THERE WAS A change of tempo at the Aviva Stadium last night, with the powers that be appearing to react to the criticism of last week’s atmosphere (or lack thereof) by refreshing their playlist. Out were the usual pre-game songs and in came a fresh soundtrack, with tunes from Fontaines DC, the Stone Roses and the Beastie Boys among the more up-beat selection.
“You stick around, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Gone too was the usual U2 slot. The teams normally enter the pitch just as the iconic intro of Where The Streets Have No Name rises to it’s peak, but last night Bono and the boys were ditched in favour of Fatboy Slim’s Right Here Right Now. If it was placed as a subtle suggestion that this should feel like the only place to be on a November night in Dublin, to see small pockets of empty seats was jarring. Unusually for a Test game of such billing, touts were trying to shift tickets outside the ground – a task made all the more difficult by the fact a chunk were still available on Ticketmaster.
Those who had secured their seat came expecting a response to last Friday’s defeat to New Zealand. Andy Farrell admitted some of his squad were ‘lucky enough’ to make the cut again and for the players in that bracket, last night must have felt a long time coming.
It was no surprise then to see Ireland throw themselves into the game. Two early tries were squeezed inside the opening five minutes, Jack Crowley skipping over before Mack Hansen bundled his way through in the corner.
Crowley was central to Ireland’s early impetus and looked determined to erase the memory of last week, attacking the line and lifting his aggression. With only two minutes on the clock the Munster out-half had been cracked high by Pumas centre Matías Moroni. The crowd groaned but Crowley sprang back to his feet. Too much to be getting on with.
That play developed into a breakaway Argentina try crossed off for an Ireland penalty, with Moroni yellow-carded. Ireland’s lineout was clean and after hard carries from Rónan Kelleher and Andrew Porter the ball was shifted out to Crowley who smartly cut inside Thomas Gallo and Lucio Cinti.
This was more like it; confident, clever play from an out-half who knows the competition is sizzling below him. It’s not long since Crowley was the player with itchy feet on the bench. He was clearly frustrated as Ciarán Frawley took his place for the final quarter against the All Blacks and was fully aware of the hype surrounding Sam Prendergast this week, with the Leinster player waiting in the wings for a Test debut.
Crowley met the rising pressure with an assured display, before he was part of a collective fall-off.
From minutes five to 20 Ireland failed to put more points on the board, with a disallowed Tadhg Beirne try the closest they came. In the moments between, Argentina tacked on two penalties.
It made Crowley’s next contribution all the more impressive. With time and space opening up in his favour, he sent a lovely drop goal through the posts at the Havelock Square End and met the roar of the crowd with a pump of his fist. He likes that patch of the grass.
A smattering of smart Crowley plays began to add up, including a beautifully-measured restart dropped into Hugo Keenan’s arms.
Earning a 22-9 lead by half-time, Ireland looked well-placed to drive on in the second 40 but instead their game hit a slump.
For the second week running Ireland’s much-lauded attack suddenly looked slow and predictable. Ball-carriers were swallowed up and collisions lost up front will perhaps be the most pressing concern. Even when Ireland did piece phases together, movement around the ball was limited. Passes felt telegraphed and shoveled along while Ireland’s discipline slipped again, the end tally of 13 penalties conceded the same number which proved so problematic seven days previously.
It all came together to extend an open invite for Argentina to really make a game of it. Juan Cruz Mallía’s wonderful solo score cut the gap to six and the mood changed.
Farrell felt his players began to force things against New Zealand and may have had similar thoughts when Crowley clipped a chip out of play shortly after the Mallía try.
Ireland had lost their rhythm. It wasn’t all Crowley’s fault – far from it – but as the conductor your role is always magnified. He conceded a penalty for an early tackle on Tomás Albornoz and following a smart, weaving move with James Lowe in midfield, a grubber that bounced out of touch proved his last action and ensured his excellent opening 40 was blemished by second-half frustrations.
“Some real good stuff actually,” was Farrell’s immediate summation of Crowley’s contribution.
“And then some bits that you’d obviously like to tidy up like everyone else. You [media] always ask a question about an individual and I have to answer the question, but at the same time it’s a team game. He either does some good stuff and some bad stuff, so it’s not just Jack.”
Farrell’s men needed a spark and with 18 minutes left to play Crowley made his exit as Prendergast took the spotlight. The TV director decided this was a good time to put Frawley on the big screen, the Skerries man smiling as his Leinster teammate settled into his first minutes as an international player.
The wirey Prendergast needs polishing and more meat on the bones but the potential is undeniable and he pitched in with some lovely touches. A fired pass into Lowe’s torso was unluckily knocked-on by the winger. Prendergast then backed himself with a charge at the corner when the pass out the back to Lowe was, perhaps, the better option.
Ireland looked energised but the door remained bolted as they thumped away.
