Match report
Brendan Fannings’s report has just come through so I’ll sign off.
Not the best game for the neutral, but Ireland get back to winning ways. They scored three tries and were outstanding in the opening 20 minutes, but they rode their luck at times and can thank their stingy defence for keeping the Pumas at bay.
I’ll be back on the tools for England v South Africa tomorrow. If this opening game of the weekend is anything to go by, we’re in for a cracking weekend.
Sure, Argentina were decent, but I can’t help but feel that they missed a great chance with Ireland slightly off their game.
Argentina are a class out fit. Speed of ball. Speed of pass. Defence. Set Piece. Carriers across the whole team.
— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilt0n) November 15, 2024
Good win for Ireland.
Are we guilty of moaning too much in rugby?
Perhaps so, says Niall Mullen:
“I know the cliche is that rugby players respect the officials. But, my lord, do the fans love banging on about the refs. Is TMO chat more or less tedious than VAR chat?”
I can’t stand either, to be fair. I thought Paul Williams did a decent job handling what was a messy affair for large parts.
Joe McCarthy is our player of the match.
Here’s what he had to say after the final whistle:
I just want to say a big thanks to the crowd here. The atmosphere was feckin amazing today. We’re really sorry we disappointed you last week and we really wanted to show how much it means to us. So we really appreciate your support, it means the world to us.
We came out of the blocks live. We know how good they are. We knew they’d be super tough. The lads were unbelievable to dig in today.
It wasn’t perfect but there’s a lot to work on.
Next games – Fiji and Australia – will be massive.
Peter McDonald sent this in earlier:
“Why are Ireland conceding so many penalties? Apart from the obvious, of course! Technique? Over-enthusiasm? Bad habits? Failure to adapt to new laws or the refs’ interpretation thereof?
“Ireland are my team and having spent 60-plus years hoping, for a win or two in the 5/6 Nations, I’m enjoying the current run of success, which it appears to me is under threat from the penalty count.”
Good question Peter. One that will need a proper answer this week. They got away with one. On another day, they’d have lost it given their ill discipline.
How cruel for the Pumas! They went all of 50 metres but ran out of puff. They just couldn’t keep the ball moving through the hands and a tiny spill around the fringe was the final act of this gripping contest.
That was a tremendous effort from Argentina but I think on balance the Irish deserve their win. They lacked discipline and were largely toothless on attack, but their defence was the difference here. Plus, scoring three tries to one tells a story on its own.
I think relief, rather than joy, will be the overwhelming emotion in the Irish camp this evening.
Full-time: Ireland 22-19 Argentina
There’s a knock on and Ireland win it!
80+2 min: Argentina are keeping it narrow and are 10 out. 14 phases.
80th min: We’re in the rd now. Argentina are on the ball on half-way but Ireland’s defence is not fading. That is until a burst from Gonzalez and now Delguy has it and they’re into the 22. Can they do it?
79th min: More than 20 phases now. They’re not finding gaps and eventually Oviedo, who has been magnificent throughout, gets over the ball and wins a penalty on the deck. Argentina will get one more crack at this. Albornoz finds touch upfield. Kodela’s yellow remains a yellow, but that’s immaterial to this contest.
77th min: Ireland’s maul makes ground but then stalls so they go down the line. Lowe beats his man on the left wing in contact and recycles. Prendergast finds runners off his shoulder with short passes. O’Mahony carries stiffly. McCarthy too. O’Mohany again. They’re keeping it narrow as the clock ticks down. Keenan is well tackled by Prendergast keeps the move alive. They’re camped inside Argentina’s 22.
Yellow card! Kodela (Argentina, 76)
Is that the game? Just as Argentina found a foothold in these closing minutes, their veteran front rower hurled himself into the breakdown, lost his feet and found the head of an Irishman with his shoulder.
75th min: Albornoz kicks high from half-way and forces a 50-50 contestable. It lands on Ireland’s side but we’re going to go back for a potential shoulder to head. Kodela is the guilty party.
73rd min: Outstanding steal from Carrerars who spotted that Osborne was isolated after a busting run through midfield. Argentina’s skilful back was sharp on defence, wrapped his arms around the ball and came up with the steal inside his own 22. Argentina will now get the line-out on half way and perhaps one more chance to keep the game inside Ireland’s red zone.
72nd min: Prendergast hoists a high kick – after Argentina’s clearance following that turnover didn’t find touch – and Albornoz, not for the first time, takes a very composed mark under pressure. He kicks it out around half-way. But why didn’t Ireland take the easy three points. If they lose or draw this they’ll be filled with regret. Anyway, they have the line-out throw on half-way.
