O'Driscoll savours 'derby' clash

Brian O'Driscoll believes Ireland's final year-end Test against Argentina at the Lansdowne Road on Sunday will be played with an intensity that is usually reserved for games against local rivals.

Argentina have become a not-so-local nemesis for Ireland, beating their hosts twice on World Cup duty in the past 11 years, as well as winning three of the last four meetings.

With the World Cup now under a year away, this game will assume even greater importance for the visitors, who have never afforded Ireland an easy day at the office.

"Perhaps because there's quite a big history over the last ten years or so, this is a special game for us," admitted Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll, who will win a record 107th cap.

"It's not quite become a derby game, but it's not far off.

"We've played in the last three World Cups, having lost twice and won once, and they were always tight games. They are hard physical games, it's real honest test rugby when you play against Argentina.

"That's probably why it's become a special fixture from both of our points of view, both respect one another but want to beat one another."

Ireland coach Declan Kidney made five changes to his starting lineup from that which lost to New Zealand last weekend, in an effort to round off a mixed year-end series on a high. It is a series that has seen Ireland lose to South Africa and the Kiwis and win just once; an unconvincing victory over Samoa.

Iconic Munster scrumhalf Peter Stringer starts, while Andrew Trimble replaces the injured Luke Fitzgerald on the wing with Geordan Murphy at full back in place of the injured Rob Kearney.

Sean Cronin continues at hooker following Rory Best's early departure with a facial injury last week and Tony Buckley returns, having missed the last two games with a hip injury.

The extra grunt from the Munster forward could be key, with games between these sides rarely produce anything that remotely approaches aesthetically pleasing.

"All previous games tended not to be things of beauty," admitted O'Driscoll.

"Argentina make it very difficult for you, that's part of their game plan, to stop you having possession.

"I'm not speaking ill of them, they try to turn it into a dogfight -that's to their strengths, they have a big strong pack, and would fancy themselves to be very physical.

"In the past even at underage level, they had huge huge men. So we need to try to play to our strengths, to try to vary the game to keep them guessing.

"I don't think we can attempt to take them on at their strengths. We'll need to move the ball taking into account the conditions."

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan comes to Dublin with just three changes from the side that lost 15-9 to France last week. Wing Horacio Agulla, a try scorer against Ireland in the 2007 World Cup, stars alongside Leicester club-mate Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino in place of Gonzalo Camacho.

Marcelo Bosch replaces Santiago Fernandez at inside centre, while Julio Farias Cabello will earn his second cap in the back row.

"Maybe today Ireland are a small step above us but we are confident we can have a good match," said Argentine centre Gonzalo Tiesi. Calm words, before the inevitable storm.

AFP