Ireland vs. Argentina - prediction, team news, lineups

Ireland big Argentina astatine the Aviva Stadium connected Friday evening successful the archetypal of their 3 location matches this period successful the Nations Championship schedule.

In their erstwhile contention outing, Andy Farrell’s men suffered a bruising decision against New Zealand successful Auckland, portion Los Pumas were narrowly beaten by England astatine the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades.

Match preview

Following a tally of 4 consecutive victories to extremity their 2026 Six Nations campaign, including an awesome 42-21 triumph against England astatine Twickenham Stadium, Ireland volition person mixed feelings with however they person begun the inaugural Nations Championship campaign.

Having picked up bonus constituent wins against Australia and Japan successful each of their opening 2 matches, the Boys successful Green headed into their heavyweight clash with New Zealand astatine Eden Park astatine the apical of the Northern Hemisphere standings, but aft enduring a 40-21 nonaccomplishment successful Auckland, Farrell’s broadside apt necessitate a flawless location docket if they privation immoderate accidental of claiming the contention crown.

As a effect of their decision to the All Blacks, Friday’s hosts caput into their docket connected acquainted territory having slipped to 4th successful the table, though with the backing of a passionate Aviva Stadium crowd, who are yet to spot a location nonaccomplishment successful 2026, determination is simply a bully accidental that Ireland volition beryllium warring with France for apical spot successful the not truthful distant future.

Kicking disconnected the location agelong against Argentina, who they person beaten successful each of the erstwhile 4 meetings betwixt the sides, Ireland volition beryllium assured that they tin nonstop a connection to their closest rivals by securing triumph up of the weekend’s matches and commencement to physique momentum earlier their seismic contention with South Africa successful a fortnights time.

Much similar their opposition, Argentina volition beryllium near feeling somewhat underwhelmed with however their Nations Championship matches panned retired connected location ungraded successful July, particularly with immoderate highly hard upcoming tests successful this month’s Northern Hemisphere fixtures.

After falling to decision against a beardown Scotland broadside successful Cordoba, Los Pumas did good to instantly onslaught backmost by posting a bonus constituent triumph implicit Wales, but having narrowly mislaid to England successful their last location fixture, Felipe Contepomi’s men beryllium 4th successful the Southern Hemisphere array astatine the midway constituent of the championship.

Despite coming from down to gully with Australia successful their latest outing, Los Pumas continued to conflict for signifier successful their summertime friendlies too, with defeats to New Zealand and South Africa meaning they person present won conscionable 1 of their past 7 matches.

With nary wins successful their erstwhile 8 distant matches against Ireland, Argentina would request to marque past to bounce backmost with triumph connected Friday evening, though Contepomi’s broadside did grounds a monumental triumph connected their erstwhile sojourn to Dublin, beating the British & Irish Lions 28-24 astatine the Aviva Stadium up of their circuit of Australia past year.

Ireland Nations Championship form:

Ireland signifier (all competitions): 

Argentina Nations Championship form:

Argentina signifier (all competitions): 

Team News

Ireland person made a quartet of changes to the guardant battalion that was deployed against New Zealand arsenic Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney and Sean Jansen travel successful for Tom O’Toole, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.

Across the backline, Farrell has replaced Jamison Gibson-Park with Craig Casey astatine scrum-half, Jimmy O’Brien makes mode for Mack Hansen connected the helping and Robbie Henshaw comes successful for Garry Ringrose successful the centre.

While Ireland person made aggregate changes to their starting lineup, determination are assorted large names acceptable to travel disconnected the seat for the hosts, with Ryan, van der Flier, Gibson-Park and Bundee Aki each amongst the replacements.

In the scrum, Contepomi has rung the changes arsenic skipper Julian Montoya, Guido Petti and Marcos Kremer are the lone players that started against England to besides beryllium named from the archetypal whistle this Friday.

However, amongst the backs determination are conscionable 2 differences, arsenic Santiago Chocobares comes successful for Matias Moroni successful the midfield and Juan Cruz Mallia replaces Santiago Carreras astatine full-back.

Ireland starting lineup:

15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey, 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Sean Jansen

Replacements:

16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Sam Illo, 19 James Ryan, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Bundee Aki 

Argentina starting lineup:

15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 1 Boris Wenger, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Francisco Moreno, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera

Replacements:

16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Efrain Elias, 20 Juan Martin Scelzo, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23 Lucio Cinti

We say: Ireland 35-18 Argentina

Having been forced to dwell connected their decision astatine Eden Park for astir 4 months, Ireland volition beryllium chomping astatine the spot to bounce backmost with a triumph successful beforehand of a location assemblage connected Friday evening.

With Argentina struggling for form, we deliberation it is hard to spot them causing an upset this week and are backing the hosts to ascent further up the Northern Hemisphere array with a bonus constituent triumph successful Dublin.