Their brightest moment was the quick thinking of Diego Albanese to take a quick line-out for Martin’s try in the 24th minute, soon after Dempsey had scored at the other end. In Test match terms, it was a steal in the bracket of Ieuan Evans for the Lions against David Campese. “I could have done with a television replay because I didn’t even see it,” Ireland’s captain, Brian O’Driscoll, admitted “It was a lack of concentration. We should have tightened up at a vulnerable time.”O’Sullivan boldly predicted that the pitch would be “like a billiard table” come the Six Nations’ Championship in the new year. He is much more concerned over the 15 Irishmen currently injured, though the squad has stood the test of a longer autumn programme than any of their rivals. They have seen off Romania, Russia, Georgia, Australia, Fiji and Argentina. In 1968 and ‘69 it was Scotland, Wales, Australia, France, England and Scotland again, before the Welsh prevented an Irish Grand Slam in Cardiff.

Up next for O’Sullivan’s record-seekers in 2003 are the Scots at Murrayfield “It’s been a good few months’ work,” the coach said. “Maybe a change is as good as a rest for the players, as they go back to their provinces. They might be fed up of my advice by now.”Ireland 16 Tries: Dempsey Cons: O’GaraArgentina 7 Tries: Martin Cons: Contepomi Half-time: 10-7 Attendance: 40,000IRELAND: G Dempsey (Leinster); S Horgan (Leinster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), K Maggs (Bath), J Bishop (London Irish); R O’Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); R Corrigan (Leinster), S Byrne (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), G Longwell (Ulster), M O’Kelly (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), A Foley (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster). Replacements: M Horan (Munster) for Corrigan 74; L Cullen (Leinster) for Longwell 27; A Quinlan (Munster) for Costello 73.ARGENTINA: I Corleto (Stade Fran?s); G Camard?Roma), J Orengo (Grenoble), L Arbizu (Bordeaux-B?es, capt), D Albanese (Leeds); F Contepomi (Bristol), A Pichot (Bristol); M Reggiardo (Castres), M Ledesma (Narbonne), O Hasan (Agen), I Fernandez-Lobbe (Castres), R lvarez (Perpignan), S Phelan (CASI), G Longo (Narbonne), R Martin (SIC).

Replacements: J Fernandez Miranda (Hindu) for Arbizu, 69; P Sporleder (Curupayti) for Alvarez, 63; M Durand (Champagnat) for Phelan, 76.Referee: C White (England).. Sunday drivers have earned a reputation for timidity, but yesterday the Zurich Premiership leaders, Gloucester, rewrote that definition in emphatic fashion. Fast and furious, they hurtled into the opposition, sometimes smashing them back 15 or 20 metres, and large tracts of Kingsholm were covered as the home side established their authority in that area.It said a lot for the Leeds defence – after what the assistant Gloucester coach, Dean Ryan, had described as “one of the most physical club matches I have ever seen” – that they were able to restrict the home side to just three tries.Two of those scores came when Leeds were a man down after the makeshift centre Alix Popham, a No 8 by trade, was sent off for 10 minutes after his second high tackle in a couple of minutes. “It’s difficult enough playing here with 15 men, let alone with 14,” said Phil Davies, the Leeds director of rugby.Leeds were without three key players, the centre George Harder, Diego Albanese and Gordon Ross, and with such a shortage of backs, Davies was forced into playing Popham out of position. “I don’t think he will be picked there again,” was Davies’ wry conclusion.Gloucester then showed that they are no slouches in the loose.