Ireland and Argentina will once more do battle tomorrow.
Be careful what you wish for, because you may not like what you get. Everyone in Ireland has been signing from the same hymn sheet ever since the draw for this World Cup was made. Top the group, avoid New Zealand and all that stands in the way of a first ever semi-final is a stubborn yet eminently beatable Argentina side.
Yet things may not be so simple. Ireland have had issues with the Pumas in the past, but this Argentinian side is a different animal. Hardened by their experiences in the Rugby Championship since 2012, the fruits of their labour are starting to flower in spectacular fashion.
Ireland eased through their pool and would have been marginal favourites to dispatch Argentina, but a catalogue of costly injuries against the French has levelled the playing field and perhaps even tilted the advantage the way of the South American’s.
The penultimate quarter final, to be played at lunchtime Sunday, is possibly the hardest to call, but here are three individual clashes that will be central to shaping the outcome.
- Iain Henderson .V. Tomas Lavinini:
Coming into this World Cup, the Ulsterman was entrenched in battle with Devin Toner for the right to partner Ireland skipper Paul O’Connell in the second row. Having been long tagged as O’Connell’s heir apparent, the future is now for the 23 year old as he steps into the iconic number 5 jersey vacated by Ireland’s greatest ever forward.
In addition to O’Connell, Ireland are missing their two first choice flankers which means Henderson will be tasked with having to do a lot more around the field than your average second row forward.
With 52 caps in Ireland’s engine room, compared to just 33 in Argentina’s, there will be plenty of pressure on Henderson’s opposite number Tomas Lavinini to counter the most efficient sector of the Irish team. The Racing 92 lock doesn’t play with the same dynamism as his direct opponent but his aerial prowess will be central to disrupting an Irish lineout that has secured all but one ball on their own throw thus far in the tournament.
Henderson has the capabilities to do it all, and with more meters gained {72-41}, tackles made {34-27}, turnovers won {4-0} and gainlines breached {18-9} than his opposite number, he’ll be a marked man. Lavinini won’t be as prominent in the loose but if he disrupts the Irish set piece through his line out ability and his strong scrummaging, it will prevent Ireland getting the front foot ball their best players thrive on.
- Jonathan Sexton .V. Nicolas Sanchez:
After a barrage of bad news injury bulletins, there was some solace for Ireland on Friday when they were able to name influential out half Jonathan Sexton in the starting line-up for this clash. Despite Ian Madigan’s controlled performance off the bench in place of the injured Sexton against France, Irish interests will be better served having the northern hemispheres preeminent pivot steering the ship this weekend.
On his day, one of the best playmaking 10’s left in the competition, the Leinster man’s passing, running and kicking abilities will keep the Argentinian defence guessing as to what he may do next all afternoon.
If Sexton can lay claim to being the best out half in the north, Nicolas Sanchez is a credible contender for the equivalent honour in the southern hemisphere. The 26 year old has been a constant in the Argentinian side since breaking through after the 2011 World Cup, and has marshalled the Pumas progress up the world rankings to their current position of 6th.
He was the top points scorer during the 2014 Rugby Championship, which helped secure him a move the most dominant club team in European rugby, Toulon, where he was lined up to replace Jonny Wilkinson.
The pivots have quite similar stats from the World Cup to date, but Sanchez edges Sexton in meters made {104-102}, tackles completed {27-13}, points scored {51-31} and clean breaks made {3-2}. Both players are incredibly important to how their respective teams function and in a game expected to be remarkably tight, the out half who edges this head to head is most likely to be preparing for a semi-final next weekend.
- Dave Kearney .V. Juan Imhoff:
If things are looking bleak at any stage for Ireland, the fans clad in green might offer up a prayer or two to the patron Saint of lost causes, a certain Dave Kearney. The 26 year old is a firm favourite of coach Joe Schmidt and his brief is simple, chase…chase…chase.
Ireland possibly play the least aesthetically pleasing rugby of all the teams involved in the quarter finals this weekend, but as their back to back Six Nations triumphs proves it doesn’t have to be pretty to be effective. Kearney is the poster boy for this Irish team of hard work and graft paying off.
Whisper it quietly, but this Argentina team may actually be more effective across their backline than within the pack. How things have changed. They now have a back three laced with genuine attacking threat and to the forefront of this is Racing 92 speedster Juan Imhoff.
The 27 year old has crossed for three tries in this tournament and now has five in total, making him the Pumas most prolific try scorer in their World Cup history. Imhoff tore South Africa apart with a hat trick, as Argentina beat the Springboks for the first time ever on away soil this summer, and has the ability to make the best defenders in world rugby look like schoolboys.
These two left wingers are polar opposites, but have both become important cogs in the overall scheme for their teams, in their own respective ways. Kearney’s primary role is to retain kicks from his half backs and keep Ireland moving forward, while Imhoff is a try scoring game changer. Whichever of the number 11’s fulfil their roles best will create a solid platform for their team to push on to victory.
It’s the fourth meeting between these nations at a World Cup, with Argentina currently holding a 2-1 head to head lead. Having been so public in their declaration of hoping to meet the Pumas, this is a game Ireland can’t afford to lose. That extra motivation and a touch more nous should be enough to see them squeeze into a first ever semi-final. Just…
Ozer McMahon, Pundit Arena
