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Ireland flanker Chris Henry has revealed training has taken on a combative edge as they approach Saturday's clash against Argentina.
The losers will drop out of the world's top eight and be left with the prospect of being drawn in a World Cup group with two major nations in 2015.
"The atmosphere is boiling up," Ulster's Henry said.
" Losing two weeks ago [against South Africa] was one of the hardest moments I've had to face in my rugby career."
Henry added: "I didn't think it would hurt as much, but it did.
"Everyone put everything into South Africa and that was disappointing, but we're not far off.
"It's been bubbling this week. Not everyone trained on Monday, but it definitely started to bubble yesterday. That was the edgiest training session of this campaign."
However, Henry insisted that the attitude and morale in Declan Kidney's squad is good heading into Saturday's vital game.
"In teams I've been involved in before, if you're edgy at this stage of the week and you're getting tetchy with your team-mates, then that's a good sign," he said.
"Last Saturday's win against Fiji wasn't a Test but it was still great to score tries and enjoy rugby again.
"If we can get the balance of that enjoyment and the hurt of South Africa, we'll be in a good place."
Henry acknowledges that another home defeat at the Aviva Stadium would be a major blow to the Irish squad.
"For me it's about Ireland playing at home. We don't want to lose at Aviva Stadium again and that's what we're holding on to."
Kidney is not expected to deviate too much from his selection for the South Africa defeat, although Craig Gilroy is being tipped to edge out his Ulster team-mate Andrew Trimble for a starting spot after scoring a hat-trick of tries in the 53-0 win over Fiji in Limerick.
The Pumas defeated Wales 26-12 on 10 November but were beaten 39-22 by France last weekend.
LAST SIX MEETINGS
Nov 2010 Ireland 29-9 Argentina
Nov 2008 Ireland 17-3 Argentina
Sep 2007 (WC) Ireland 15-30 Argentina
Jun 2007 Argentina 16-0 Ireland
May 2007 Argentina 22-20 Ireland
Nov 2004 Ireland 21-19 Argentina
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