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Rugby World Cup: How Ireland and Argentina Gained Most from the Pro Era
Published: October 16, 2015
The South Americans have twice dumped the reigning Six Nations champions out of the tournament, once in the repechage round of the 1999 tournament and again in the group stage of 2007, when they went on to finish third.
In between, Ireland beat the Pumas in Australia in 2003 but still went no further than the last eight, where they were hammered by France.
But there is more to this meeting than another chapter in each side’s intertwined tournament narrative.
A deeper look at the progress of Ireland and Argentina shows, beyond all doubt that, since the game turned professional after the 1995 World Cup, these are the two countries to have made the biggest strides.
Ireland
In the first three World Cups, Ireland’s only achievement of note was that agonizing defeat in the quarters to Australia in 1991.
They were a team built less on a structure than a reliance on mayhem back then, embodied by that famous charge towards glory by Gordon Hamilton that sparked chaos inside Lansdowne Road.
Australia composed themselves and regained the lead before the final whistle, and the romance of the day they almost toppled the Wallabies remained Ireland’s fondest World Cup memory until they turned the tables on them in the pool stages 20 years later.
That win in 2011 that saw them top their World Cup pool for the first time, has been accompanied by a cabinet overflowing with Triple Crowns and Six Nations trophies since the dawn of the 21st century.
Irish rugby produced two Lions captains of the three appointed in the first decade of the 2000s, as well as one of the greatest players of all time in Brian O’Driscoll.
Their provinces have scooped Pro 12 titles and European trophies like a chi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union
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