Ireland v Argentina: Rugby World Cup 2015 – as it happened

Read Mike Averis’s full match report:

Wow. That was a hell of a performance from Argentina – to the point that I’m not sure the absence of Sexton, O’Connell, O’Mahony and O’Brien made that much of a difference. Argentina were the better side in nearly every facet; though Ireland grew more competitive at the breakdown and forced a shift in momentum, the Argentinian backs were too sharp, too ruthless and punished any lapse.

That’s all from me, as I have another MBM to do. Join me for Australia v Scotland right here. Cheers for reading folks, bye!

Full-time: Ireland 20-43 Argentina

Another penalty five metres out and Ireland go through the phases. Isa, who has been brilliant since coming on, smashes Henry backwards but still the Irish plug away. Eventually Ryan knocks it on and that’s it!

79 min Ireland get a penalty in midfield and Henry takes it up to the 22. Ireland are looking to go out of this tournament on a high and Kearney gets it out to Fitzgerald, who nearly slips away. Back inside it comes and Madigan steps, but can’t get away. Penalty Ireland for going off the feet.

78 min As Sanchez is named man of the match, Is Murray gets back in touch: “Nonsensical commentary on TV: yea, sure we’ve lost some big players, but this game hasn’t been close. Argentina have been better in every facet of the game and are deserving winners.

No shame in being beaten by such an attacking team, but surely we -as in the Northern Hemisphere we- have to ask ourselves why a) we play such crap rugby and b) why we keep getting massacred by Southern Hemishpere teams and c) whether those things may possible possibly be connected.”

Penalty (Sanchez 77) Ireland 20-43 Argentina

Because you can never be too sure, Sanchez clips it through from range.

76 min Rob Kearney sends an outstanding kick towards the corner, but Cordero brilliantly flaps it back into play. He runs back and kicks ahead, then Earls shoulder charges him late into touch. It should be a yellow card, but Garces says just a penalty from where the kick landed.

75 min Argentina win the lineout 12 metres inside the Irish half on the left and Sanchez kicks across, with Kearney returning with a big kick to Tuculet. The Puma puts it up and Madigan gathers, Ireland sending it right but not making any ground.

74 min Penalty Argentina at the restart as Henry puts his hands in the ruck. 15 minutes ago, a crushing win for Argentina was the very last thing anyone was expecting, but this has been a brilliant performance.

Try! (Imhoff 73 + Sanchez con) Ireland 20-40 Argentina

Scrappy lineout ball for Argentina, but Lobbe picks it up and goes through a gap. Imhoff is on his shoulder, the flanker gives it inside to him and no one can catch the flying wing as he steps away from Kearney and goes over from 45 metres!

72 min It’s been pointed out to me that Moroni, not Moron was replaced earlier. Ireland come away from the scrum and send it right, with Henshaw looking to break round the outside shoulder of his man. It goes right to Dave Kearney, but he slices his kick ahead into touch.

71 min It goes right and De La Fuente scampers down the touchline, before Tuculet carries it on into the 22. The ball comes back inside and Herrera knocks on, but Argentina are finishing stronger. Donnacha Ryan is on for Ireland.

70 min Madigan with the shallow restart but Sanchez takes it unchallenged and Argentina drive forward. I imagine they’ll switch to a much tighter game now. Reddan is on for Murray.l

Conversion (Sanchez 70) Ireland 20-33 Argentina

From right out on the left-hand touchline, Sanchez might well have just hammered the final nail in Ireland’s coffin. That’s a brilliant conversion.

Try! (Tuculet 69) Ireland 20-31 Argentina

No! That’s a brilliant finish! He was rolled by Dave Kearney, but just reached to touch it down in the corner!

69 min Argentina are making another change, with De la Fuente replacing the try-scorer Moron. It’s a strong scrum from Argentina and they have a penalty coming, but Cordero is flying away down the right. They switch left and Tuculet straightens, searing towards the corner and tumbling over the line! Did he knock it on as he went over though?

68 min Noguera is on for Ayerza at loosehead. It’s a solid scrum, but Murray fumbles it at the back and the feed will be turned over.

