaps one last opportunity before the break.
No joy for Ireland as Sexton throws a forward pass, and that’ll be it.
Half-time: Ireland 13 Argentina 0
Well, Ireland fans — happy enough with that first half? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section while we put the kettle on.
TRY! Ireland 18 Argentina 0 (Stockdale, 42)
What a start to the second half for Ireland! Sexton again plays in Stockdale, who runs an excellent line to get in at the corner for his second try.
Tricky angle on the left for the conversion but Sexton nails it. 20-0 to Ireland.
This international rugby stuff is easy…
Argentina win a penalty but opt to kick to touch as they look to reduce Ireland’s 20-point lead.
Sanchez tries a crossfield kick but Kearney mops it up with a brilliant piece of fielding.
Ireland introduce Devin Toner in place of James Ryan, who looks like he may have picked up an injury.
A possible shoulder injury for Ryan, apparently.
The moment Jacob Stockdale got in for his second try…
Argentina are threatening now. Ireland defending well but the visitors are making progress.
Excellent defence from Ireland as O’Mahony forces a turnover. Murray kicks clear, Byrne fields well but unfortunately he’s in touch.
Argentina pressing in Irish territory again. Over 50 minutes on the clock but they haven’t registered on the scoreboard yet.
Moyano kicks in behind but Kearney is there to mop it up.
Ireland penalised for a tackler not rolling away and Argentina go to touch again in search of a try. Huge tackles gone in by Aki and Farrell there. This is serious pressure now on the Irish defence.
Argentina may have a try here. The referee is going to the TMO.
Furlong could have been in trouble for a tackle but it looked fine.
The ref is checking if Tuculet was ahead of the play before Sanchez kicked through.
TRY! Ireland 20 Argentina 5 (Tuculet, 55)
It was determined that there was no clear enough angle not to award the try so Argentina are on the board, with Sanchez adding the extras. This one is far from over.
Ireland’s penalty count is starting to rise as Argentina are seeing more and more of the ball. The momentum is with the visitors. Thirteen points in it with 22 minutes remaining.
Murray tries another box kick but Argentina have been gobbling them up today and they do so again. Farrell down receiving treatment as Kilcoyne replaces Healy.
Conway is on for Farrell so debutant Byrne moves to outside centre.
Ireland win a penalty at the breakdown near halfway. Sexton finds touch at the Pumas’ 22.
TRY! Ireland 25 Argentina 7 (Stander, 63)
After progress with the maul, Stander powers over for Ireland and a bit of a skirmish ensues afterwards. It wouldn’t be Ireland versus Argentina without one.
Sexton strikes the post from the conversion as Ruddock comes on for O’Brien.
Argentina knocking at the door, a couple of metres short.
Great chance for Argentina but it’s squandered by a wayward pass from the veteran substitute Leguizamon.
Ryan replaces Furlong for Ireland.
Handbags…
Argentina come surging towards Ireland’s line again but Tuculet knocks forward.
To Argentina’s credit they’re by no means giving up on this and they’re finding the gaps too.
TRY! Ireland 25 Argentina 12 (Leguizamon, 71)
In his 82nd cap, Leguizamon makes amends for his earlier error despite the best efforts of Kearney. Sanchez is unable to convert from wide on the left.
Sexton goes crossfield for Conway but it’s inches too long as a try looked like it was on.
Penalty to Ireland for offside. Sexton will go for the three points.
Sexton’s effort is accurate and Ireland lead 28-12. Tracy and Keatley are in for O’Mahony and Sexton. Tracy will be a makeshift flanker as O’Mahony was injured.
McGrath replaces Murray as Keatley kicks to touch for Ireland.
RTÉ’s man of the match award goes to Jacob Stockdale after his two tries.
Argentina break from behind their own posts before Kearney eventually brings Moyano down by Ireland’s 22. The danger isn’t cleared yet though.
Argentina with a line-out for the last passage of play.
TRY! Ireland 28 Argentina 17 (Moyano, 80)
A kick in behind is gathered and Moyano gets a try he deserves after an excellent performance for Argentina. Sanchez converts with the last action of the game.
Full-time: Ireland 28 Argentina 19
