Ireland Under-20s v Argentina Under-20s<\/p>\n
Avchala Stadium (Thursday 12.30pm, Irish time, live on Premier Sports)<\/p>\n
Damning statistics rather than damned statistics. There were no lies, no wriggle room to dispute the direct impact of the figures on the outcome. The metrics from Ireland\u2019s disappointing 34-27 defeat to England<\/a> brooked no argument and endorsed the real-time feeling that Andrew Browne\u2019s side<\/a> were very culpable in their downfall.<\/p>\n England played direct rugby with very little artifice, but their power game lured Ireland into all manner of indiscretions that led to disciplinary issues in the form of two yellow cards and penalties given away in fistfuls over a short period of time, especially in the first half. <\/p>\n Ireland dominated possession and territory, scoring five tries \u2013 some superbly created and finished \u2013 but could not escape from underneath the performance blemishes. Ireland lost six of 17 lineouts, were successful just once in five attempts off the place-kicking tee and had a tackle success rate of 74 per cent. <\/p>\n Many of the missed tackles were of the basic variety and particularly costly. There was one other eye-catching category that if not addressed will be punitive against Argentina. England mauled Ireland for 55 metres; Ireland managed four by way of comparison. No team can survive offering up that sort of leeway and traction to the opposition.<\/p>\n Browne has made four changes to the starting team but essentially it is the same 23 players. Jack Deegan\u2019s outstanding cameo from halftime on the last day earned him the 13 jersey. Charlie O\u2019Shea excelled in general play but Tom Wood, first choice for the Six Nations, is back to marshal the team at outhalf.<\/p>\n Joe Finn replaces Dylan McNeice, a standout the last day, so perhaps bench impact is a factor, while Alex Lautsou is in for Ben Blaney at openside flanker. McNeice and Blaney were the yellow card recipients against England. <\/p>\n Argentina thumped the USA 78-14 in their opening fixture, scoring 12 tries and kicking nine conversions. There are five changes to the starting lineup with prop Benjamin Ceroni, number eight Federico Torre, scrumhalf Juan Preumayr, wing Luciano Avaca and centre Benjamin Yujnovsky promoted to the starting line-up. <\/p>\n The young Pumas beat New Zealand 25-17 as part of their preparation for the tournament so there is an obvious quality to their team. Under the old format the three pool winners and the best runners-up would qualify for the primary semi-finals but this year with four pools, it is the winners that progress.<\/p>\n