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Felix Jones is in line for his sixth Irish cap. Dan Sheridan/INPHO
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Argentina game offers Felix Jones chance to put himself in World Cup picture

The Munster fullback is hoping to grasp his chance in the Irish 15 jersey.

IT IS ALMOST three years since Felix Jones’ World Cup hopes were ended at Lansdowne Road. The Munster fullback fielded a high ball before landing awkwardly on his ankle and damaging ligaments.

This evening’s clash with Argentina offers Jones the chance to cement his place in the Ireland squad ahead of a [prolonged] World Cup season. The 26-year-old is coming off the back of an impressive season with his province. He played 21 times for Munster, scoring two tries and earning plaudits for Heineken Cup outings against Gloucester and Toulouse.

Despite the move to Munster, from Leinster, in 2009, Jones’ breakthrough season was 2010/11. His form at the tail-end of that league-winning season saw him oust Paul Warwick and force his way into Declan Kidney’s World Cup thoughts.

He was one of the bright points of warm-up losses to Scotland and France but his ankle injury, which came 68 minutes into his first start [against France] was a cruel blow. Geordan Murphy earned a World Cup reprieve and it took Jones two years to get back into the Test side.

Les Kiss, in his interim role as head coach, called him up for last summer’s tour to North America. He came on for Simon Zebo on the left wing — a role he starred in as a Irish U20 — against the USA and started a week later against Canada. He made Joe Schmidt’s extended Six Nations squad but his only action in green came for the Wolfhounds against England Saxons.

Schmidt is using the current Argentina tour to look at players he feels will add to his wider squad. This evening’s game offers players such as Jones, Robbie Diack and Darren Cave the opportunity to prove their worth to the New Zealander.

Jones, for his part, is expecting a noisy reception by the home fans as Ireland seek to build on their Six Nations success. “It’s going to be very physical,” he said. “We’re expecting it to be a cauldron when we get up to Chaco and for it to be a very tough game.”

IrishRugbyTVOfficial / YouTube

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