Ireland vs Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night opens the home straight towards the 2027 World Cup, with Andy Farrell’s side facing a familiar tournament nemesis just under 11 months before their campaign begins in Australia. The Nations Championship fixture carries extra weight because Argentina have beaten Ireland three times at World Cups, ending Irish hopes on each occasion, and the teams could meet again in the quarter-finals in Brisbane on Halloween night if results follow seeding.
Selection calls shape Ireland's opening night
With Jack Crowley injured, Sam Prendergast starts at fly-half and has a chance to stake a claim for the number 10 jersey. Prendergast, who made his debut in this fixture two years ago at 21, has had an uneven start to his Test career but can make a marker this month. Jamison Gibson-Park, arguably Ireland’s most important player in this cycle, is on the bench after a groin injury, so Craig Casey starts at scrum-half and wins his 31st cap in just a second start against a side in the world’s top eight.
Nick Timoney is preferred to Josh van der Flier in the back row, starting against this level of opposition for the first time. With Caelan Doris and Jack Conan injured, the performances of Timoney, Sean Jansen and Ryan Baird against an abrasive Argentina back row will have a big impact on the game.
Farrell's honest assessment
Farrell acknowledged this week that his side are not currently good enough to board the plane believing with complete certainty that they can lift the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time. A year out from the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups, Ireland had enjoyed banner seasons and were eagerly anticipating the tournaments, but 2026 has not followed that pattern. The head coach said he is excited by the work still to do.
Ireland’s recent defeats have come against the very best: their only six losses across the past two years have been in six games against New Zealand, South Africa and France, all by double-digit margins. That makes the visit of the Springboks to Dublin on 21 November a long-term target, but Argentina cannot be overlooked first.
Argentina arrive with renewed intent
Felipe Contepomi’s side are more primed than in recent windows. Twelve of the matchday squad were part of the win over the Lions at the Aviva Stadium 17 months ago, and the head coach has spoken of the historic significance of chasing a first away win over Ireland. Argentina have lost 12 of 18 Tests since that famous victory, and absentees include Bath’s Santiago Carreras and Lyon prop Thomas Gallo, but 12 changes from the 28-28 draw with Australia in September have strengthened a starting side with 750 caps of Test experience. The addition of Shaun Edwards and Mario Ledesma to the coaching staff adds further know-how.
For Ireland, the fixture offers a yardstick for the collective and for individuals. Irish provinces have struggled in the United Rugby Championship this season, combining for just six wins, three of them by Leinster, but key players should be more battle-hardened than a year ago, when many came off the Lions tour with only one game behind them before a flat defeat by New Zealand in Chicago.
Argentina have never won in Dublin, and Ireland have won 14 of the 20 previous meetings. Yet the handful of losses have coloured the rivalry, and with a World Cup quarter-final potentially on the horizon, Friday’s game is about more than the Nations Championship points.
