Keenan at the double! ☘️
Baird’s lineout steal sparks another Irish attack, with Hansen setting up Keenan for a superb finish.
30 mins: Ireland 21-5 Argentina
#VMsport #Nationschampionship #IREVARG https://t.co/FH2n6ki8he
Prendergast has seen enough and kicks out to bring an end to the first half. Ireland will head for the dressing room pleased with their first-half fightback, and in control with a 21-5 lead.
It was a slow start from the hosts as Matteo Carrareras broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, but three unanswered tries from Hugo Keenan (two) and Dan Sheehan have them in the ascendancy.
The gap could be more but for another Sheehan effort ruled out by the TMO, while Argentina have lost their captain Montoya to a HIA and have Piccardo in the bin.
Second half to follow.
(Side note: Apologies for any strange formatting in the half-time alert, not sure what happened there!)
38 mins – The stop-start nature continues through a series of contested and uncontested scrums, with Oviedo also going off for a HIA and another player moving positions. Confusion all round. Ireland pinged for a side entry in the latest scrum, and a they let another big opportunity slip.
12 mins ago
8:55PM
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
35 mins – Sheehan scrambles over in the corner off the 5m line out, and seems to get injured in the process. We go to the TMO. No try.
A tackle from Garcia in the build-up is in focus, the Virgin Media commentary team seem to think it should have been a penalty try.
Sheehan goes off for a HIA, in comes Rónan Kelleher.
17 mins ago
8:50PM
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
33 mins – From line out to scrum, Ireland keep threatening and asking questions.
Big blow for Argentina as Montoya fails his HIA – and another: Piccardo has just been sin-binned for continued ill discipline. Argentina have conceded six penalties to Ireland’s two.
20 mins ago
8:47PM
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
32 mins - Prendergast and Casey with superb kicks to find touch, and put the Argentina defence – which is at sixes and sevens – under more and more pressure. They are pinned right back, gasping for air.
23 mins ago
8:43PM
TRY! Ireland 19-5 Argentina (Hugo Keenan, 29 mins)
Two for Keenan, three for Ireland! Andy Farrell’s side have really cut loose since that early setback.
Baird steals the line out – set up by that brilliant Prendergast kick – and Hansen and Keenan combine to good effect once more.
Slight delay to confirm but all is good, and Prendergast adds the extras from close range. 21-5.
24 mins ago
8:43PM
Ireland 14-5 Argentina
28 mins – Ireland look to hammer the hammer, with Baloucoune’s pace causing serious problems and Argentina under the cosh. Prendergast steps up with a sublime kick, finding touch on the 5m line. Argentina lose their captain Julian Montoya to a HIA.
27 mins ago
8:39PM
TRY!Ireland 12-5 Argentina (Dan Sheehan, 25 mins)
Two visits to the Argentina 22, two tries.
It all comes from the line out, with Sheehan starting and finishing the move. Good work from Baird and Timoney, and the hooker crashes over.
Predergast converts, 14-5.
28 mins ago
8:38PM
Ireland 7-5 Argentina
24 mins – Prendergast invites the pressure back on Ireland, kicking straight to Carreras. The hosts are up against it again, but Tadhg Beirne ‘s line out steal and Nick Timoney’s turnover prove crucial.
32 mins ago
8:35PM
Ireland 7-5 Argentina
20 mins – Huge turnover from Sean Jansen as a second Argentina try looks imminent. Poor discipline let Ireland down again, penalised for turning the ball in contatct and the latest Argentina attack following suit. Huge cheer as Jansen wins the penalty to clear the lines.
35 mins ago
8:32PM
Ireland 7-5 Argentina
18 mins - Ireland are hungry for more, but there’s a break in play for treatment for an Argentinian player. Stats flash up on the screen on Virgin Media – Ireland with 19 carries to the Pumas’ 17, one metre more gained.
38 mins ago
8:29PM
Here it is…
Ireland hit back with a superb team try! ☘️
Prendergast’s looping run frees Baloucoune, whose floated pass finds Hansen. He sends Hugo Keenan over to finish a flowing Irish move.
#VMsport #Nationschampionship #IREVARG https://t.co/dYWJe1r0oB
Superb try for Ireland off the set piece, brilliant response.
Robert Baloucoune sets it up with his electric speed, dancing through the Argentinian defence and finding Hansen out wide left. Mack knocks it back to Keenan, who powers over to score in his fourth consecutive game for Ireland.
Prendergast adds the extras, and Ireland lead 7-5.
41 mins ago
8:25PM
Ireland 0-5 Argentina
12 mins – A disappointing start for Ireland, who look to bounce back quickly. Brilliant counter-rucking could help provide the platform.
42 mins ago
8:24PM
Mateo Carreras strikes first! 🇦🇷
The winger rises above Craig Casey to gather a pinpoint cross-field kick from Tomás Albornoz and score. The conversion is missed.
10 mins: Ireland 0-5 Argentina
#VMsport #Nationschampionship #IREVARG https://t.co/Fn4eJ5sP5w
TRY! Ireland 0-5 Argentina (Matteo Carreras, 10 mins)
Argentina go again, and strike first through Carreras. It’s all about the sublime cross-field kick from Tomás Albornoz, and Carreras out jumps Casey for an easy finish.
No conversion, 5-0 Argentina.
46 mins ago
8:20PM
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
9 mins – Argentina get away from the line out but Ireland defend well and they succumb to the pressure, with Bautista Delguy knocking on. The danger is far from clear yet…
48 mins ago
8:19PM
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
7 mins – Prendergast again goes to the sky, and Santiago Carreras wins the aerial battle against Hugo Keenan. More over and back thereafter, with kick tennis an early theme. Ireland penalised for impeding at the breakdown, and the visitors find touch on the Irish 22. Cagey opening, with a little bit of needle as Mack Hansen is involved in a scuffle.
50 mins ago
8:16PM
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
5 mins – We have our first scrum of the night as Argentina spill their own lineout, just inside the Irish half. Craig Casey never really gets an opportunity to put the ball in, and Ireland are on their way once more.
52 mins ago
8:14PM
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
2 mins – Ireland settle well and put some nice phases together, but Prendergast’s high kick gives the impetus to Argentina, who look threatening on the counter after some over and back.
56 mins ago
8:11PM
KICK-OFF! Tomas Albornoz gets us underway.
56 mins ago
8:10PM
Anthems all complete, referee is Luke Pearce of England, here we go!
1 hr ago
8:05PM
A huge round of applause at Aviva Stadium as the late Ciara Mageean is remembered before kick-off. Tributes also paid to former IRFU CEO Philip Browne, former Ireland and Lions back-row Fergus Slattery and former Ireland and Munster prop Phil O’Callaghan.
1 hr ago
8:02PM
Just under 10 minutes to go. Time to call it.
How will tonight’s Nations Championship game go?
Poll Results:
(15)
(6)
(1)
1 hr ago
7:56PM
Ireland have never lost to Argentina on Irish soil, so they’ll be determined to extend that streak to 12 games. The Pumas can be slow out of the blocks when they regather from their clubs around the world.
Ireland are viewed as 10-point favourites in some quarters, and Farrell would love to see his side open up, but Los Pumas will be looking for something akin to their thrilling win over the Lions at the Aviva in 2025.
And here’s the Argentina side targetting their first win over Ireland on Irish soil.
Argentina
15. Juan Cruz Mallía
14. Bautista Delguy
13. Justo Piccardo
12. Santiago Chocobares
11. Matteo Carreras
10. Tomás Albornoz
9. Gonzalo García
1. Boris Wenger
2. Julián Montoya (captain)
3. Francisco Moreno
4. Guido Petti
5. Pedro Rubiolo
6. Juan Martín González
7. Marcos Kremer
8. Pablo Matera.
Replacements:
16. Leonel Oviedo
17. Mayco Vivas
18. Joel Sclavi
19. Efraín Elias
20. Juan Martín Scelzo
21. Símon Benítez Cruz
22. Gerónimo Prisciantelli
23. Lucio Cinti.
1 hr ago
7:22PM
Here’s the Ireland team, contingent on no other late changes.
Farrell has handed Nick Timoney and Craig Casey big starting chances at openside and scrum-half respectively. Sam Prendergast is fit to start at 10, while Sean Jansen makes just his second Test start at number eight.
Dan Sheehan captains the side from hooker, while Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen return to the green jersey after injury spells.
Ireland
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 (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Ryan Baird
7. Nick Timoney
8. Sean Jansen
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Tom O’Toole
18. Sam Illo
19. James Ryan
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ciarán Frawley
23. Jamie Osborne
1 hr ago
7:16PM
Team News
There’s a change to Andy Farrell’s matchday squad, with Bundee Aki ruled out due to illness and Jamie Osborne joining the replacements in his absence.
A change to tonight's team. https://t.co/QeQbFLvJ8U
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LIVE: Ireland v Argentina, Nations Championship
Here’s Ireland’s third, and Keenan’s second, try:
You’ll find the others if you scroll down.
Prendergast has seen enough and kicks out to bring an end to the first half. Ireland will head for the dressing room pleased with their first-half fightback, and in control with a 21-5 lead.
It was a slow start from the hosts as Matteo Carrareras broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, but three unanswered tries from Hugo Keenan (two) and Dan Sheehan have them in the ascendancy.
The gap could be more but for another Sheehan effort ruled out by the TMO, while Argentina have lost their captain Montoya to a HIA and have Piccardo in the bin.
Second half to follow.
(Side note: Apologies for any strange formatting in the half-time alert, not sure what happened there!)
HT: Ireland 21-5 Argentina
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
38 mins – The stop-start nature continues through a series of contested and uncontested scrums, with Oviedo also going off for a HIA and another player moving positions. Confusion all round. Ireland pinged for a side entry in the latest scrum, and a they let another big opportunity slip.
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
35 mins – Sheehan scrambles over in the corner off the 5m line out, and seems to get injured in the process. We go to the TMO. No try.
A tackle from Garcia in the build-up is in focus, the Virgin Media commentary team seem to think it should have been a penalty try.
Sheehan goes off for a HIA, in comes Rónan Kelleher.
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
33 mins – From line out to scrum, Ireland keep threatening and asking questions.
Big blow for Argentina as Montoya fails his HIA – and another: Piccardo has just been sin-binned for continued ill discipline. Argentina have conceded six penalties to Ireland’s two.
Ireland 21-5 Argentina
32 mins - Prendergast and Casey with superb kicks to find touch, and put the Argentina defence – which is at sixes and sevens – under more and more pressure. They are pinned right back, gasping for air.
TRY! Ireland 19-5 Argentina (Hugo Keenan, 29 mins)
Two for Keenan, three for Ireland! Andy Farrell’s side have really cut loose since that early setback.
Baird steals the line out – set up by that brilliant Prendergast kick – and Hansen and Keenan combine to good effect once more.
Slight delay to confirm but all is good, and Prendergast adds the extras from close range. 21-5.
Ireland 14-5 Argentina
28 mins – Ireland look to hammer the hammer, with Baloucoune’s pace causing serious problems and Argentina under the cosh. Prendergast steps up with a sublime kick, finding touch on the 5m line. Argentina lose their captain Julian Montoya to a HIA.
TRY! Ireland 12-5 Argentina (Dan Sheehan, 25 mins)
Two visits to the Argentina 22, two tries.
It all comes from the line out, with Sheehan starting and finishing the move. Good work from Baird and Timoney, and the hooker crashes over.
Predergast converts, 14-5.
Ireland 7-5 Argentina
24 mins – Prendergast invites the pressure back on Ireland, kicking straight to Carreras. The hosts are up against it again, but Tadhg Beirne ‘s line out steal and Nick Timoney’s turnover prove crucial.
Ireland 7-5 Argentina
20 mins – Huge turnover from Sean Jansen as a second Argentina try looks imminent. Poor discipline let Ireland down again, penalised for turning the ball in contatct and the latest Argentina attack following suit. Huge cheer as Jansen wins the penalty to clear the lines.
