Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series got off to the most underwhelming start as New Zealand came away with a 23-13 win last Friday.
After being so used to blockbuster battles between the sides in recent years, it was something of a let-down.
But now a resurgent Argentina side, with former Leinster man Felipe Contepomi at the helm, are gunning for a first ever win over Ireland in Dublin.
They’ve already beaten France, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa this year and would love to add Andy Farrell’s men to that list.
It’s another Friday night game but let’s hope there’s a better atmosphere at Aviva Stadium.
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ONLINE
We’ll have a live blog, match report, player ratings and post-game reaction from Aviva Stadium on rte.ie/sport.
RADIO
There will be live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1, with coverage getting under way at 8pm.
TV
The game will be live on Virgin Media and TNT Sports.
WEATHER
More mild weather conditions are forecast with temperatures around 11-12C expected in Dublin on Friday evening.
It’s set to be a cloudy evening but the rain should hold off, while winds of 11-13km/hr are forecast.
It’s the 20th official Test meeting overall between the two teams with 10 of the contests taking place in Dublin.
However, the game will be the 25th international between the sides.
Last year the IRFU retrospectively awarded caps to the players who featured in five games, between 1952 and 1973, that were previously regarded as non-cap games by Ireland.
Argentina have never beaten Ireland on Irish soil.
Of their six wins in the ‘full Test status’ games, three came at World Cups: France in 1999 and 2007, and Wales in 2015, and three took place in Argentina.
Since knocking Ireland out of the 2015 World Cup, the Pumas have visited Dublin for three autumn internationals, losing at Aviva Stadium in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
Argentina are in a rich vein of form and have won six of ten games this year under head coach Felipe Contepomi, who took over from Michael Cheika after the World Cup.
Their haul includes wins over France, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
Last week’s seven-try 50-18 win over Italy moved Los Pumas up to fifth in the World Rugby rankings.
Ireland, meanwhile, drop two places to third thanks to their loss to New Zealand.
It was the Six Nations champions’ third defeat in their last five games, including losses to South Africa and England, and ended a 19-game winning streak at home.
In team news Andy Farrell makes just one change to the starting XV with Bundee Aki making way for Robbie Henshaw at first centre.
There are changes on the bench, too, with out-half Sam Prendergast and prop Thomas Clarkson in line for debuts.
Ryan Baird and Craig Casey replace Iain Henderson and Conor Murray.
Contepomi has made three changes with back row Pablo Matera returning from suspension, while Guido Petti starts at lock; Matías Moroni comes in at centre for Matías Orlando.
TEAMS
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne. Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julián Montoya, Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Kodela Gomez, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.
OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
AR: Craig Evans (Wal)
AR: Angus Mabey (NZ)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
WHAT THEY SAID
Andy Farrell (Ireland head coach): “We want to win all our games but the opposition is always going to have a say in that. I think this is perfect because we’ve got another top, top drawer opposition coming and we want to test ourselves because we feel like we let a few people down last week.”
Felipe Contepomi (Argentina head coach): “For us the confidence comes in doing. We evaluate maybe different to how people from the outside evaluate us. I know you go a lot on results, we go more on performance and we have certain things that we look at that it doesn’t matter about results.”
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Ireland 53-7 Argentina, Autumn Test, Aviva Stadium (21 November, 2021)
Ireland 28-17 Argentina, Autumn Test, Aviva Stadium (10 November, 2018)
Ireland 28-19 Argentina, Autumn Test, Aviva Stadium (25 November, 2017)
Ireland 20-43 Argentina, World Cup quarter-final, Millennium Stadium (18 October, 2015)
Argentina 17-23 Ireland, Summer Test, Estadio Monumental Jose Fierro, Tucuman (14 June, 2014)
Ireland are once again the first act of this weekend’s Autumn Nations Series with plenty of action to come.
On Saturday Scotland host Portugal in Murrayfield at 3.10pm, while England, after defeats to New Zealand and Australia, welcome world champions South Africa to London with a 5.40pm kick-off.
France and New Zealand go head-to-head at Stade de France at 8.10pm.
Sunday sees Italy host Georgia at 1.40pm, with Wales v Australia the final match of the weekend at 4.10pm.
FULL LIST OF FIXTURES AND RESULTS
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