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Keenan hat-trick inspires Ireland rout

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Keenan hat-trick inspires Ireland rout

Fullback Hugo Keenan scored three tries as Ireland hammered Argentina in Friday night’s Nations Championship Test at the Aviva Stadium.

The Irish ran in six tries to get their November campaign underway with an impressive 42-12 win in Dublin.

Coach Andy Farrell’s men next play Fiji, before their biggest challenge, against the world champions Springboks, on 21 November.

Ireland go top of the Nations Championship northern hemisphere standings ahead of the rest of the matches this weekend, while Argentina stay fourth in the southern hemisphere table. Los Pumas next play Italy and France.

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Irish rugby legend Fergus Slattery and Ireland’s 2024 European 1,500m champion Ciara Mageean were honoured with a minute’s applause prior to the national anthems.

Argentina broke the deadlock in the 11th minute – flyhalf Tomás Albornoz sent a delightful cross-field kick into the try area and it was no contest between Pumas wing Mateo Carreras and the smallest player on the pitch, scrumhalf Craig Casey.

The Irish struck back with a stunning try. After Casey forced a turnover penalty, right wing Rob Baloucoune popped up in the centre and burst through the Argentina defence, passing to Mack Hansen, who offloaded to Keenan.

Keenan, like Hansen returning after a long absence from the Test side because of injury, finished it off. Flyhalf Sam Prendergast converted to make it 7-5.

The hosts put together another polished move to score their second try, flanker Nick Timoney pierced the Argentinian defence and got to within metres of the line. Hooker Dan Sheehan had started the move and appropriately finished it off – crashing over for the try, which Prendergast converted.

The Irish were fully into their stride by this stage, and their third try came soon afterwards. It was a brilliant individual effort from Keenan, taking the pass from Hansen, who had come off his wing, and beating three Argentina players to touch down.

Pumas new defence coach Shaun Edwards looked on ruefully from the box high up in the stands.

A further blow came when captain Julian Montoya failed an HIA.

Argentina were firmly on the back foot and their ill discipline, which has been a problem all year, let them down as the Irish forced them into conceding penalty after penalty. Referee Luke Pearce finally lost patience and showed a yellow card to centre Justo Piccardo.

The Irish did not let up at the start of the second-half as Prendergast moved up a couple of gears and broke the Pumas line to sprint over for a sensational try.

Argentina came back at them, with Carreras, who had received medical treatment at the start of the second half, going over for his second try.

It was not the start of a comeback, Keenan going over for his third, running on to Ryan Baird’s pass to touch down.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men again when replacement lock Efrain Elias was sin-binned for a high tackle on Keenan. The Irish took immediate advantage, with replacement hooker Rónan Kelleher going over.

IRELAND – Tries: Hugo Keenan (3), Dan Sheehan, Sam Prendergast, Rónan Kelleher. Conversions: Prendergast (5), Ciaran Frawley.
ARGENTINA – Tries: Matteo Carreras (2). Conversion: Tomás Albornoz.

– AFP

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

Crédito: Link de origem

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