Keenan hat-trick inspires Ireland to emphatic victory over Argentina

MATCH REPORT: Ireland maintained their unbeaten home record against Argentina with a commanding 42-12 victory in their Nations Championship clash at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening.

Andy Farrell’s side ran in six tries to two to open their November campaign in emphatic fashion and leave Los Pumas still searching for a first win on Irish soil.

Argentina struggled to contain Ireland’s attacking power as the hosts took control after conceding an early try. Hugo Keenan led the way with a hattrick, while Sam Prendergast also crossed the line as Ireland delivered a convincing performance to get their campaign off to a flying start.

It was a fast start, with some excellent contests in the air and Argentina setting the tone when Tomás Albornoz beat Ryan Baird near halfway before kicking ahead.

The ball rolled out of play, but it was an early warning from Los Pumas.

Ireland had kicked frequently but opted to run the ball through Hugo Keenan, who sent a long pass to Stuart McCloskey. The centre gathered on the bounce and stayed in play, but Argentina won a turnover shortly afterwards and earned a penalty.

Albornoz kicked for touch, taking the visitors into Ireland’s 22.

Argentina won the lineout and moved the ball through the hands. Bautista Delguy came within inches of collecting a superb crossfield pass, but failed to hold on, allowing Mack Hansen to clear.

A powerful lineout drive took Los Pumas to within five metres of the tryline.

They moved the ball quickly, with Albornoz spotting a mismatch as Matteo Carreras faced Craig Casey. His perfectly weighted kick sailed over Casey, allowing Carreras to collect in the air and score. Albornoz missed the conversion.

Ireland responded through Casey, who won a turnover penalty after spotting Argentina’s defence under pressure. Sam Prendergast kicked into the visitors’ half.

The hosts hit back in stunning fashion. A clever wraparound between Prendergast and Keenan created space for Rob Baloucoune to burst into the 22. He found Hansen, whose flat pass sent Keenan racing over. Prendergast added the conversion to put Ireland in front.

After a brief stoppage for treatment, Albornoz kicked Argentina into Ireland’s 22 with a penalty to touch.

The visitors threatened the line, but Tadhg Furlong intervened at the right moment to win a penalty for Ireland.

Prendergast attempted a crossfield kick, but it was overhit and Carreras gathered possession. He found Juan Martín González, who showed excellent footwork before hacking the ball forward. Ireland scrambled back to clear the danger.

Ireland extended their lead when Dan Sheehan crashed over after a powerful attacking passage. The captain broke from the maul and offloaded to Nick Timoney, who was brought down just short of the line. Casey quickly recycled possession and Sheehan powered over. Prendergast converted.

Keenan then scored his second try with a brilliant individual finish. Ryan Baird stole the lineout before Casey moved the ball wide. Hansen timed his pass perfectly to put Keenan away, and the fullback danced past three defenders before powering over. Prendergast maintained his perfect record from the tee.

Argentina’s front row collapsed at the scrum, conceding a penalty. Prendergast kicked for touch, taking Ireland into the corner.

Justo Piccardo was sent to the sin bin for failing to retreat 10 metres after the initial penalty. Argentina were in disarray as Ireland continued to pile on the pressure.

The driving maul continued to cause problems, with Sheehan coming close to scoring in the corner. However, Gonzalo García disrupted his momentum, and the hooker’s foot went into touch before he could ground the ball. The try was ruled out.

Ireland lost captain Sheehan to a head injury assessment, with Ronan Kelleher coming on. Argentina also suffered a blow when replacement hooker Leonel Oviedo was forced off for an HIA after replacing Julián Montoya.

With three hookers now off the field, Argentina brought on prop Mayco Vivas for the scrum, which was initially called uncontested.

There was confusion as Boris Wenger appeared bemused after being told he had agreed to switch to hooker. The scrum would therefore return to contested.

Half-time: Ireland 21-5 Argentina

Argentina made the brighter start, but Ireland responded with three well-worked tries to take control.

Two minutes into the second half, Prendergast spotted a gap between Marcos Kremer and González and burst through as the defence parted in front of him. The flyhalf raced untouched to the posts before converting his own try to secure the bonus point.

After Santiago Chocobares had gone close with a direct run, Argentina made their next opportunity count as Carreras raced clear to score his second try of the evening. Albornoz added the conversion.

Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Beirne then combined brilliantly to win a penalty about 10 metres from Argentina’s tryline. Prendergast kicked for the corner.

Keenan completed his hattrick after Argentina had stopped Ireland’s maul, but quick hands from Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Ryan Baird created the opportunity for the fullback to race over for his third try.

Ireland were looking increasingly ominous, while Argentina appeared to be tiring under the pressure.

The visitors looked exhausted as Ireland won a lineout inside the 22, with Kelleher leading the charge as the maul powered over the tryline. Ciarán Frawley took over the kicking duties and added the conversion.

Sam Illo was sent to the sin bin for engaging early at the lineout before a move that almost created a try-scoring opportunity for Juan Cruz Mallía. That left both teams with 14 players.

The match entered its final 10 minutes with Ireland holding a commanding 42-12 lead and the result seemingly beyond doubt.

Both teams looked tired, with a stoppage allowing several players to receive treatment.

Ireland started their November campaign with a big win in Dublin.

Player of the Match: Hugo Keenan was superb scoring a hat-trick and being an all-round nuisance on attack, always at the right place at the right time.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: Keenan 3, Sheehan, Prendergast, Kelleher
Cons: Prendergast 4, Frawley

For Argentina:
Tries: Carreras 2
Cons: Albornoz

Yellow cards: Justo Piccardo (Argentina, 34’ – not retreating); Efraín Elias (Argentina, 54’ – high tackle); Sam Illo (Ireland, 61’ – repeated infringments)

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Sam Illo, 19 James Ryan, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Jamie Osborne

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matteo Carreras, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Boris Wenger.
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Efraín Elias, 20 Juan Martín Scelzo, 21 Símon Benítez Cruz, 22 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 23 Lucio Cinti.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) and Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)