70th min: 10 phases but Ireland don’t look like getting over the line. Argentina push them back. Just about every man in green has a dart. They keep it narrow until Prendergast almost finds an edge. A huge counter ruck has Argentina stealing the ball. That got up to around 17 phases but Argentina held firm!
68th min: Ireland get a gimme penalty after an Argentine player strays off-side after Carreras’ clearing kick looked to have relieved pressure. That is what they call coach killers. Ireland turn down the easy three points and choose to tap and go from 10 out. Why on earth didn’t they take the three?
67th min: Excellent from Ireland. Prendergast with a double-pump finds Lowe but he knocks on in contact. Earlier Doris steamrolled over the gainline but lost his footing just as he made the burst through the gap. Ireland’s first phases strike play has been impressive. It’s what’s happened afterwards that has not been up to much. Cian Healy comes on to become Ireland’s joint-most capped player of all time.
65th min: Now Ireland win the scrum penalty with young Clarkson getting the back slaps. Prendergast kicks to touch and now Ireland have a serious chance to reestablish daylight with a line-out just outside of Argentina’s 22.
65th min: Ireland back in possession after Argentina knock on as Albornoz’s pass to Mallia doesn’t stick. Earlier Morni collected a smart off-load in contact and cantered over the gainline, but Ireland scrambled well and then started to force Argentina backwards. That made things scrappy and the ambitious pass from Albornoz proved the move’s undoing. Credit to Ireland’s defence. They haven’t been at their best but that is one aspect of their game that has worked tonight.
64th min: Argentina’s scrum creaks but they win the scrum penalty on their own 22. Looked to me like Ireland' had the better of things, but what do I know about scrums? Albornoz kicks it long and Ruiz, on for Montoya, will throw around half-way.
Other changes for Ireland. Baird and Osborne come on for Ryan and Henshaw.
63rd min: Albornoz clears and Lowe runs it back. Argentina’s defence push Ireland back to half-way so Gibson-Park hoists a high kick. There’s a spill inside Argentina’s 22 so we’ll get a scrum. Sam Prendergast comes on to make his debut at the age of 21, replacing Crowley who had a top game. What a moment for the young lad. Can he be the hero Ireland need?
61st min: Better from Ireland off that scrum who played a string of loops – not quite Sexton, but not far off – as they went down the backline. But Argentina’s defence held so Ireland kick ahead. It’s fielded but the clearance doesn’t go long from a Pumas boot. Ireland get another throw inside opposition territory. McCarthy returns. They need to turn this momentum into points.
59th min: Kelleher misses his jumper and Argentina come away with the ball. But there’s a spill so Ireland have it back. It’s really messy from both sides with neither being able to string together a cohesive move. So we’ll go back for the scrum with Ireland feeding between the 22 and half-way with a short blind side to Ireland’s left.
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58th min: Irish fans find their voice. They recognise that this game could slip away from their boys and they could do with a lift. Albornoz does well to field a kick from Crowley and takes a good mark. But his clearing kick skews off his boot and now Ireland have a chance to launch from a line-out inside Argentina’s half.
56th min: It’s messy ball for Argentina but they keep hold of it. Albornoz drops into the pocket and he has all the time in the world to take aim with a drop-goal. But he slices it wide. That was a bad miss from right in front. Also, I’m not sure it was necessary.
55th min: Hansen plucks a high ball from the skies under great pressure. That was class. Albornoz follows suit and wins the penalty as Crowley got his timing wrong and took his opposite number out in the air, just going too early with his tackle before Albornoz’s feet touched the ground. Ireland will now have to defend another line-out in their red zone.
53rd min: Ireland need a lift and Crowley tries to give it to them with a run back from a long Pumas kick. He can’t get through. Hansen then chucks a pass to nobody and it’s a line-out for Argentina on half-way. Ireland look ragged to be honest. Where is that famous cohesion and continuity?
Penalty! Ireland 22-19 Argentina (Albornoz, 52)
He hasn’t missed yet. Another three points for the Pumas 10 means it’s just a three point game.
Yellow card! McCarthy (Ireland, 50)
It had to be. McCarthy is off-side in the red zone and the referee had had enough after Ireland’s ninth penalty. Argentina couldn’t find the gap after the line-out but Albornoz will get a chance to take three off the deficit with this kick at the poles.
48th min: Another line-out win for Argentina gives them ball around half-way. A high kick tests Keenan and Ireland have a a knock-on advantage. Those high kicks really are a 50-50. Oh, another penalty against Ireland as Lowe clattered a man off the ball. So soft! Ireland’s discipline has been really poor. Argentina kick to the corner and will get the throw around Ireland’s 22. Momentum has tangibly shifted.
TRY! Ireland 22-14 Argentina (Mallia, 46)
Stunner! Wow, what a try that is from the Pumas full-back. Argentina’s attack was going nowhere so Albornoz kicked it high. Hansen knocked on so Argentina had another go. Still, the Irish defence held until Mallia screamed onto the ball off a blind angle and he was away. One more lightning step left Hansen for dead and he had too much pace for Lowe to catch him. Albornoz kicks the extras and we have a game on.
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43rd min: Argentina’s attack can’t make any ground. Ireland’s defencve is too strong and too organised. But there is a penalty conceded by Ryan so Albornoz kicks into Ireland’s 22 where the Pumas will have the line-out. Oh but they spill it. Poor from Argentina. Crowley gets it and clears with a thumping boot. Great exit play.
41st min: Gibson-Park slams a long raking clearance. Argentina win the line-out and then Bertranou boxes around half-way but that goes up and not very far. Still, the Pumas win the ball and now they’re building through the phases. Ireland’s midfield is rock solid. Ringrose is having a great game on defence.
The players are making their way back onto the park. Argentina have yet to fire a shot. We’ve not seen their backline at all and they’ve barely had any joy at the breakdown. Ireland, with three tries, are in control thanks largely to Crowley at 10.
Brent Lindsay isn’t happy with the way this game has been officiated:
“Another terrible decision with the TMO coming in to overblown any minor incident. In the words of AFTV “when’s it gonna end Robbie”
Brent is referring to the two yellow cards, but I must say that I thought both were the right call. And I’m glad that neither was upgraded to a red.
Half-time: Ireland 22-9 Argentina
Ireland’s defence once again holds and Argentina can’t crack through. Wonderful work from the home side, especially Henshaw and Ringrose who kept the Pumas runners at bay. Oviedo made a break but couldn’t sticth together the telling move. A scrappy 40 but Ireland are good value for their big lead.
40th min: Another penalty in the red zone. Ireland get one final warning. Rather than maul Argentina chose to go down the line. Albornoz’s cross-field kick to the corner can’t find a teammate, but the bouncing ball causes all sorts of chaos. No time for the line-out so Argentina will tap and go.
39th min: Argentina’s maul splinters so Montoya charges alone. He bounces Lowe but Ireland’s defence regroups. There’s another penalty. The Pumas keep it with the forwards. They’re targeting the fringe of the ruck. Ireland hold them up but there was that penalty advantage. Albornoz goes to the corner again. Time for one more maul.
37th min: The Pumas win the line-out and go through the phases with a few short carries from the big boys. They make ground and then win the penalty. With the advantage they chance their arm and Cinti almost gets through but Ringrose makes a momentum-stopping hit so we go back for the penalty. Albornoz kicks to the corner. One last shot before half-time.
35th min: Argentina lose the ball after van der Flier nips in to steal it from Cinti who charged over the gainline. Ireland send it down the line before Lowe hoofs a clearance that finds touch.
34th min: Gibson-Park dallies on the ball at the base of the ruck and is clattered by Montoya who forces the knock-on. Scrum to Argentina on Ireland’s 22. A bit lapse that from a veteran scrum-half.
TRY! Ireland 22-9 Argentina (McCarthy, 32)
They would not be denied! McCarthy barrels over from close range after Lowe, off the back of a neat move from the line-out, found the gap in the line. It looked simple but that was slick interplay with Henshaw involved in the build up as well. Crowley slots the extras.
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31st min: Ireland set the maul from the line-out and several backs also add their weight. But Argentina hold so Ireland have to go through the hands. The Pumas defence is brilliant but so is Ireland’s skill on the ball. Ringrose throws a dummy that no one buys. Doris with a carry but it’s Argentina who come away with the ball! Remarkable defence! Bertranou box kicks but it’s not long. So Ireland will get another line-out inside the red zone, albeit a little further back.
28th min: Ireland claim the restart and they set an attack inside Argentina’s 22. Kelleher with a strong carry. Henshaw attacks the midfield channel. Porter slips a tackle. Hansen finds Henshaw in the left tram. 10 phases now. Good from Ireland but Argentina hold firm. Ringrose to Henshaw. Half a chance. Gibson-Park is taken out without the ball and that’s a penalty. Needless from the Pumas. They were keeping Ireland at bay. Crowley again nudges to the corner and the crowd responds. Bealham back on.
Penalty! Ireland 15-9 Argentina (Albornoz, 26)
His got his kicking boots on tonight! Argentina stay within touching distance despite not quite clicking just yet.