Prendergast cleverly delayed a pass out to Lowe inside the 40 and Hansen went racing out wide before the excellent Jamie Osborne slipped through a tackle down the middle. The surge was killed with a penalty against Joe McCarthy.
Instead it was Argentina who finished on top and Felipe Contepomi’s men left Dublin feeling a shot at history had slipped. As the crowds filed out Prendergast soaked up the experience with his teammates.
“I thought he was excellent,” Farrell said.
“I thought he was really composed, playing your first cap in that type of position, that type of situation, I thought he was really composed. He played at a nice tempo at the line and started to make things happen. That just shows what type of character he’s got.”
Prendergast passed his audition on another mixed night for Ireland. It should see him take the reins from the start when Fiji come to town.
Prendergast did better than Frawley for sure but for the second week in a row we took Crowley off early and then proceeded to not score a point for the remainder of the game.
Crowley not perfect but certainly the most attacking threat from all our 10s.
@Emmet Martin: That’s not a balanced assessment. Ireland were on the back foot long before Prendergast came on. Crowley was good but second half Crowley didn’t get as much front foot ball as second half Crowley or Prendergast did. Prendergast had a very good debut
@Emmet Martin: it was right to take off Crowley to give Prendergast some decent minutes. Crowley seemed to struggle in the second half, maybe as a consequence of the earlier knock. However, a penalty kick was on offer that should have been taken. It might have removed the threat of a draw from a drop goal and forced the Argentinians to go for a try, which is what they did in anyhow. However, Ireland had to be on the defensive for both possibilities, which caused greater stress than needed.
@Con Cussed: I agree that penalty should have been kicked but that’s the captain’s call.
@Con Cussed: At one stage in the 2nd half there was a stat which had Argentina with over 70% possession. For 10 of the 20 minutes Crowley played in the 2nd half Ireland were down to 14 players. Ireland with Crowley showing leadership managed to wrestle control back from the Argentinians and pin them back inside their own 22. Crowley forced a mark next to the sideline, found touch inside the 22, where possible playing for territory, and running down the clock. Showing leadership and game management not struggling. As for the penalty Dorris was captain, it was his call.
While the 10 slot always gets a lot of focus in Ireland, the reality is we are well stocked there now and there are much bigger issues elsewhere in the team (e.g. front row). I think all 3 are intl level players which is a great situation. I hope he starts Frawley v Fiji to allow him ‘get back on the horse’ and give Prendergast 30mins to build on his cameo there. Crowley injury permitting will be the starting 10 for 6n’s but we’re injury/ loss if form away from needing the other 2.
@Michael Corkery: Is it because theres a huge swell of people coming to the game in recent years and its easier to be critical of a 10 when one doesn’t understand how to be critical of anyone else? Clarkson came through, hopefully big potential there. Would like to see Frawley run out again at some stage, see how he reacts.
The SDM (south Dublin media) will pull Jack Crowley apart until he’s dropped.
I’ve never seen anything like it in Irish sport.
I hope the Virgin media team hang their heads in shame over their coverage of him.
@Tommy Kennedy: 110 % it’s sicking to listen to that excuse Matt Williams…. When he’s talking he’s looking left and right to ensure he won’t upset the other Leinster heads… what a toss…if Crowley was a Leinster player they been calling him the messiah…. Remember he did put up 14 of the 22 points scored by Ireland …. But again he’s not from Leinster according to the virgin media…. Shower of …….’s
@Tommy Kennedy: in fairness listening to Farrell you’d think it’s only a matter of time. I don’t agree with it and personally I think we are on the decline for this team which needs revitalised and the attack evolved. Some guys won’t be there in 3 years and I think we should have prepared this autumn accordingly because as always we will go full tilt at the 6N.
@Den: it’s very disappointing to see a young player who’s done really well for Ireland be treated like this.
In his first season he won a six nations. It took o Gara nearly Ten years. It took sexton 5 years.
He’s done really well so far taking over from sexton in a team who’s pack is really struggling.
@Ross Watson: the irish attack is definitely in decline compared to the last three years. We have a new 10 still establishing himself at international level, we have a new attack coach, our forward pack is not getting enough gainline success to create the space and momentum that our attack thrives on, our line which leads to over 60% of our scores is malfunctioning and teams know our attack structure as its been the same for the last 4 years. Re revitalising the squad, it’s a very hard balancing act in bring in new players whilst also trying to win every game. In the next 18 months I expect, izzy, jack boyle, michael milne, Tom ahern, cathal forde and Mathew devine all to be capped and pushing for squad positions whilst ur poms, Henderson, Murray, healy and aki will be phased out
@Den: That drop won the game for Ireland too! Leinster supporter ;0)
@Tommy Kennedy: agrée 100%. Crowley has taken to intl rugby like a duck to water. In fact his first season was so good, he’s getting criticized now for setting the bar high and perceived to be not living up to it. O’Gara, Sexton both had tough periods more than once in their careers. I can remember Sexton stinking Cardiff out in 2019 when Wales beat us for GS – honestly thought he was finished after that game he was so bad. He came back though even stronger. I’m excited by Prendergast’s potential but he needs to displace far less talented (than Crowley) Byrne brothers in Leinster b4 he can be considered a threat to Crowley
@Tommy Kennedy: it’s bad that Virgin have 3 ex Leinster men on the panel. Should ideally have 1 other province represented. It’s leading to fairly biased punditry.
