Ireland 9 Argentina 17: IRELAND GOT their campaign off to a poor start with defeat in Cardiff last night. The Pumas deserved victory and tries from Diego Palma and Juan Pablo Estelles handed them a huge boost in Pool A.

Three penalties from Martin Dufficy brought Ireland to within a point but their task of qualifying will not get any easier with New Zealand to come next Tuesday.

Ireland had endured a disappointing campaign in this year's Under-20 Six Nations championships, finishing fourth behind England, Wales and France. And so perhaps confidence going into this game was not sky high.

And Eric Elwood's men did not make the best of starts by conceding a penalty within 20 seconds of the kick-off.

The Argentinian outhalf Benjamin Madero had the opportunity to open the scoring but he saw his close-range kick bounce back from the left-hand post and away to safety.

But the Pumas had made the brighter opening and continued on the front foot with an aggressive set of forwards pushing Ireland back toward their own try-line.

It was little surprise when Madero got an opportunity to redeem himself after 10 minutes, and the 19-year-old coolly broke the deadlock with a penalty.

Ireland responded in the right manner and levelled the scores two minutes later thanks to Martin Dufficy's comfortable penalty.

Leinster's Dufficy was hit by a massive tackle from the centre Juan Pablo Estelles but Ireland were showing promise.

Wing Chris Cochrane saw his first sight of the South American's try-line shut down by a tough defence in the 18th minute.

And Ireland were punished minutes later when the fullback Joaquin Tucullet ghosted through weak defending and his offload found wing Diego Palma, who touched down under the posts.

Madero converted and Ireland were left seven points adrift after a nervy opening quarter.

But Elwood's men showed character and spirit to hold Argentina to a 10-3 lead at half-time.

Ireland were right back in the match when Dufficy's mammoth penalty kick sailed through the posts from just inside the halfway line after 42 minutes.

And they smelt victory when Dufficy kept his nerve on 54 minute to boot his third penalty and reduce Argentina's lead to just one point.

But it was not meant to be as Chris Cleary's long pass was seized on by Estelles, who strode away for the crucial score on 76 minutes.

Madera made sure of the win with the conversion and leave Ireland with a massive mountain to climb, the All Blacks having recorded a convincing 48-9 win over Tonga.

IRELAND: N Morris (Blackrock College/Leinster); S Scanlon (UCC/Munster), E O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster), C Cleary (Greystones/Leinster), C Cochrane (QUB/Ulster); M Dufficy (Dublin University/Leinster), D Moore (Blackrock College/Leinster); P Karakinos (QUB/Ulster), Jason Harris-Wright (Greystones/Leinster), B Barclay (UCD/Leinster); J Sandford (QUB/Ulster), E Sheriff (Lansdowne/Leinster); K Essex (UL Bohemian/Munster), P Mallon (Lansdowne/Leinster), P Ryan (capt, Blackrock College/Leinster). Replacements: E Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster, for Cochrane, 29); I Porter (QUB/Ulster, for Moore, 57); M Entwistle (Ballymena/Ulster, for Ryan 57); I Nagle (UCC/Munster, for Sandford, 59); S Archer (UCC/Munster, for Karakinos, 79).

ARGENTINA: J Tucullet; B Agulla, J Estelles, J Socino, D Palma; B Madero, M Landajo; M Guidone, E Bustillo, J Figallo; G Lofiego, S Guzman; I Pasman, F Panessi, L de Chazal (capt). Replacements: G Roan for Lofiego (45); M Insua for De Chazal (60); F Salazar for Tucullet (65); I di Santi for Bustillo (67)

Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales).