Jonathan Sexton’s boot went some way to make sure Ireland finished their autumn campaign on a high as Argentina were comfortably pushed aside 29-9 at the Aviva Stadium.
Declan Kidney’s troops led 19-3 at the interval thanks to a Stephen Ferris try and a conversion and four penalties from Sexton.
And the win was never in doubt as sexton landed another penalty and Ronan O’Gara came on to convert Gordon D’Arcy’s last-gasp try for a resounding victory.
But it was the Pumas who started the brighter as former Leinster star Felipe Contepomi just missed with a drop goal attempt and a forwards drive resulted in the visitors just being held up short of the line.
But after Sexton landed his first penalty on 13 minutes, Ferris helped himself to his second international try to extend the home lead on 20 minutes.
Great work from Jamie Heaslip tore through the Argentina defence before setting up Ferris to go over in the corner.
Contepomi missed a straight-forward penalty attempt but made no mistake with his second but only after Sexton had added one of his own.
And while Contepomi missed another kick, Sexton showed no signs of slowing down and added another before halftime for a 16-point lead.
Another Sexton penalty was sandwiched between two Contepomi efforts in a lacklustre second-half that failed to spark until the final minute.
Replacement Keith Earls thought he had touched down an O’Gara through ball but the Television Match Official ruled the Munster back had knocked on.
But Ireland were keen to end their year on a high and did just that when D’Arcy chipped over the Argentine defence and touched down.