@Scott: this is a critical season in that world ranking do matter. In fact it will also carry over until Nov intls next season. We need to be in top 6 seeds. After NZ, we dropped from 1st to 3rd, if we’d lost to Argentina, we’d have further dropped to 5th. If Oz or Fiji beat us or we had a mediocre 6n’s we could have quickly found ourselves battling to remain a top seed for RWC draw. Once the draw is made, they should have much more room for ‘experimentation’. I agree though, team needs a couple of fresh faces at least
@Michael Corkery: I 100% agree with u regarding the need to try to win every game and that’s what farrell is trying to do whilst bringing in one to two players per squad. I think some people look at all blacks, south africa or france and see them having way more new faces in their squads and think why are we not doing the same thing to quicken up our transitional period. We just don’t have the quality coming through to do that. We need to make small incremental changes to our squad which is frustrating but the right thing to do. Look at wales, they have had to bring in multiple new players without having the depth or old heads to guide them and they are grim to watch
@Scott: hard to disagree with anything you say there and I felt very sorry for Baird last night and also for Casey who I think is criminally underused. I understand why we go full tilt at the 6N but I just wonder are Ireland in a position now where the guys that have been our best performers over the last 2 years now are something of a burden and whether that’s down to form alone or Father Time.
@Michael Corkery: Arguably four Leinster as Joe Molloy is as pro Leinster (and anti Munster) as they come!
The 2010-2013 “ROG-cam” shots have been resurrected by a personality-obsessed TV director.
Instead of banal close-ups of off-field anticipated pouts by Crowley/Frawley/Prendergast over the next few years, show us wide-shots of defensive alignment or how cleverly JGP/Keenan cover the back field. The popularity of YouTube analysis (& Murray’s tactical insights) shows there is a genuine interest in this sort of coverage in the 2020s.
@Pat M03: excellent point
The D4 Virgin Media team are a joke!! Better watching it on SuperSport then listening to does clowns.
Still early days, all he needed to do was come through that 20 minutes, he’s not as abrasive yet, still looks a little green in defense but he looked very assured with ball in hand, meant to be there. Interesting to see how the Fiji game works, will Frawley start or SP.
@Thesaltyurchin: Frawley may not be in the 23. Might be better to play Sam P and Crowley on the bench. This way we’re covered better. Frawley will have to earn his place back at Leinster to demonstrate he’s able to play consistently. Still a great player but right to drop him.
Maybe we need to refresh the back row faces. Would like to see a mixture of Izzy, C Prendergast, Hodnett and Timoney get game time.
@Con Cussed: What are you talking about? Frawley has been first choice 10 all season at Leinster when available.
@Thesaltyurchin: Yeah he still needs to pile on some mass to the frame and still can’t really tackle. But there is definitely some amazing raw ingredients there.
@Con Cussed: Could be, I wish and early dominant pack to whomever runs out, I still think Frawley will feature tho. Would love to see Hodnett run out, I dunno tho, back row is a hugely crowded field, maybe an argument around out and out 7s, C.Prendergast probably next up, be pretty cool if the brothers got to play together over this test.
@Carmine Lorenzo: He still has that young lad head, no question he looks good so far, a commenter mentioned him being isolated for the scoring op late in the game, imo that is nearly always the fault of supporting players and is maybe a little look at how he reads the game. Even watching SA tonight, the support for offloads and rumbling forwards is excellent.
The head knock that according to one of the ‘commentators’ on here he milked like a soccer player! He bounced back and scored 10 points quickly. Overall had a fine game and the second half going into our shells was hardly on him.
Excellent first half from Crowley and a great response from all the team. Not sure what happened at half time, but they totally switched off again like last week. I’m very concerned Ireland are getting too predictable and international teams are reading us too easily. Also very concerning that second week in a row NO impact from the bench!! Ireland look like a team coming to the end of a long season not the start!! I really hope Farrell freshens things up for the Fiji game because it’s badly needed.
@Mark Cunney: I wonder if that head knock impacted him in the second half?
@Con Cussed: he did take a hard knock early in the game and the ref should have stopped the game really
@Eggchaser makes a good comment on his Podcast after the game. That the Ref needs to step in, especially on the Crowley incident, and sent him for a mandatory HIA. He was not saying Crowley faked it but he did certainly Milk the situation to Ireland’s advantage. We got to be very careful the soccer player injury antics does not creak into rugby!! Mandatory HIA after a head knock would stop the “play acting” immediately.