Tourists to provide a measure of progress

Ultimately perhaps, this afternoon's performance is the key and the result will be no more than a footnote in history. Yet the meeting between Ireland and Argentina, like the other internationals around the globe today before September's enforced hibernation, will decide who goes into the World Cup on winning and losing notes.

The brickbats will surely fly if Ireland lose, even if there would no great shame in losing to tourists at the end of their season who beat the European champions last week. Whereas Ireland mightn't be swamped by bouquets in victory, nonetheless it would confirm the positive impression generated by the second Test in Australia and go some way toward dismissing the theory that it was a one-off.

Reaction in Scotland to last week's 31-22 defeat (even if the 31-8 lead with two minutes remaining was a more accurate barometer) was comparatively measured. Allowance was made for Scotland's rustiness, as well as the absence of Gregor Townsend and the Leslie brothers.

Arguably their three most influential figures, Scotland will undoubtedly be more their Braveheart selves with them back in harness.

Today Ireland are experimenting a little in personnel with one eye on the World Cup and are also training accordingly. Even compared to last week's warm-up in Connacht, the front row, second row, half-backs and one of the wings are changed combinations.

Nonetheless, forewarned is forearmed, and if video viewing of Murrayfield didn't succeed in that regard, then attendance at the midweek Pumas' pummelling of Leinster assuredly did. On top of which, while most of the home players may not have World Cup squad spots to play for, there is the business of cementing first-choice Test places.

The Pumas will be an excellent all-round test, well organised in the set-pieces and defensively, who can maul it off the line-out or move it off quick ball. Although the more unpredictably dangerous Agustin Pichot has been replaced by the useful Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, much will again be played off the percentage kicking of impressive out-half Gonzalo Quesada.

They have pace out wide and 6'5" right wing Octavio Bartolucci, scorer of seven tries in nine Tests, is an obvious dangerman. However, Ireland surely won't give these Pumas as much space as the Scots did.

Although there'll be a need to play the territorial percentages in the first quarter and the Pumas will try to suffocate midfield, the Australian tour, Leinster's outings and Ireland's in Connacht highlighted the need to get the ball into Brian O'Driscoll's hands.

He is special and potentially can add another dimension to Ireland's game-plan. What's more, the arrival of Dion O'Cuinneagain at number eight increases Ireland's options and dynamism off the base of the scrum - so evident in Perth.

Herein lies the crunch. With Argentina's reputation for scrummaging and penchant for focusing the point of impact through their hooker (invariably a converted prop), Ireland have worked hard on this area during the short build-up. The first few put-ins could well determine the tone of the day. After which, Ireland may surprise a few people and win.

With the forecast set fair, it ought to be a pretty good international - better than similar friendly fare against the likes of Georgia, Romania and Italy last season. Argentina are better than that, but have been all too infrequent visitors here.

This is only their third visit, Michael Kiernan's injury-time penalty in the last meeting nine years ago giving Ireland a slight edge in the six previous meetings. That day also marked the debuts of Paddy Johns (packing down alongside the then skipper Donal Lenihan) as well as Phil Lawlor and Alain Rolland.

Today marks the home debuts of O'Driscoll, Matt Mostyn and Tom Tierney, and most probably the Test debut of Mike Mullins. Indeed, it's O'Driscoll's first senior appearance at Lansdowne Road. He played in one schools Cup semi-final and one schools international and remarkably he was an unused sub in both a schools' semi-final and a final. Ironically, his father's two appearances for Ireland were against the Argentinians in 1970.

A crowd in the region of 15,000 is expected for this Irish Permanent international, maybe rising to nearer 20,000 given fine weather. Yet the inevitable moaning about the lack of tickets for the true fans won't be long coming once the World Cup arrives.

Don't cry for me Argentina, indeed.