Ireland Men Gain Revenge On Argentina To Reach Last-Four

First half tries from Bryan Mollen and Terry Kennedy guided the Ireland Men to a 14-0 Cup quarter-final win over second-ranked Argentina at the HSBC France Sevens.

Watch the HSBC France Sevens live here via World Rugby

James Topping’s side turned in a high quality performance to keep los Pumas, the champions in Vancouver last time out, scoreless and qualify for the last-four.

Ireland had lost all five previous meetings with Argentina this season, so it was an important result with the reward of a third semi-final appearance in four World Series tournaments.

After fourth place finishes in Seville and Singapore, they are determined to achieve a podium finish in Toulouse. Their semi-final opponents tomorrow are host nation France (kick-off 2.14pm local time/1.14pm Irish time).

Danger man Marcos Moneta threatened for Argentina from an early kick through, but Kennedy got back to deal with it and Ireland gradually built from inside their own 22.

Eleven patiently-worked phases later, they were over for the opening try as Harry McNulty looped out to the right, Jordan Conroy drew in two defenders and popped the ball back for Mollen to provide the end product.

Mark Roche left-footed the conversion through the uprights, and with replacement Jack Kelly’s rip in the tackle keeping Argentina pinned back, it was an encouraging opening spell.

Topping’s men ended the first half 14 points to the good, Kelly embarking on a powerful run on the right before a switch move in midfield saw Hugo Lennox send Kennedy over from the edge of the Argentinian 22.

Worse followed for los Pumas, who had played virtually all of their last game against England without the red-carded Rodrigo Isgro. This time Felipe del Mestre saw yellow for lifting Lennox above the horizontal in a tackle.

The second half was a hard slog, the baking heat becoming more and more of a factor. Chay Mullins broke up an Argentinian attack with a steal at the breakdown inside the Irish 22.

An unfortunate spill from Billy Dardis prevented Ireland from taking advantage of replacement Joaquin Lamas’ sin-binning for a deliberate knock-on. Neither side could muster a scoring opportunity.

The South Americans’ discipline let them down again late on when Lamas endured his second yellow for a neck roll on McNulty. Dardis booted the ball dead to confirm Ireland’s first victory over Argentina since 2020.

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Squad (HSBC France Sevens, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, May 20-22, 2022):

Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC) (capt)
Sean Kearns (Ireland Sevens)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
Bryan Mollen (Blackrock College RFC)
Chay Mullins (IQ Rugby)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Tom Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)

HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES – FRANCE SEVENS FIXTURES/RESULTS:

Friday, May 20 –

POOL D:

SOUTH AFRICA 12 IRELAND 21, Stade Ernest Wallon
Scorers: South Africa: Tries: Mfundo Ndhlovu, Siviwe Soyizwapi; Con: Ronald Brown
Ireland: Tries: Terry Kennedy 2, Jack Kelly; Cons: Billy Dardis 3
HT: South Africa 7 Ireland 7

Team: Harry McNulty, Zac Ward, Andrew Smith, Billy Dardis (capt), Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy, Hugo Lennox.

Subs used: Bryan Mollen, Chay Mullins, Jack Kelly, Mark Roche. Not used: Sean Kearns.

SAMOA 27 IRELAND 14, Stade Ernest Wallon
Scorers: Samoa: Tries: Steve Onosai 2, Paul Scanlan 2; Cons: Melani Matavao 2; Pen: Melani Matavao
Ireland: Tries: Jordan Conroy, Jack Kelly; Cons: Billy Dardis 2
HT: Samoa 5 Ireland 14

Team: Harry McNulty, Zac Ward, Andrew Smith, Billy Dardis (capt), Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy, Hugo Lennox.

Subs used: Jack Kelly, Mark Roche, Bryan Mollen, Tom Roche, Chay Mullins.

Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Men Falter In Second Half Against Samoa

Saturday, May 21 –

POOL D:

IRELAND 26 SPAIN 21, Stade Ernest Wallon
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy, Zac Ward, Andrew Smith; Cons: Sean Kearns, Billy Dardis 2
Spain: Tries: Tobias Sainz-Trapaga 2, Francisco Soriano; Cons: Juan Martinez, Juan Ramos 2
HT: Ireland 12 Spain 14

Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Jack Kelly, Andrew Smith, Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy, Mark Roche, Sean Kearns.

Subs used: Zac Ward, Tom Roche, Chay Mullins, Hugo Lennox, Billy Dardis.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – France Sevens Fixtures/Results

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – France Sevens Pool Tables

CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

ARGENTINA 0 IRELAND 14, Stade Ernest Wallon
Scorers: Argentina: –
Ireland: Tries: Bryan Mollen, Terry Kennedy; Cons: Mark Roche 2
HT: Argentina 0 Ireland 14

Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Bryan Mollen, Zac Ward, Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy, Mark Roche, Hugo Lennox.

Subs used: Jack Kelly, Andrew Smith, Billy Dardis, Chay Mullins. Not used: Tom Roche.

Sunday, May 22 –

CUP SEMI-FINAL:

IRELAND v FRANCE, Stade Ernest Wallon, 2.14pm local time/1.14pm Irish time

All matches live on the World Rugby stream here.