Rugby World Cup 2015: Winners and Losers from Ireland vs. Argentina

Argentina beat Ireland 43-20 to set up a semi-final against the winners of Australia vs. Scotland. Ireland were missing key players and could not match the Pumas’ intensity. As a result, their defence wilted.

Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade has had two years at the helm, and his vision has made the Pumas a potent offensive threat. Always thinking, he made a couple of risky calls against Ireland but was thoroughly vindicated.

Ireland’s loss means the northern hemisphere is relying on an almighty upset from the Scots to have any representatives in the last four of Rugby World Cup 2015.

Winners: Argentina’s New Style

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Argentina, when they reached the semi-finals of France 2007, did so on the back of a pragmatic game that focused on pack domination and the kicking of Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi.

Although they had exciting runners in the backs, Argentina were sometimes reluctant to use them. Not now, not under Daniel Hourcade. Wingers Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff, together with fullback Joaquin Tuculet, have fed off this new attacking philosophy. Putting 43 points on an Ireland side fabled for its defence is some feat.

Argentina are great to watch.

Loser: Ireland’s Defence

Ireland have made defence the cornerstone of their game since the arrival of coaches Declan Kidney in 2008 and Joe Schmidt in 2013. Against Argentina, however, their alignment was shoddy.

Too often the Pumas were able to find space out wide (see the video above for Joaquin Tuculet's try).

Ireland should have trusted their infield defenders to make one-on-one tackles and spread out more across the field.

Argentina spotted this and made them pay with their pacy attacking moves.

Winner: Argentina Coach Daniel Hourcade

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Hourcade has not only made a big call by turning Argentina’s traditional rugby philosophy on its head, but against Ireland, the coach also made some bold substitutions.

Taking off the team’s captain, Agustin Creevy, and premier prop Marcos Ayerza with the game in the balance seemed like a rash, foolish and frankly unjustifiable move.

Leadership levels were lost, but fresh legs came on. Hooker Julian Montoya had a good game from the bench, and Hourcade was quick to trust his less celebrated replacements.

Hourcade made decisions that could have seen him vilified. He took on that pressure and deserves huge credit for masterminding the win against Ireland.

Loser: The Northern Hemisphere

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Ireland were the northern hemisphere’s most likely side to progress to the semi-finals. With Scotland being massive underdogs against Australia, the South will have dominated another Rugby World Cup.

Amazingly though, the 2015 final looks like it will be the first south-south affair since South Africa beat New Zealand in 1995. That said, only one northern hemisphere team has ever lifted the cup: England in 2003.

The north has a big gap to close.

Loser: Argentina’s Semi-Final Opponents

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

Argentina will face Australia or Scotland in the semi-final and have a great chance of making the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Argentina, who face the other Southern Hemisphere giants on a yearly basis in the Rugby Championship, have no reason to feel intimidated by their illustrious opponents.

Add in their stellar form in this World Cup (I still maintain they should have beaten New Zealand in the pool stage), and neither Australia nor Scotland will look forward to facing Argentina.