Ireland A v Argentina Jaguares:IRELAND A games have assumed more importance. Declan Kidney's "transitioning" of the senior team has instilled a very clear message to all of the players on the senior and A sides: no position is safe unless the player is performing. That was not always the case.
Tonight’s A match arrives to the back drop of Jonathan Sexton muscling his way past the iconic Ronan O’Gara, Gordon D’arcy under pressure to reclaim his place from Paddy Wallace, Eoin Reddan not even earning a place on the bench and Sean O’Brien preferred to more experienced names as senior backrow replacement.
Kidney has sent out a strong signal that players will be given a chance if he sees what he likes. Matches such as these have always been trials of sorts but in the current climate they have grown in stature and the Jaguares arrive for the first rugby match in Tallaght, having played in the Churchill Cup and most recently the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship.
In the Churchill Cup the Argentines were beaten by England Saxons 28-20 but carved out wins over USA (35-14) and Canada (44-29). In September they again beat the USA 57-10 before winning the Americas Championship with a 35-11 over British Columbia Bears.
So, the Argentina Jaguares have been playing a lot of rugby together over the last number of months, although they didn’t come up against Ireland A who were in a different group in the Churchill Cup and went on to win the competition.
That would put the home team very much in the favourite’s seat and, looking at the Irish squad, that seems reasonable.
Ireland roll out seven players who have played at senior level and 13 in the squad also took part in the successful Churchill Cup campaign.
Ian Dowling is given a chance on the wing while Shane Horgan rests and Johne Murphy gets his starting place instead of Andrew Trimble. Fergus McFadden and Keith Matthews form the centre partnership.
The Ulster duo of Ian Humphreys and Isaac Boss, who is now well down the scrumhalf pecking order, form the 9-10 pairing. John Fogarty, who was originally due to play against Tonga but remained with the senior team as cover for Jerry Flannery, starts in the middle of the frontrow in place of his injured brother, Denis, and behind them two new secondrows, Ryan Caldwell and captain Mick O’Driscoll, come in as Devin Toner is rotated out and Donnacha Ryan starts in the backrow for this game.
Ryan teams up with openside Niall Ronan and Connacht number John Muldoon for the match against a team largely made up of semi-professional players. Three of the visitors, one each from French club Bourgoin, Italy’s Parma and Juan Gomez, formerly of Leinster and now with Leeds, play outside Argentina.
Verdict: Ireland to win.
IRELAND A: F Jones (Munster); I Dowling (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster), K Matthews (Connacht), J Murphy (Leicester); I Humphreys (Ulster), I Boss (Ulster); B Wilkinson (Connacht), J Fogarty (Leinster), M Ross (Leinster), R Cauldwell (Ulster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), D Ryan (Munster), N Ronan (Munster), J Muldoon (Connacht,) Replacements: A Kyriacou (Ulster), B Young (Ulster), E O’Donoghue (Ulster), C Henry (Ulster), F Murphy (Connacht), I Keatley (Connacht), D Hurley (Munster).
ARGENTINA JAGUARES: B Agulla (Hindú); F Merello (Regatas de Bella Vista), M Viazzo (Bourgoin), M Avramovic (La Plata), T De Vedia (SIC); S González Iglesias (Asociación Alumni), M Landajo (CASI); J Gómez (Leeds Carnegie), Á Tejeda (Overmach Parma), G De Robertis (Regatas de Bella Vista), T Roan (La Plata), M Galarza (U de La Plata), A Guzmán (Tucumán), L Senatore (GER/Rosario), Benjamín Macome (Tucumán). Replacements: M Cortese (Liceo), N Chaparro Tetaz (La Plata), R Bruno (Jockey de Villa María), I Pasman (Champagnat), F Albarracin (La Plata), N Sanchez (Tucumán), J Pablo Estelles (Atlético de Rosario).
