IRELAND captain Paul O’Connell has predicted another big battle next weekend when his side bids to back up their first ever victory in Argentina by overcoming the Pumas in the second and concluding test.

The 29-17 win at Estadio Centenario was O’Connell’s first time playing in Argentina and the Munster lock was not surprised Ireland were forced to dig deep to achieve the win.

But he believes the Six Nations champions made it difficult for themselves as they were guilty of some basic errors.

“It was very hard going, we knew it was going to be physical which it was. We didn’t know we were going to be as inaccurate as we were.

We put a lot of balls down and missed some tackles,”

O’Connell said.

“They had some very big men, some really good footwork and they put us under a lot of pressure and it kind of thrived off our mistakes, we were unlucky not to score a try early in the first-half.

And 30 seconds later we were lucky not to concede a try.

“So that’s kind of the way they play and we knew that but I suppose we were intent on trying to stop that and we didn’t do that.

“They put us under a lot of pressure, I think the result is great but the performance is disappointing.”

n Scotland could pay a price for their opening win under new coach Vern Cotter after three players suffered injuries against the United States.

With a shortage of players on tour, Cotter could find himself having to fly out replacements from home following their 24-6 victory.

Centre Duncan Taylor pulled a calf muscle, lock Jim Hamilton turned an ankle and prop Geoff Cross damaged rib cartilage to add to the list of problems that also saw Stuart Hogg, scorer of the final try, go off with a damaged nose that is not expected to keep him out of next week’s game against Canada.

Cotter said: “We are happy to get a win in difficult conditions.

We showed good structure in the first part.’’