Under-19 World Championship/Ireland 19 Argentina 13: Ireland will play Wales in the play-off for fifth place on Friday after beating Argentina in the semi-final round at Sharjah Wanderers with a performance all about character in the closing phases.
The young Irish side which came to this tournament with the aim of playing to the ninth position seeding have exceeded their expectations. Now they must prepare for a final game against Wales, who last night showed their strength with a comfortable win over defending champions South Africa.
As they did against Samoa in the third round, Ireland lived on the edge in the final minutes against a fast-finishing Argentina who had demolished their chances of victory with a brace of yellow cards in the space of two minutes during the first half reducing them to 13 men.
Ireland, too, were shown the yellow card in the second half when impressive prop Cian Healy was binned for hauling down a maul. This, however, was Ireland's first yellow card of the tournament, a testament to their discipline.
This was an all-round performance, with strength up front taming the aggressive Puma forwards, and solid defence behind the scrum to contain the dangerous running of the Argentine backs.
But it was the goal-kicking of Brian Collins that piloted Ireland to victory: the Castleknock outhalf kicked five from five to maintain a 100 per cent record over two games.
The other impressive performers were flanker and skipper David Pollock and centre Keith Earls.
But it was the ability of the Irish to work for one another that produced this third win.
Coach Charlie McAleese believes Ireland's flexibility was key. "We can play with a number of different styles and different decisions. That forces teams to second guess us. I thought tonight that in the first half we put them on the back foot," he said.
Ireland achieved a now habitual start with a penalty goal after five minutes by Collins, while four minutes later Ignacio Mieres was off target for Argentina. The young Pumas then lost their discipline, resulting in yellow cards for centre Agustin Vaccari and flanker Juan Pablo Ruiz.
Ireland took full advantage, kicking to the corner from the penalty award and then driving the lineout for a try by hooker Gerard Slattery, Collins adding the conversion.
Just before half-time Collins struck again to give Ireland a 13-0 lead.
Collins and Mieres exchanged penalties, but after Healy was sin-binned Argentina struck decisively, as Mieres raced through a gap for a solo try under the posts.
When Mieres added a penalty the Ireland lead was reduced to just three, but again Collins replied in similar vein. Then in the final few minutes as Argentina mounted a siege on the Ireland line, Mieres was wide with a drop goal and short with a penalty attempt.
IRELAND U-19: S Carey (Garbally College); S Monahan (Trinity College), K Earls (St Munchin's), I Whitten (Queen's), M Barker (Queen's); B Collins (Castleknock), D Drake (Instonians); C Healy (Belvedere College), G Slattery (St Munchin's), R Sweeney (UCD), T Anderson (Queen's), C McInerney (UCD), T O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), D Pollock (Queen's), K Sheahan (UCD). Replacements: R Murphy (Castleknock), A Browne (Galwegians), I Keatley (UCD).
ARGENTINA U-19: F Rhorer; M Perandones, F Cuneo, A Vaccari, J Garcia; I Mieres, P Roan; A Pordi, T Cubas, N Basile, J Medica, E Suarez, A Ahualli, J Ruiz, T Leonardi.
Referee: D Richards (England)
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