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‘We like that challenge’ – Pumas flanker Juan Martín González primed for Ireland shot

South Africa, check. New Zealand, check. Australia, check. France, check.

Ireland?

Argentina arrive to Dublin on Friday evening looking to inflict a second Autumn Nations Series defeat in a row on Andy Farrell’s Ireland.

To do so would mean Felipe Contepomi’s side will have beaten each of the World’s top four teams since July, in addition to handing Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies a record 67-27 defeat.

Los Pumas have never beaten Ireland in Dublin across 10 meetings going back to 1990.

However, off the back of a seven-try 50-18 hammering of Italy at the weekend, and their most successful Rugby Championship, the visitors may sense that this is their time against an Irish side that underperformed in a 23-13 loss to New Zealand.

“It’s true that they didn’t perform really well against All Blacks,” flanker Juan Martín González told RTÉ Sport.

“We know they lost their last game so they are coming with more strength, and that’s one thing.

“It’s really hard to play here in Ireland. The stadium is going to be amazing, all the people are going to be crazy but for us, that is good, we like that challenge.”

Pumas assistant coach Kenny Lynn, who joined from the Highlanders in the summer, says his side aren’t expecting Ireland to produce a second poor performance in seven days.

“We know that they are going to be better than they were last week, they’ve had an extra week together,” said the Kiwi.

“I think they will be a little more clinical than what they were.

“We understand that this is a big challenge and for us, it’s concentrating on bringing a consistent preparation, and then leading into another consistent performance.

“They are a high work-rate team, they like to hold on to the ball for long periods of time, build pressure that way.”

The weekend’s results saw Ireland drop one place to third in the World Rugby rankings, while the South Americans jumped up one spot to fifth.

“We are a team that is starting to grow, to understand what we are capable of doing, growing in confidence and self-belief,” added Lynn.

“We’re at the stage where we are capable of putting on performances like we did against Italy but the next growth is being able to do that consistently against top teams.

“We are going to double-down on the Argentinian DNA… willing to play free, ability to see space, no matter the situation of where you are on the field but backing yourself to give it a crack.”

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