Ireland told not to change their game
Ireland head coach Eddie O’Sullivan is looking for a similar performance – but a different result – in Saturday’s second Test against Argentina.
O’Sullivan’s side lost last Saturday’s first Test in Santa Fe 22-20, but the coach told a press conference on Monday that he was happy with what he had seen, and would be just as happy if the team – featuring eleven changes – did the same this week, bar the losing result.
“If our play is similar to last week’s game, I’d be happy,” he said.
“We defended very well in the first Test, our set piece worked well, but we gave Argentina opportunities to turnover football, and they are very good at that.
“It was a very physical Pumas side and I think it will be the same next weekend.
“I think we have to play as we did on Saturday and better in terms of excecution and discipline.
“We have a pretty unique situation as we are playing two games over two weeks.”
O’Sullivan has made eleven changes to his team for this week’s game
“If you look at the Irish team, it’s a different team to last week. There are 11 personnel changes and one positional switch.
“It’s a different game, a different situation. I would have been very happy if we had won last Saturday, and we could have won. And I want to win this weekend, so I hopefully will.”
Jeremy Staunton has arrived in Buenos Aires as a replacement for knee injury victim Paddy Wallace, while Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe have also been ruled out.
Eoin Reddan, a Heineken Cup winner with Wasps, will win his second cap and take the scrum-half place filled by Isaac Boss in Santa Fe.
O’Sullivan added: “A scrum-half has to be like a boss on the pitch.
“He needs to manage the pack and give a good service and kick well… and Eoin does all this very well.
“He is like a complete pack for Saturday’s game, because he is a good passer, he kicks well. He played very well for Wasps and we hope he can show his potential with Ireland as well.”
After scoring Ireland’s only try in Saturday’s defeat, Brian Carney will be on the wing, having a new chance to impress O’Sullivan, with the focus on the upcoming World Cup in France.