Ireland 7-5 Argentina
18 mins - Ireland are hungry for more, but there’s a break in play for treatment for an Argentinian player. Stats flash up on the screen on Virgin Media – Ireland with 19 carries to the Pumas’ 17, one metre more gained.
Here it is…
TRY! Ireland 5-5 Argentina (Hugo Keenan, 15 mins)
Superb try for Ireland off the set piece, brilliant response.
Robert Baloucoune sets it up with his electric speed, dancing through the Argentinian defence and finding Hansen out wide left. Mack knocks it back to Keenan, who powers over to score in his fourth consecutive game for Ireland.
Prendergast adds the extras, and Ireland lead 7-5.
Ireland 0-5 Argentina
12 mins – A disappointing start for Ireland, who look to bounce back quickly. Brilliant counter-rucking could help provide the platform.
TRY! Ireland 0-5 Argentina (Matteo Carreras, 10 mins)
Argentina go again, and strike first through Carreras. It’s all about the sublime cross-field kick from Tomás Albornoz, and Carreras out jumps Casey for an easy finish.
No conversion, 5-0 Argentina.
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
9 mins – Argentina get away from the line out but Ireland defend well and they succumb to the pressure, with Bautista Delguy knocking on. The danger is far from clear yet…
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
7 mins – Prendergast again goes to the sky, and Santiago Carreras wins the aerial battle against Hugo Keenan. More over and back thereafter, with kick tennis an early theme. Ireland penalised for impeding at the breakdown, and the visitors find touch on the Irish 22. Cagey opening, with a little bit of needle as Mack Hansen is involved in a scuffle.
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
5 mins – We have our first scrum of the night as Argentina spill their own lineout, just inside the Irish half. Craig Casey never really gets an opportunity to put the ball in, and Ireland are on their way once more.
Ireland 0-0 Argentina
2 mins – Ireland settle well and put some nice phases together, but Prendergast’s high kick gives the impetus to Argentina, who look threatening on the counter after some over and back.
KICK-OFF! Tomas Albornoz gets us underway.
Anthems all complete, referee is Luke Pearce of England, here we go!
A huge round of applause at Aviva Stadium as the late Ciara Mageean is remembered before kick-off. Tributes also paid to former IRFU CEO Philip Browne, former Ireland and Lions back-row Fergus Slattery and former Ireland and Munster prop Phil O’Callaghan.
Just under 10 minutes to go. Time to call it.
How will tonight’s Nations Championship game go?
Poll Results:
Ireland have never lost to Argentina on Irish soil, so they’ll be determined to extend that streak to 12 games. The Pumas can be slow out of the blocks when they regather from their clubs around the world.
Ireland are viewed as 10-point favourites in some quarters, and Farrell would love to see his side open up, but Los Pumas will be looking for something akin to their thrilling win over the Lions at the Aviva in 2025.
You can read Murray Kinsella’s preview here, and there’s loads more pre-match reading on The 42 if you find time before kick-off.
Reunions all round!
The fans are ready…
And here’s the Argentina side targetting their first win over Ireland on Irish soil.
Argentina
Replacements:
Here’s the Ireland team, contingent on no other late changes.
Farrell has handed Nick Timoney and Craig Casey big starting chances at openside and scrum-half respectively. Sam Prendergast is fit to start at 10, while Sean Jansen makes just his second Test start at number eight.
Dan Sheehan captains the side from hooker, while Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen return to the green jersey after injury spells.
Ireland
Replacements:
Team News
There’s a change to Andy Farrell’s matchday squad, with Bundee Aki ruled out due to illness and Jamie Osborne joining the replacements in his absence.
Here we go. All eyes on Aviva Stadium, where Ireland host Argentina under Friday Night Lights.
Excitement is building as Andy Farrell’s side return to Nations Championship action against Los Pumas.
Kick-off is at 8.10pm, with the action live on Virgin Media One.
We’ll do our best to keep you up to date here, while Murray Kinsella and Ciarán Kennedy will have their usual extensive coverage from Lansdowne Road.
Stick with us on The 42, and get involved!
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