The Guinness Series will end a disappointing month for Irish rugby on a high note. At least we will round off the year with a win over Argentina, but the biggest prize of all, hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup, is gone from us. There is little point in crying over spilled milk but there’s no harm in remembering who spilled it. We welcome both Scotland and Wales to Dublin in the spring – watch the vote get a mention in the build-up then.

The door has closed and the pity of it is that the chances of a window opening are very slim. Realistically, the World Cup doesn’t stay in Europe for two events on the spin. That being so, 2031 looks like a very long way off. Those who campaigned for a couple of years on this project deserve our gratitude. They were sold down the river by those evaluating the bids but anyone who viewed our presentation could see the work was done.

Before we leave the topic, it is well worth recording that the English were our staunchest allies, despite the fact that the chair of World Rugby is an Englishman (Bill Beaumont). That didn’t prevent them from supporting us, despite the recommendation for South Africa.

Good year on the field

Seven international wins in a row, dating back to our memorable victory over England in the Aviva, will mean a very decent year on the field for Joe Schmidt. The health of our squad can be gauged by the fact that we could make 13 changes last weekend against Fiji and still win. It wasn’t long ago that southern hemisphere sides were doing just that to us.

The win against South Africa in week one is still the result of the autumn series – the form being franked somewhat at the weekend by the Springboks beating France, although that may say as much about the state of the French game. Only Wales beating the All Blacks this weekend would top our win over South Africa and that’s highly unlikely.

So, this Saturday the aim for Joe Schmidt is to field close to a full-strength side and beat the Argies the way we should – with something in hand.

The loss to Argentina in the last World Cup still rankles with Schmidt and it’s a game he references regularly. We were without five of our first-choice 15 that day and he has been on a mission to improve the depth of the Irish squad ever since. It’s impossible to win a Six Nations or World Cup without having experienced players ready to step in to cover when others are injured. How Schmidt develops that experience in the likes of Joey Carbery, Jacob Stockdale and James Ryan will be key over the next couple of years. We need these players and others to get time in big games.

As for this weekend, I’d expect the selection to resemble the one that takes on France on 3 February in Paris.

Andrew Conway has been one of the success stories of the autumn and he’s another newcomer showing his hand. The return of an eager looking Dave Kearney will also please Joe Schmidt. He has always been a fan and his return to fitness probably made the Zebo decision a little easier.

Right now we have options behind the irreplaceable Murray/Sexton combo and Garry Ringrose should be back in Leinster action in the next week or so to restake his claims too. Bundee Aki should make his second start on Saturday and come February there will be a queue looking to partner Robbie Henshaw in Ireland’s midfield.

The same riches exist on the wings and this weekend should give us another look at Stockdale, who was most impressive against the Boks – and is still only 21, remember.

In the pack, we also have real depth. Cian Healy looks reinvigorated in recent weeks and Jack Conan will shortly be putting pressure on Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander in the back-row. However, the back-row should be our mainstay: Sean O’Brien, O’Mahony and Stander and close to being the best in world rugby.

Argentina play a game similar to South Africa and they will need to be softened up before we can really look to pile on the points. That’s what the back-row are there for, along with the half-backs, guaranteeing Ireland control of the game in the first hour or so.

Our depth at front row is also impressive, but Furlong and Best are certainties. Cian Healy will probably join them; he looked hungry for work in his Fiji cameo.

The coach will be delighted with how his rookies have played this past fortnight. These games were about players putting their hands up and so far it looks like a Mexican wave. This augurs exceptionally well for the months and years ahead.

Saturday is the last time to impress on international duty. After this, it will be European rugby and that platform is a little different so players must take their chances now. Substitutions in particular must make impressions, like Cian Healy did last weekend. Coming into a game with fresh legs is a huge advantage and if you can’t make that count, you’ll be shifted to the back of the queue.

It’s another full house and that too is a sign of the rude health of Irish rugby. We’ll beat Argentina and we’ll do it with a modicum of comfort, the bench probably deciding the margin of victory. I suspect it will be in double figures, approaching the 20-point mark. We’ll carry that momentum into the Six Nations and we’ll make them all pay for the World Cup voting double-cross. CL