Ireland holds out Pumas 22-19 for relieving win in Dublin

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland survived a thrilling comeback from Argentina to hold on for a relieving 22-19 win in a gritty autumn rugby test on Friday.

Ireland led by a deserved 22-9 after a frantic first half but the Pumas underscored their second half reputation by closing to within three with a half-hour to go.

But despite Ireland conceding another swag of penalties for a second straight test, it was the Pumas’ own indiscipline which cost them an historic first win in Dublin.

Prop Francisco Gomez Kodela was yellow-carded with five minutes to go, and his body was missed as the Pumas pushed the Irish back to five meters from their try-line until a knock-on in a ruck in front of the posts ended the game two minutes into injury time.

Ireland won but it wasn’t the convincing statement it wanted to make after the Six Nations champion was stunned by New Zealand last week, losing its four-year winning streak at home and the No. 1 ranking.

The Irish indiscipline under pressure was a major issue again — 13 penalties conceded in consecutive tests — but their defense was brilliant to limit the Pumas to one try and keep them out at the end.