Giant Argentinian pack too powerful for Ireland

Under-21 World Championship Argentina 26 Ireland 22 Ireland's brave effort to reach the semi-finals of the Under-21 World Cup were dashed by Argentina in Cournon yesterday.

Needing a win over the Pumas at Stade Couturier, they led for long periods of the contest before being denied by the fifth-ranked Pumas.

Coach Mark McDermott said: "Like on Friday we just couldn't get that all-important score. We are very disappointed not to have won the game. We spilled a lot of ball in the contact area, but I am proud of the way we faced up to the challenge."

In the end the heatwave and a giant Argentinian pack proved too much for Ireland and left them to battle it out next week for one of the minor places.

Ireland began brightly and after eight minutes centre Fergus McFadden crossed for a try which Kieran Hallett converted. Hallett added a penalty to increase the lead but, as expected, the Argentinian scrum was proving to be a real threat. After half an hour scrumhalf and captain Francisco Albarracin picked up and nipped over for a try Santiago Fernandez converted.

Irish captain and openside David Pollock was given a yellow card for slowing down quick ruck ball as the Argentinian pack turned the screw.

Hooker Matias Cortese made his side's numerical advantage count when he dashed in at the corner, but straight from the restart, Ireland responded and Paul Marshall set up the outstanding Fionn Carr for a try. Hallett converted.

Ireland then fell behind when flanker Agustin Creevy crossed on the overlap for Fernandez to convert. Albarracin added his second try eight minutes from time and man-of-the-match Carr's late try proved too little too late for Ireland.

SCORERS: Ireland: Tries: McFadden, Carr (2) Conv: Hallett (2) Penalty: Hallett. Argentina: Tries: Albarracin (2), Cortese, Creevy Conv: Fernandez (3)

IRELAND: F Carr; I Hanly, T Gleeson, F McFadden, M Williams; K Hallett, P Marshall; D Hurley, S Cronin, D Ryan, D McGowan, D Toner, D Laffan, D Pollock (capt), S O'Brien. Replacements: J Sexton for Hallett (70 mins), D Williams for Marshall (70 mins), P Doran-Jones for Hurley (48 mins), S Philpott for Cronin (64 mins), B Holland for Laffan (64 mins), D Cave for Gleeson (73 mins).

ARGENTINA: G Sarasqueta; G Feijoo, M Fernandez Gill, F Amelong, M Torre; S Fernandez, F Albarracin (capt); F Gomez Kodela, M Cortese, P Ladesma, F Angelinetti, A Smidth, A Creevy, J Brinnand, B Macome. Replacements: L Piccinini for Gomez Kidela (63 mins), A Figuerola for Feijoo (70 mins), G Alvarez for Angelinetti (73 mins).

Referee: T Hayes (Wales).