A week on and Irish rugby is still basking in the fuzzy afterglow of one of its finest hours.
Last Saturday’s victory over the All Blacks feels transformative. It marks the arrival of the new Ireland - Andy Farrell’s Ireland.
Beating New Zealand in itself is a huge achievement for a nation which had only managed the feat twice before - and only within the last five years.
But what was most impressive was how Ireland went about their business. It was a performance full of imagination, verve and bravery - this is how the game should be played.
There’s now one more assignment for Ireland to tackle before the Autumn window comes to a close - the visit of Argentina.
Victory on Sunday, and another attacking, clinical performance, and this November will go down as arguably the side’s best ever.
Los Pumas aren’t quite as scary a proposition as the All Blacks, but they will present their hosts with plenty of danger at the Aviva Stadium.
After a difficult 18 months Mario Ledesma’s side are returning to form and possess a heavyweight pack and some silverquick backs. Plus, they have form for getting one over on Ireland.
Here is everything you need to know, ahead of Ireland’s 10th and final Test match of 2021.
What is it?
Ireland’s third November Test match, against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.
When is it?
The game takes place on Sunday November 21st, with kick-off at 2.15pm.
How can I watch it?
Sunday’s match is being broadcast on RTÉ 2 (coverage starts at 1.30pm) with Channel 4 also showing it live (1.45pm). You can also follow all of the action via the Irish Times liveblog, which will be coming live from the Aviva and will be up and running at around 1.15pm.
Can I go?
After a sell out against New Zealand there are plenty of tickets left for Sunday's game. There are child tickets available for €15 with adult tickets starting at €75 and going as high as €125. If you fancy a trip to Lansdowne Road, you can find tickets HERE.
What happened last weekend?
As if you needed reminding again, Ireland beat the All Blacks 29-20 on a raucous, emotional afternoon in Dublin. It was a stirring performance which has now set the benchmark - they will be desperate not to suffer a comedown this weekend.
As for Argentina they ended a run of seven-consecutive defeats as they ran out comfortable 37-16 winners away to Italy. It has been a tough year for Los Pumas, but they showed enough to suggest they will be a handful for Ireland on Sunday.
Team news
Andy Farrell has made four changes from the side that beat the All Blacks for Sunday's concluding Autumn Series Test against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, with 24-year-old Enniskillen flyer Robert Baloucoune set to win his second cap on the right wing.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Joey Carbery (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); Iain Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster, capt); Caelan Doris (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Craig Casey (Munster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster).
ARGENTINA: Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh); Mateo Carreras (Newcastle Falcons), Matias Moroni (Leicester Tigers), Jeronimo de la Fuente (Perpignan), Lucio Cinti (London Irish); Santiago Carreras (Gloucester), Tomas Cubelli (Biarritz); Thomas Gallo (Benetton), Julian Montoya (Leicester Tigers, capt), Francisco Gomez Kodela (Lyon); Guido Petti (Bordeaux), Tomas Lavanini (Clermont Auvergne); Santiago Grondona (Exeter), Marcos Kremer (Stade Francais), Pablo Matera (Crusaders).
Replacements: Facundo Bosch (La Rochelle), Ignacio Calles (Pau), Eduardo Bello (Zebre Parma), Lucas Paulos (Brive), Facundo Isa (Toulon), Gonzalo Bertranou (Dragons), Nicolas Sanchez (Stade Francais), Facundo Cordero (Exeter Chiefs).
Belief in the system
In his column this week Gordon D’Arcy has pointed to Ireland’s unerring belief in their system as something which has stood out in the victories over Japan and the All Blacks - they know how they want to play, and that’s how they will play.
He writes: "That's what makes Ireland's win all the more outstanding. At no stage did the Irish players doubt the gameplan or shrink back into a more conservative approach.
“They kept going and that was a key to the win. A team expends more energy defending and it can leave the tank pretty depleted when it comes time to attack.”
And he believes new faces deserve the chance to show they can fit into this gameplan: “Argentina will provide an abrasive, physical challenge up front that a team has to meet head-on. You need to be fresh mentally and physically. There are other considerations.
“ Ireland have a system of play and it’s time to find out who can adapt to the demands. There’s no point in trying to force square pegs into round holes.”
Recent history
Ireland have met Argentina 18 times in the past - winning 12 and losing six. Despite their dominant record, the defeats have often been high profile. Indeed, Los Pumas have beaten the Irish at the 1999, 2007 and 2015 Rugby World Cups - the latter, a quarter-final defeat in Cardiff, was particularly galling.
What are the bookies saying?
Ireland are heavy favourites this week:
Ireland 1-8 Draw 28-1 Argentina 11-2 (Ireland -15 10-11)
Who’s on the whistle?
England’s Matthew Carley is Sunday’s referee.
How’s the weather looking?
Sunday is set to be cold - about eight degrees at kick-off - and could be wet. Wrap up (or stay in the pub).
