Key events
The teams are out and ready for the anthems.
Not long to go now.
I agree. This Pumas side is special. They’ll give Ireland a fright if they click.
Really looking forward to Ireland v Argentina.
Going to be a lot closer than people think.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 15, 2024
This is the 20th meeting of the two sides.
Ireland lead 13-6 and have never lost to the Pumas at home.
Their last match was a one-sided affair with Ireland running out 53-7 winners in Dublin.
Argentina’s last win in this contest was in 2015 World Cup quarterfinals when they scored four tries in a 43-20 triumph in Cardiff.
Andy Farrell has said that some of his players were “lucky” to get selected again after their show against the All Blacks.
Here are his pre-match thoughts:
The week has been good, there have been some lessons that we need to transfer now.
It’s the perfect assignment. It’s a top drawer opponent on top form. The improvement they’ve made over the past 18 months has been phenomenal.
He also had some gushing words for Sam Prendergast – “a confident kid” – who, by some reports, is Farrell’s ideal 10 once he gets some miles in the legs.
The TNT live feed has just flicked on and they’ve kicked off with a speech from Theodore Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
It’s a good speech, to be fair.
Argentina’s coach, Felipe Conteponi, marks his return to Dublin tonight.
As a playmaker, he represented Leinster for six years between 2003 and 2009, before returning as the province’s attack coach for four seasons in 2018.
He’s been fantastic as the Pumas coach, giving them a new identity and a harder edge, encouraging them to attack from anywhere while causing chaos at the breakdown.
Look out for Argentina’s ability to shift the point of contact at breakneck speed. One second they’re going right, the next they’re moving left. This strategy was a handful for the Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies. Can Ireland deal with it?
Argentina team
Pablo Matera returns to the back row after serving a suspension and he’ll play an important part in the Pumas quest to disrupt Ireland’s ball.
Elsewhere, the electric Santiago Carreras returns after an injury to take his place on the bench.
Guido Petti replaces Franco Molina at lock while there is one backs change as Matias Moroni comes in for Matias Orlando
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (capt), 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 Piccardo.
Ireland team
Miraculously, as if he’s defying the laws of nature, Cian Healy is still playing rugby at the elite level.
The 37-year-old prop will equal Brian O’Driscoll’s record for most number of caps in an Irish shirt tonight when he comes off the bench to represent his nation for the 133rd time.
There’s just one change to the team that lost to New Zealand with with Robbie Henshaw’s replacing Bundee Aki – who does not make the squad – in midfield.
On the bench, alongside Healy, prop Thomas Clarkson and the very promising fly-half Sam Prendergast are set to make their debuts.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan 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.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
This weekend’s rugby feast kicks off with the meeting of two camps in different moods.
Ireland were poor, really poor, against New Zealand last week. Their celebrated cohesion was totally absent and they were well beaten at the Aviva, their first defeat on home soil since 2021.
Argentina, however, were outstanding against Italy, clattering the Azzurri with six different players scoring tries in a 50-18 rout.
The Pumas have already claimed big scalps this year having beaten New Zealand in Wellington, South Africa by a point and Australia by a record score. A win here tonight would send a clear message that Felipe Contepomi’s side is a force to be reckoned with.
Ireland simply have to be better and Andy Farrell will expect a statement. The breakdown will be pivotal. Ireland’s approach requires fast ball but the Pumas are the masters at disrupting. This is where the game will be won or lost.
Please do get in touch via email with any thoughts you might have. I’d love to hear from you.
Kick-off at 8:10 pm. Teams and other updates to follow.
