Preview: Ireland v Argentina
Irish coach Joe Schmidt said takings risks are part of the game.
A week of intensive medical treatment and rehabilitation has restored Ireland's leading point scorer and backline tactician to a position where "he is ready to go", Schmidt declared Friday.
However, he has not fully tested his goal kicking to give the torn groin as much time as possible to recover as the Irish bid to reach their first ever World Cup semifinal.
Pressed on whether the selection was a risk as Ireland faced the chance of making the semi-finals for the first time, Schmidt said: "There is always risks in everything you do.
"There's risks in making the selections we do. You accept those risks as part of the mix in trying to get a result."
Sexton had been under a cloud after he limped off with a groin injury 25 minutes into their final pool match against France last weekend.
However, he was named in the starting XV on Friday after taking a full part in the crucial final training session before the team was named.
Ireland's 24-9 victory proved costly with iconic captain and lock Paul O'Connell and flank Peter O'Mahony ruled out of the rest of the tournament with injuries and man-of-the-match Sean O'Brien banned for a week for punching France lock Pascal Pape.
Schmidt could ill-afford to be without Sexton as well but dismissed any suggestion he was being rushed back too early.
"Not really. If he's fit, he's fit," Schmidt said, likening the situation to playing France in the Six Nations this year when there were also questions about Sexton's fitness as he returned from a concussion ban but he landed five penalties to engineer an 18-11 victory.
"We don't tend to take too many risks with injured players. We have copped a few injuries but we have managed people through the week," he said.
"We have a fantastic medical crew, a super strength and conditioning and rehabilitation group. Johnny himself is ready to go."
Meanwhile Ireland's forwards are gearing up for a "ding-dong battle" against a combative and proven Argentinian pack, according to assistant coach Greg Feek.
Argentina have shone in this World Cup, rebounding from pushing New Zealand all the way before going down 26-16 to hammering the rest of pool opposition, racking up 22 tries along the way.
The strength of Los Pumas is traditionally the pack and it is no different this time around, the quality of the ball they provide opening up options for some gifted footballers in the backs.
"The combinations Argentina have probably been together for a bit longer," Feek said when asked to compare the Pumas to France, beaten 24-9 by the Irish in their final pool game last weekend.
"There seems to be more of a collective around that, they're a little bit more used to each other.
"Argentina really know what they want to do, they stick to it and it's a really tough challenge."
Feek, a former Crusaders prop capped 10 times by the All Blacks and charged with overseeing the Irish forwards since 2011, said the key men for the Argentinians were prop Marcos Ayerza and hooker and skipper Agustin Creevy.
"Marcos Ayerza is their big rock, I suppose, and when it comes to the new laws, they've certainly come back to the fore again," Feek said.
"Creevy's very competitive physically on defence, he loves getting his shoulder on, he loves getting on the ball and is hard to move, he loves his scrummaging. He's a former loose forward but has put on a lot more weight now."
Feek added: "In the World Cup it's been shown that if one pack doesn't get it quite right, anyone can get you, it's a real mental thing now. Argentina look really good as a collective."
Argentina's participation in the Rugby Championship has also paid dividends, Feek said.
"It's understated really. Argentina have come into the World Cup under the radar a bit. They've got a well balanced side effectively playing against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa regularly."
They had also benefited from the "influence of Ted [Graham Henry}) and you can see that's coming through".
"We're under no illusions that this week will be our biggest Test so far."
Players to watch:
For Ireland: You will start with flyhalf Jonathan Sexton to see if he has truly overcome the injury. The attacking threats come in the form of fullback Rob Kearney, wing Tommy Bowe, centre Keith Earls and wing Dave Kearney. In the absence of Paul O'Connell Iain Henderson will find plenty of the spotlight shining on him.
For Argentina: Captain Agustin Creevy is the foundation upon which they build their team. Wing Santiago Cordero is a world class finisher, as is Juan Imhoff. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Pablo Matera, and Marcos Ayerza also add muscle to the pack.
Head to head: When the Pumas play the scrums are always interesting – Mike Ross, Rory Best and Cian Healy of Ireland will certainly be tested by the Argentinean front row of Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy and Marcos Ayerza.
Recent results:
2014: Ireland won 23-17, Tucuman
2014: Ireland won 29-17, Resistencia
2012: Ireland won 46-24, Dublin
2010: Ireland won 29-9, Dublin
2008: Ireland won 17-3, Dublin
2007: Argentina won 30-15-30, Paris (World Cup pool match)
2007: Argentina won 16-0, Buenos Aires
2007: Argentina won 22-20, Sante Fe
2004: Ireland won 21-19, Dublin
2003: Ireland won 16-15, Adelaide (World Cup pool match)
Prediction: There is a very real chance of Argentina upstaging Ireland. The key will be the forward, and more particularly the set pieces. It is going to be a close affair, with Ireland sneaking a late winner – by five points.
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 8 Jamie Heaslip (captain), 7 Chris Henry, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Nathan White, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Juan Martin Hernández, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Date: Sunday, October 18
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 13.00 (12.00 GMT, 09.00 Argentina Time)
Expected weather: It will be mostly dry, but often cloudy, and cooler than average. The roof will also be closed. High of 13°C and low of 10°C
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
Agence France-Presse & @rugby365com
