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Rugby Union: Mostyn enjoys rub of the green

Ross Power
Monday 30 August 1999 00:02 BST
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Ireland 32 Argentina 24

MATT MOSTYN celebrated his almost certain inclusion in Ireland's World Cup squad after becoming on Saturday the first to score three tries in a Test since Shamus Byrne in 1954. The morale-boosting win for Ireland over Argentina was the Sydney-born wing's first international on Irish soil, following his debut in the first Test in Australia in June.

He struck either side of half-time and completed his hat-trick with the try of the match, racing on to hooker Keith Wood's kick upfield, side- footing the ball towards the try line, and scooping it up.

"It was great, it was my first home Test and I couldn't be happier," Mostyn said. "It was a nice day, a good crowd and to get three tries on top of that, I couldn't ask for anything more. It was terrific. I am loving it as an Irish player, I couldn't be prouder to be wearing and playing in an Irish shirt. It's great."

Mostyn's tries had lulled Ireland into cruise-control at 32-3, but a late three-try rally by the Pumas reduced the deficit to eight points, giving the Irish some nervous minutes at the end.

Ireland: Tries Mostyn 3, Wood; Penalties Humphreys 4. Argentina: Tries Pichot 2, Scelzo; Conversions Quesada 3; Penalty Quesada.

IRELAND: C O'Shea; J Bishop (both London Irish), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock Coll.), K Maggs (Bath), M Mostyn (Galwegians); D Humphreys (Dungannon), T Tierney (Garryowen); P Clohessy (Young Munster), K Wood (Garryowen), P Wallace (Saracens), P Johns (Dungannon), J Davidson (Castres), T Brennan (St. Mary's), A Ward (Ballynahinch), D O'Cuinnneagain (Ballymena, capt). Replacements: M Mullins (Young Munster) for Maggs, 55, E Elwood (Galwegians) for Humphreys 70, J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon) for Wallace 38, M O'Kelly (St. Mary's) for Johns 65, E Miller (Terenure Coll.) for Brennan 60.

ARGENTINA: M Contepomi; O Bartolucci, S Simone, L Arbizu (capt), D Albanese; G Quesada, F Miranda; R Grau, A Canalda, M Reggiardo, A Allub, I Lobbe, F Phelan, L Ostiglia, G Longo. Replacements: A Pichot for Miranda 47, F Alberdi for Grau 70, M Scelzo for Reggiardo 45, R Martin for Phelan 45.

Referee: D Bevan (Wales).

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