What’s happening?
Ireland welcome Felipe Contepomi’s Argentina for their second game of this season’s Autumn Nations Series.
When and where?
Friday, November 15th, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Kick off at 8.10pm.
How did it go last time around?
Ireland last played Argentina in November 2021 at the Aviva. Argentina opened the scoring with a third-minute try from Mateo Carreras, but that (along with the accompanying conversion) was the sum total of their impact on the scoreboard, Ireland winning the game emphatically 53-7.
We also beat them in November Internationals in 2017 and 2018. But lest we forget it was the Pumas who sent Ireland out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage in 2015.
How’s the form?
Ireland will be sore after their bruising 23-13 loss to New Zealand last Friday.
It’s not just the result that will bother them but the manner in which it came about. Mistakes and indiscipline ravaged Ireland’s game and their performance was a far cry from what we’ve come to expect under Andy Farrell.
And the Ireland head coach made his displeasure known. Speaking after the game, he said: “We didn’t manage to put our game out on the field. Obviously the opposition have a big say in that. But I thought we compounded too many errors and almost suppressed ourselves a little bit at times. The energy and the accuracy wasn’t what was needed to win a big Test match like that.”
So safe to say Ireland will want to remind the world, and themselves, of what they’re capable of by putting in a big performance against the Pumas.
[ Ireland intent on ‘bouncing back’ against improving ArgentinaOpens in new window ]
However, Argentina come into this game on the back of a 50-18 win over Italy on Saturday. While such a result against the Italians can hardly be used as a predictor of the game against Ireland it will have given the visiting side a shot of confidence. The Pumas have been impressive this year under head coach Felipe Contepomi, who Irish fans will likely remember from his time with Leinster, both as a player and later a backs coach.
Going into Friday’s game the loss to New Zealand has sent Ireland packing from first to third in the world rankings, while Argentina jumped from sixth to fifth after their win over Italy.
The Felipe Contepomi interview
Have we any team news?
Andy Farrell has made only one change to the Ireland starting XV by recalling Robbie Henshaw to midfield. But there are four changes on the bench, including two prospective debutants in Thomas Clarkson and Sam Prendergast, as well as recalls for Ryan Baird and Craig Casey.
Henshaw is reunited with his Leinster midfield partner Garry Ringrose in place of Bundee Aki, who misses out on the matchday squad altogether, as Farrell reverts to the combination he employed for the second Test victory over South Africa in Durban last July.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Joe McCarthy (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster); Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Ryan Baird (Leinster); Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Craig Casey (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster).
And here’s Argentina’s team:
ARGENTINA: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya, Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Picardo.
Are tickets still available?
Unlike the game against New Zealand, tickets for this fixture did make it as far as general sale. However, they have since sold out.
Where can I watch?
Virgin Media One will show the game live, with their coverage getting under way at 7.30pm. In the North, you can watch the match on TNT Sports.
How are the conditions looking?
Friday is shaping up to be a nice day. Conditions are expected to be clear during the afternoon before the clouds creep in for the evening. It is set to stay dry, with maximum temperatures hovering around 10 degrees.
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