At the start of the match, Puma’s excellent start and the return of right winger Matteo Carreras to the interior (0-7, 3) stunned Ireland, who quickly took control of the match. Confirming the positive attitude he displayed against the curved All-Blacks last Saturday (29-20), the club’s XV defense was unwavering, very strong at the front and inspiring at the back. In the 11th minute, after a Joey Carberry penalty and a goal from Josh van der Flier, he took the lead again (10-7).

Two attempts by Andrew Porter (22) and Kylan Doris (36) then went into the Irish break with a comfortable 17 points (24-7). Coach Andy Farrell’s great satisfaction is that after 59, Puma’s shrank to 14 and there was no last-minute rest.^E Clermont’s second-round dismissal (one more …) finally tried to stand. Attempts by Van der Flyer (56), Dan Sheehan (66), Cian Healy (71) and Thaddeus Byrne (75) lifted the second flat ball in the in-goal.

The Irish (60-5), who overcame Japan in their first autumn Test, won an encouraging clear round of view in the next Six Nations tournament, with the Argentines beating France (29-20) but leaving Italy with a more mixed record of their Nordic tour (37-16).