Pumas blitz Irish

It was two two-try blitzes - in the third and ninth minutes, as well as the 69th and 72nd minutes - that killed off the Irish challenge in Cardiff.

What a great day for the Pumas! They reached the semifinal in 2007 and that was great but this one had elan and panache - and it broke records.

In 1965 the Argentinians toured outside of South America for the first time.

They went to Southern Africa where they picked up their Pumas nickname and they rejoiced with endless glee when they beat the Junior Springboks in Johannesburg.

But this was greater than that.

Those were the old Pumas; these are the new Pumas.

They are different and a delight to the rugby world.

For the old Pumas more and more rugby became a game of scrum, line-out and maul, and nothing much else.

For the new Pumas that game is light years away as they proved in the noisy confines of the Millennium Stadium, the fourth World Cup encounter between the two teams and the third Pumas' victory, the second time the Pumas have reached the semifinal, an achievement again denied Ireland.

From the very start the Pumas started running in this absorbing match, passionately supported by both sides and a delight to the unattached.

There were several Argentinians present at the match and they made a noise, but it was nothing like the green horde in a stadium where Bread of Heaven yielded to Athenry. And when Ireland came back from 17-0 down to trailing by just three points at 23-20 the excitement soared. But then the Pumas went off on their own.

If it was a match of four quarters, Argentina won three, Ireland one, but it was in that third quarter that the momentum was with them and the points came their way.

The Pumas started running the ball wide and they went wide right where Santiago Cordero beat Dave Kearney on the outside ran down to Rob Kearney and gave a perfect pass to Matías Mornoni and the outside centre who is sometimes a wing raced over for a try. Unsurprisingly Nicolás Sanchez converted. In the match Sánchez place-kicked at goal 10 times and failed to score once, when the ball hit an upright and bounced back. 7-0 after 3 minutes.

Cordero had a hand - or more accurately a foot - in the second try. From a ruck on the half-way line the Argentinians went right to Cordero. Joaquín Tuculet's quick pass gave the wing an overlap and he raced downfield. As the Kearney brothers threatened he kicked on a diagonal infield. Juan Imhoff chased after the ball and just beat Rob Kearney and the dead-ball line to score the try. 14-0 after 10 minutes.

At this stage the Pumas were playing with zest.

At 13 minutes there was the sad sight of Tommy Bowe taken off on a mobile stretcher, replaced by Luke Fitzgerald.

Ireland were penalised at a tackle and Sánchez goaled. 17-0 after 14 minutes.

Back came the Pumas through phases but Sánchez was way off target with a drop attempt and then worse followed for them. Prop Ramiro Herrera was clearly guilty of a late, armless tackle and sent to the sin bin. When he returned from his 10-minute absence, the score was 20-10 and momentum had shifted from Argentina to Ireland.

Paddy Madigan goaled a penalty, as did Sánchez, and then came a wonderful Irish try.

Cordero chipped, Conor Murray caught it and gave to Fitzgerald and the wing took off. Heavens, he was fast as he raced the 42 metres to the line. He sped from one would-be tackler and then skated around Tuculet to score - too fast for an Argentinian hand to touch him. 20-10 after 26 minutes.

It was the Irish turn to be zestful. At the first scrum of the match, the Pumas had destroyed the Irish but at this stage Ireland had the edge in the scrums and won a penalty which angered the Pumas, but Madigan hit a post and the half-time score stayed 20-10.

Argentina started the second half going through phases but were penalised and Ireland was relieved. Relief turned to noisy glee when from the line-out Fitzgerald burst though Leonardo Senatore and gave to Jordi Murphy  who scored. 20-17 after 44 minutes and the crowd was louder than ever.

Ireland attacked again but the Pumas won a turnover and lifted their game as Cordero broke and sent Imhoff away. The defence held but the Irish were penalised and Sánchez goaled. 23-17. after 52 minutes, but when tall Devin Toner tackled little Martín Landajo high, Sánchez made it 26-20 after 63 minutes.

The intensity and energy of the match did not decrease but the Argentinians got on top again and they went right and left and sent Tuculet away on an overlap for a try. 33-20 after 68 minutes.

The writing was on the wall.

Substitute  Jeronimo De La Fuente had a good run down the right touchline, and then on the left Imhoff gave to Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe just inside the Argentina half. Fernandez Lobbe forged ahead and then gave a left-handed pass inside to Imhoff who sped 48 swerving metres, beating two defenders, to score at the posts. 40-20 with 8 minutes to play.

Ireland who had conceded two tries in four pool matches, conceded four tries in this match.

Keith Earls tackled late and Sánchez goaled. 43-20, Argentina's biggest win over Ireland, surpassing the 30-15 at the 2007 World Cup.

It was a thrilling match.

Man of the Match; Conor Murray stood out for Ireland and our Man of the Match Nicolás Sánchez who was so effective with his goal-kicking, marshalled the direct of attack so effectively and did his share of defending.

Moment of the match: Juan Imhoff's first try - the excitement of the race, the proximity of the dead-ball line.

Villain of the Match: Nobody.

The scorers:

For Ireland:

Tries: Fitzgerald, Murphy

Cons: Madigan 2

Pens: Madigan 2

For Argentina:

Tries: Moroni, Imhoff 2, Tuculet

Cons: Sánchez 4

Pens: Sánchez 5

Yellow card: Ramiro Herrera (Argentina, 17 - foul play, no-arms and late shoulder charge)

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Ian Madigan, 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 Paddy Jackson, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Martín 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 Matías Alemanno, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

By Paul Dobson

@rugby365com