Ireland Claim Test Series Victory In Argentina

<p>Ireland claimed their first Test series victory in Argentina after overcoming some first-half jitters to seal a 23-17 victory over the Pumas in Tucuman.</p> <div>Ireland, who won the first Test match 29-17 last weekend, trailed 10-9 at half time in the second Test at the Estadio Jose Fierro but second half tries from Simon Zebo and replacement Ian Madigan put Ireland in front.</div> <div><br /> </div> <p>Jonny Sexton slotted over three penalties and a conversion for the Six Nations champions, with Madigan adding two points following his try.</p> <p>Ireland took the lead in the fifth minute when Argentina&rsquo;s number eight Antonio Ahualli de Chazal was penalised, Sexton seized the three points with ease.</p> <p>A minute later the tourists looked like they were on the scoreboard again when Sexton's cross-field kick picked out Zebo in space on the left wing, only for the Munsterman to run out of space and a toe in touch denied him a third international try.</p> <p>Ireland had a one man advantage in the ninth minute when Argentina hooker Matias Cortese was sin-binned for an illegal chop tackle on Dave Kilcoyne, and once again Sexton had an easy job to convert the penalty to give Ireland a 0-6 advantage.</p> <p>However Argentina coped easily with Ireland's numerical advantage and two minutes before Cortese's return, the numbers were evened up when Andrew Trimble was also sin-binned when he tackled Argentina winger Manuel Montero off the ball.</p> <p>Nicolas Sanchez slotted the resultant penalty to halve Ireland's lead. Joe Schmidt's side looked certain to score the game's opening try, and only a forward pass from Jamie Heaslip stopped Chris Henry's drive to the try line in the 21st minute.</p> <p>From the resultant defensive scrum, Argentina scored a try of their own. Captain Martin Landajo broke easily through the Irish defensive line, and although Zebo's covering tackle denied Amorosino a certain score, quick ball was presented to Landajo and his skip pass sent Joaquin Tuculet in for a simple try.</p> <p>That try gave the home side a four-point lead, but eight minutes before the break Sexton landed a third penalty when Lucas Noguera Paz flew off his feet after strong carries from Kilcoyne and Heaslip. Despite that effort though, Ireland still trailed 10-9 at the break as Argentina looked to level up the series.</p> <p>Sexton missed a slightly awkward penalty three minutes after the restart but Ireland recaptured the lead in the 51st minute when Eoin Reddan broke smartly off a rolling maul and sent Zebo in for a try. Sexton's conversion made it 16-10 to Ireland but the Racing Metro fly-half left the action following a clash of heads 15 minutes from time, with his former Leinster team-mate Madigan taking over the kicking duties.</p> <p>He missed the target with his first effort but made amends when he converted his own try, which he made with a neat sidestep to score under the posts seven minutes from time to give Ireland a 23 points to ten victory.&nbsp;</p> <div>Ireland, who sent on Rob Herring for his international debut, conceded a second Pumas try in the final stages when Amarasino went over but the match, and the series, were already safely in the bag for Ireland.</div> <div><br /> </div>