26th min: Argentina concede a free-kick at the scrum. Crowley lifts a high kick into the heavens but there’s an obstruction call as Kelleher found himself in front of the ball carrier. We’re inside Ireland’s half so Albornoz points to the sticks.
24th min: Gibson-Park smokes a box kick that provides some relief after the restart. Argentina have the line-out around half-way. Ruiz has to throw as Montoya is off for a blood check. Lowe gets low a little later and wins a turnover on the ground. Another box from Gibson-Park is brilliantly claimed by Isgro and Gonzalez spills it in contact so it’ll be an Irish scrum on half-way. Clarkson comes on to make his debut as Bealham is in the sin-bin and we need a complete front-row.
Bealham’s yellow remains yellow. Lucky, but perhaps the right call.
Drop-goal! Ireland 15-6 Argentina (Crowley, 21)
Crowley nails the drop goal! The attack was going nowhere so he figured he’d have a go. And he slotted it over. What a game he’s having.
21st min: Ireland make a mess of the line-out and they’re pushed back beyond Argentina’s 22. They still have the ball and Porter charges into contact. Crowlety drops into the pocket….
19th min: Oviedo makes a stiff tackle on Ryan, but he tips him over the horizontal so it’ll be a penalty. Crowley nudges it into the corner and Ireland will have a chance five metres from the line.
Penalty! Ireland 12-6 Argentina (Albornoz, 18)
That’s a sweet strike from Albornoz. The deficit is now just 6.
Yellow card! Bealham (Ireland, 17)
Definite croc-roll and Bealham is sin-binned! This might get upgraded to red. This’ll be an anxious wait.
Potential croc-roll from Bealham. They’ll take a look on the big screen.
17th min: Argentina clear their lines with a big hoof from Albornoz. Crowley, full of confidence, opts to run it back and makes metres. Gibson-Park hoists a box that Hansen chases, but the winger knocks on as he climbs.
15th min: Ireland spill the ball from that scrum. Argentina opt to clear with a kick but Henshaw is running back into the maw soon enough. Ringrose straightens and gets over the gainline. Bealham with another carry. Better continuity this from Ireland. Ryan now and Beirne gets it in the left tram, he’s riding two tacklers, reaches out and tries to dot down, this will be a stunning try! But NO! He’s knocked it on over the line! Excellent defence from Moroni, back on the field, who made grounding a challenge. Goal-line drop-out.
Updated
13th min: Ireland win the ball back after Petti claimed the restart. But the Irish kept him up and then made the ball unplayable from the maul. Scum for the home side just on Argentina’s 22.
Penalty! Ireland 12-3 Argentina (Albornoz, 12)
Argentina are on the board with a simple nudge over the poles.
Moroni’s yellow card will remain a yellow. Right call.
“At what point are we going to just accept collisions happen in rugby? Two guys going low for a ball is not foul play. No hint of a head injury as Crowley didn’t go for an HIA. Terrible, it’s killing the game.”
That’s from Brent Lindsay. I disagree. Have to make the game as safe as possible.
11th min: Argentina get great ball off the scrum but Beirne hammers Gonzalez with a monster hit that stops the momentum. But Henshaw strays off-side so Argentina have a free hit inside Ireland’s 22. Nothing doin’, as there’s a spill, so they come back for the penalty.
9th min: Argentina finally get some possession and they make inroads. Matera charges over the gainline, but a ball carrier isolated and Ireland pinch it back. Then there’s a knock-on so Argentina have the scrum feed inside Ireland’s 22 on the left with a short blind side. Good platform to strike.
TRY! Ireland 12-0 Argentina (Hansen, 6)
And another! That is brilliant from Ireland. It started with Henshaw bursting through a half gap and they flooded through. They went through the phases and Ringrose found a gap himself. Gibson-Park floated a ball into the right tram where Beirne could have gone for the line himself, but a cute inside ball found Hansen who hit it at pace and barrelled over. Wonderful rugby.
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TRY! Ireland 7-0 Argentina (Crowley, 4)
Crowley scores! What a mad start to this game. Ireland get great go-forward after a slick strike move from a clean line-out. Kelleher got close but not quite there. Crowley kept the move alive and straightened with a step and slid over. The extras are added off his boot and Ireland are up and running.
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Yellow card! Moroni (Argentina, 3)
What a swift turnaround. Moroni thought he’d grabbed the opening score after Argentina pounced on a mistake from Crowley, but earlier in the move, when possession was turned, the inside centre clattered Ireland’s fly-half with a head on head collision. It’ll go to the bunker but I think he’ll be OK. Both players were upright.
