A look at four key player matchups for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal between Ireland and Argentina on Sunday (Ireland players listed first):
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CIAN HEALY vs. MARCOS AYERZA
The battle at the scrum will be intense — it always is when Argentina is playing — and few love the darkened recesses more than Ayerza, the prop who will be playing against the country where his great great grandmother was born.
"I'm one-sixteenth Irish," Ayerza said this week, adding that he is also an accomplished polo player and owns a horse called Welford Road — the name of the stadium where his Leicester Tigers club plays.
While Ayerza revels in the scrum, Ireland loosehead Healy is more at home on the rampage in the loose. Seemingly fully recovered after undergoing neck surgery, Healy is keeping out emerging prop Jack McGrath and Ireland will look to him more than ever to blast holes around the fringes in the absence of Sean O'Brien and Paul O'Connell.
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CHRIS HENRY vs. JUAN MARTIN FERNANDEZ LOBBE
Fernandez Lobbe has been among the world's most respected forwards for much of the past decade, because of his defence, work at the breakdown and big heart. He is one of the stars at Toulon, the French giant that has won the European Cup the past three years.
He has rejecting the chance to join Argentine rugby's new franchise in Super Rugby. Since players will only be selected for the national team if they play for the Super franchise, this World Cup likely represents the end of his international career.
Perhaps he'll have at least another week for the Pumas, who will see the changes forced on the Irish in their backrow and sense it is an area to capitalize.
Henry, and fellow flanker Jordi Murphy, have been drafted in because of the absences of Peter O'Mahony and Sean O'Brien. For Henry, it's a remarkable story because last November he suffered a mini-stroke and doctors operated to fix a small hole in his heart. He said it left him "preparing for the worst" — now he is preparing for what he said was the game of his life.
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IAN MADIGAN vs. NICOLAS SANCHEZ
The loss of Jonny Sexton to a groin injury has dealt Ireland a significant blow to Ireland and now gives Argentina in the edge in this flyhalf contest.
Given that Sexton is widely regarded as the best flyhalf in Europe and one of the best in the world, Madigan has some big boots to fill.
Sanchez caught the eye at this tournament with an outstanding performance in the 45-16 win against Tonga, scoring 25 points — including a well-taken try — to impress the watching Diego Maradona.
Sanchez is a better runner ball in hand than Madigan and more experienced, with 36 test caps compared with Madigan's 24.
Both are 26 and accomplished kickers, as Madigan showed when he came on to kick two penalties and a conversion in last weekend's 24-9 win over France.
But Sanchez has scored nearly three times more test points than Madigan, who will find himself under pressure to perform at Millennium Stadium.
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ROBBIE HENSHAW vs. JUAN MARTIN HERNANDEZ
This matchup at No. 12 could be fascinating, since Henshaw and Hernandez are very different players.
Henshaw is a direct runner and tough-tackling defender who was one of Ireland's stars in the win against France in the Pool D decider. He is a linchpin in the midfield in the post-Brian O'Driscoll era, even more so now that centre partner Jared Payne is out of the World Cup with a foot injury.
Hernandez is more skilful and silky, a great passer off both hands, and has a better kicking game. "El Mago" made his name at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, oozing class as Argentina went on its historic run to finish third, and his reputation remains intact despite some injury problems.
Unlike Fernandez Lobbe, Fernandez is trading Toulon for Argentina's new Super Rugby franchise after the World Cup.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.