Ireland Seeks to Reaffirm Form After All Blacks Defeat

The recent defeat to the All Blacks marked Ireland’s third loss in their last five Test matches. The upcoming Autumn Nations Series fixture will see Ireland face Argentina at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, 15 November, with kick-off scheduled for 20:10 GMT. Coverage will be available via commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and BBC Radio Foyle, alongside live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Just one week prior, Ireland held the top global ranking in rugby, boasted an undefeated home record spanning three and a half years, and were considered strong favorites for their match against New Zealand. However, following a 23-13 loss to the All Blacks and a display that wing Mack Hansen characterized as “not us,” Ireland is now confronting significant scrutiny, the most intense since the initial period of Andy Farrell’s tenure, having recorded three defeats in their last five Test matches. The rapid change in perception might understandably surprise those involved. The head coach, for his part, has promptly rejected suggestions that his seasoned team is nearing the end of its successful run. Nevertheless, as he approaches his last matches before an eight-month break to lead the British and Irish Lions, many observers will be closely watching for any additional vulnerabilities when Argentina visits Dublin on Friday evening. For some spectators departing into the Dublin night last week, the decisive character of Ireland’s defeat likely evoked unwelcome recollections of a comparable heavy loss – specifically, against England in the 2019 Six Nations opener. Ireland had also entered that match as the world’s top-ranked team, following what was potentially their most successful year ever. At that time, no one foresaw that the match would signal the decline of Joe Schmidt’s formidable Irish squad. Currently, the composition of Farrell’s favored line-up, characterized by its age profile and perceived lack of development, is already raising worries that a similar pattern might be emerging. Among the starting lineup chosen to play against the All Blacks, only two players – fly-half Jack Crowley, aged 24, and 23-year-old lock Joe McCarthy – are younger than 26. Conversely, eleven of the twenty-three players have already passed their 30th birthdays. Although Caelan Doris, 26, has taken over as captain, only three players who participated last Friday had not been part of the World Cup squad twelve months prior. One of these was 37-year-old prop Cian Healy, who was absent from the tournament due to injury. Ireland appears to be a team constructed for immediate performance, a characteristic that guarantees increased examination with every loss. Only three players who were not part of the 2023 World Cup squad played against the All Blacks. With Ireland needing a victory to regain momentum this autumn, Argentina presents a formidable challenge. While last Friday’s loss was against a team that has prevailed over them in the last two World Cup quarter-finals, this weekend’s match pits them against their most persistent adversary in the history of those global tournaments. Los Pumas have eliminated Ireland from three World Cups, specifically in 1999, 2007, and 2015. However, their 2015 triumph represents their sole victory in the last nine encounters between the two nations. During their previous trip to Dublin three years ago, Argentina suffered a 53-7 defeat, a match where, unlike the current week, Ireland entered with confidence following a significant win against the All Blacks. While Ireland’s core team and coaching staff have largely stayed consistent, Argentina has seen two different head coaches since that period. Mario Ledesma was succeeded by Michael Cheika for last year’s World Cup, with the current Leicester Tigers coach then passing the role to Felipe Contepomi after their semi-final elimination in France. Contepomi, a former fly-half who played in the Leinster 10 jersey before Johnny Sexton, collaborated with many members of Ireland’s matchday 23 during his tenure as the province’s assistant coach from 2018 to 2022. He has also orchestrated notable achievements in his relatively brief period leading his national team. Under the leadership of players such as Saracens’ Juan Martin Gonzalez and Toulouse’s Juan Cruz Mallia, Contepomi’s Argentina squad defeated South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand in this year’s Rugby Championship. They also drew a July series against France, all while cultivating an offensive style of rugby. Argentina’s head coach, Felipe Contepomi, was a member of the Pumas team that eliminated Ireland from the 2007 World Cup. Ireland exhibits several aspects requiring enhancement. Although their defense proved robust against the All Blacks, their offensive play demonstrated limited capacity to generate sustained pressure, apart from the ten-minute period when Jordie Barrett received a yellow card. The new attack coach, Andrew Goodman, will require time to implement his strategies; however, in the immediate future, the team’s primary need is to reduce unforced errors with the ball. Ireland’s line-out, historically a dependable source of points, has been inconsistent since before the World Cup, and their contact work in the breakdown area has also been deficient. A considerable number of issues seem to require resolution within a single week. A decisive win against a strong opponent on Friday, particularly if the squad’s younger players perform prominently, would significantly alleviate these concerns. Should they achieve anything less than a convincing victory, demands for team rejuvenation will intensify and spread more broadly.