Once again the boot of Ronan O'Gara separated the teams with his three penalties after each side had scored converted tries.

The Irish battled through the puddles in Dublin to gain revenge over a side who had knocked them out of the 1999 World Cup and again won in Buenos Aires the following summer.

Both sides had trouble adapting to the wet conditions, with both footing and handling made extremely difficult in the relentless rain.

Inevitably it meant that the scoring chances were down to mistakes.

Ireland took advantage in the 21st minute when Argentina full-back Ignacio Corleto failed to collect a clever up and under from Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll.

The ball fell to Corleto's opposite number Girvan Dempsey who gratefully pounced eight metres out to slide in for the opening try, which O'Gara converted to open up a 7-0 lead.

Less than two minutes had passed before the Pumas were capitalising on a defensive error, although this time sloppy thinking had as much to do with the mix-up.

Dempsey and wing Shane Horgan had shepherded a Pumas kick into touch for what they believed was an Irish line-out when Diego Albanese nipped between them and took the throw for the Pumas as the linesman signalled an Argentina put in.

Horgan was adjudged to have made contact with the ball as it made its first bounce but as Ireland dozed, Albanese's throw had reached flanker Rolando Martin who ran over the line for an unchallenged try which Felipe Contepomi converted to level the scores.

There was a further setback for the Irish in the 27th minute when second row Gary Longwell was taken off with what looked like a serious shoulder injury after a collision with Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma.

Ireland stayed focused and O'Gara's well-taken penalty into a stiff breeze took the home side into the interval three points in front at 10-7.

After 53 minutes O'Gara kicked Ireland into a six-point lead, an advantage they clung on to.

From then on Ireland dominated possession and Argentinian possession turned to indiscipline when Contepomi cynically killed the ball and further dissent moved the kick 10 metres closer to the posts.

O'Gara duly took advantage and Ireland edged closer to a well-earned victory.