Ireland Trail at Half Time

At the end of a less than entertaining opening half Ireland trail Argentina by 6-0.

Early Puma pressure eneded with a penalty from Federico Todeschini after eight minutes and Ireland’s had their first chance to open their account when Jeremy Staunton had a penalty attempt from near the half way but his effort drifted narrowly wide.

Ireland began to come more into the game and finished the half strongly with Alan Quinlan’s block down of Todeschini’s attempted clearance almost leading to their opening try before Bryan Young forced his way over the Puma line but was held up.

The half ended with the Irish pounding the Puma line and after a succession of Ireland scrums they opted to kick a penalty that Staunton blasted wide from right of the posts.

Three minutes into injury time after Ireland had turned over ball, Shane Jennings was pinged for blatantly coming in from the side and Todeschini’s kick extended the home side’s lead.

Ireland: G Murphy; B Carney, B Murphy, G Duffy, R Kearney; J Staunton, E Reddan; B Young, F Sheahan, S Best capt; L Cullen, M O’Driscoll; A Quinlan, S Jennings, S Ferris.

Argentina: F Serra; T De Velda, H Senillosa, M Contepomi, F Leonelli; F Todeschini, N Fernandez Miranda; M Ayerza, P Gamborini, S Gonzalez; E Lozada, R Alvarez; M Durand, J Fernandez Lobbe, J Manuel Leguizamon.