67 min Driving maul from Argentina, Montoya in possession at the back. It’s slow stuff, then when it comes inside Matera takes his eye off the ball and Ireland have it. For the first time today they go wide quickly, but the pass goes behind Rob Kearney. He regathers and gets it back inside, where Murphy spills it. We go back for the original knock on.

66 min Ireland are keeping it tight, but being pinned back in their own half. Madigan looks to switch direction with a snap kick, but he overhits it and the ball goes flying out on the full. Argentina lineout midway inside the Ireland half. Strauss comes on for Best.

65 min Tuculet returns the restart with a lovely left-footed strike to five metres inside the Irish half. Henderson takes the lineout, it’s quick ball and Dave Kearney looks to wriggle out of a tackle.

Penalty (Sanchez 64) Ireland 20-26 Argentina

32 metres out and off to the left, this one. Sanchez looks nervous, as well he might, but the kick is good enough to take him ahead of Handre Pollard as the World Cup’s leading scorer.

63 min Argentina go short side and Lobbe drives it up. They go right again, but Argentina are taking it standing still. Through the phases, then Sanchez is taken out by a high tackle from Henderson. Just a penalty, says Garces.

62 min It was knocked on by Isa, so Ireland get the scrum on their own 22. McGrath is boring in something awful but gets away with it and Murray is able to clear to Tuculet on halfway.

61 min Off comes Petti, with Alemanno his replacement. Murray takes the restart on halfway and Madigan puts it high, but Argentina get it into the hands of Isa who drives down the left touchline. Back inside it comes, but Murphy turns it down on the 22. Murray hesitates, dummies and his pass is so very nearly picked off by Isa!

60 min It’s 15 metres in from the left, midway between halfway and the Argentina 10 metre line. Huge pressure on Ian Madigan here... and he pushes it a yard or so wide right.

58 min Argentina win it and Cordero comes inside, darting through a gap but then knocking on. Ireland have the knock-on advantage, then Ayerza brainlessly dives over the top and concedes a penalty!

57 min Argentina look to have the nudge at that scrum, but Garces orders it to be reset.

56 min Huge this as captain Creevy comes off, the 21-year-old Montoya replacing him. Ireland get it from the lineout midway inside Argentina’s half and go left, but they’re penalised for accidental offside.

55 min Brilliant from Best, stripping Lavinini on the floor in the centre of the field. They have a penalty to boot, although I’ve no idea what for.

54 min A change at scrum-half for Argentina as Cubelli replaces Landajo. Murray’s clearance is gathered by the new No9, but then Creevy is driven back, Argentina keep it though and look for gaps, but this is some fearsome tackling from the Irish. Isa goes down the left and is very nearly stripped, but Imhoff comes in to rescue it.

Penalty (Madigan 53) Ireland 20-23 Argentina

Curls it over from all of 43 metres and Ireland are back within three.

Just a penalty, yes. Alan Quinlan on commentary thinks he should be red carded. What a surprise, huh?

He led with the head, belatedly bringing his arm around to bind. I suspect it’ll just be a penalty...

52 min Senatore’s day is also done as Isa replaces him. Argentina drive the restart back up to halfway then send it left, with Imhoff darting inside. It comes back to Ayerza but the ball shoots out of his hands, going backwards and Argentina are struggling. Lobbe is in at the side of the ruck and it’s another penalty. There’s worse news for them as the TMO is checking for a shoulder charge into the ruck by Herrera, who has already been sin-binned...

Penalty (Sanchez 51) Ireland 17-23 Argentina

They needed that. McGrath and White replace Healy and Ross.

50 min Wide they go now and Cordero offloads inside to Imhoff, who comes off his wing and cuts into space! He’s up to the 22 and Argentina get the penalty as Best goes off his feet at the ruck.

49 min Toner spins out of contact in midfield and they go right, but Fitzgerald is wrapped up and Argentina drive Ireland off the ball. Sanchez smashes it clear and Kearney comes back with the up and under. Matera gathers that just inside his own half.

48 min They go for the shortened lineout and Henderson takes it. Heaslip his it at the back and they go left to Henshaw on the crash ball, before Toner and Rob Kearney take it on down the left. Into the 22 now...