Ireland beat inexperienced hosts Argentina 29-17 as the Six Nations rugby champions began life without the talismanic Brian O'Driscoll by eventually easing to victory in Resistencia.
Ireland, who were without a number of first choice players, scored tries through Chris Henry, Jonny Sexton and Andrew Trimble, with Sexton kicking a conversion and two penalties, the latter feat matched by his replacement Ian Madigan.
Manuel Montero scored a memorable try for the under-strength Pumas, Nicolas Sanchez adding a conversion and penalty before Tomas de la Vega crossed for a late consolation try converted by Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias.
The Irish were guilty of trying to play too much rugby in their own half against a spirited Argentina side missing the bulk of their foreign-based players and comprising mainly second-stringers.
The teams meet again next week in Tucuman.