Unbelievable! Moroni pounces on a loose ball and he dots down for a try! But they may bring it back as there is head on head contact by Moroni on Crowley earlier in the move.
2nd min: Argentina bobble from the opening kick and their first clearing kick is charged down. So is their second and Hansen has it inside the 22. Argentina’s exit was such a mess there! Hansen again on the ball, he floats one over the top for Keenan on the right wing. Down the left with Dorris in the tram but stout resistance from the Pumas turns possession.
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And we’re off! Crowley kicks off. Ireland in emerald green. Argentina in their blue and white hoops.
OK, I’m going to stick my neck out.
Argentina to nick it by a score!
The teams are out and ready for the anthems.
Not long to go now.
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I agree. This Pumas side is special. They’ll give Ireland a fright if they click.
Really looking forward to Ireland v Argentina.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 15, 2024
Going to be a lot closer than people think.
This is the 20th meeting of the two sides.
Ireland lead 13-6 and have never lost to the Pumas at home.
Their last match was a one-sided affair with Ireland running out 53-7 winners in Dublin.
Argentina’s last win in this contest was in 2015 World Cup quarterfinals when they scored four tries in a 43-20 triumph in Cardiff.
Andy Farrell has said that some of his players were “lucky” to get selected again after their show against the All Blacks.
Here are his pre-match thoughts:
The week has been good, there have been some lessons that we need to transfer now.
It’s the perfect assignment. It’s a top drawer opponent on top form. The improvement they’ve made over the past 18 months has been phenomenal.
He also had some gushing words for Sam Prendergast – “a confident kid” – who, by some reports, is Farrell’s ideal 10 once he gets some miles in the legs.
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The TNT live feed has just flicked on and they’ve kicked off with a speech from Theodore Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
It’s a good speech, to be fair.
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Argentina’s coach, Felipe Conteponi, marks his return to Dublin tonight.
As a playmaker, he represented Leinster for six years between 2003 and 2009, before returning as the province’s attack coach for four seasons in 2018.
He’s been fantastic as the Pumas coach, giving them a new identity and a harder edge, encouraging them to attack from anywhere while causing chaos at the breakdown.
Look out for Argentina’s ability to shift the point of contact at breakneck speed. One second they’re going right, the next they’re moving left. This strategy was a handful for the Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies. Can Ireland deal with it?
Argentina team
Pablo Matera returns to the back row after serving a suspension and he’ll play an important part in the Pumas quest to disrupt Ireland’s ball.
Elsewhere, the electric Santiago Carreras returns after an injury to take his place on the bench.
Guido Petti replaces Franco Molina at lock while there is one backs change as Matias Moroni comes in for Matias Orlando
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (capt), Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.
¡Nuestros 23 para el viernes en Dublín! 🏉
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) November 13, 2024
👉 Ventana de noviembre
📆 Viernes 15/11
🆚 Irlanda 🇮🇪
⏰ 17:10 hs (ARG) / 20:10 hs (IR)
🏟️ Aviva Stadium (Dublín)
📺 ESPN#SomosLosPumas pic.twitter.com/fbhmOLguPa
Ireland team
Miraculously, as if he’s defying the laws of nature, Cian Healy is still playing rugby at the elite level.
The 37-year-old prop will equal Brian O’Driscoll’s record for most number of caps in an Irish shirt tonight when he comes off the bench to represent his nation for the 133rd time.
There’s just one change to the team that lost to New Zealand with with Robbie Henshaw’s replacing Bundee Aki - who does not make the squad - in midfield.
On the bench, alongside Healy, prop Thomas Clarkson and the very promising fly-half Sam Prendergast are set to make their debuts.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne.
Our line up to take on the Pumas! 💪#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/eH4PD94V4A
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 15, 2024
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Preamble
This weekend’s rugby feast kicks off with the meeting of two camps in different moods.
Ireland were poor, really poor, against New Zealand last week. Their celebrated cohesion was totally absent and they were well beaten at the Aviva, their first defeat on home soil since 2021.
Argentina, however, were outstanding against Italy, clattering the Azzurri with six different players scoring tries in a 50-18 rout.
The Pumas have already claimed big scalps this year having beaten New Zealand in Wellington, South Africa by a point and Australia by a record score. A win here tonight would send a clear message that Felipe Contepomi’s side is a force to be reckoned with.
Ireland simply have to be better and Andy Farrell will expect a statement. The breakdown will be pivotal. Ireland’s approach requires fast ball but the Pumas are the masters at disrupting. This is where the game will be won or lost.
Please do get in touch via email with any thoughts you might have. I’d love to hear from you.
Kick-off at 8:10 pm. Teams and other updates to follow.
