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In week two of the November Internationals Ireland play host to Argentina. For the Irish it is their second match while Argentina are to play their first. Both countries have four fixtures in their respective end of year series.
Coming off a dominant 54-7 win over Italy in Chicago, Ireland are a team in a strong position. For their home game against Argentina the team returns to full-strength with 12 changes. The three retained names are fullback Jordan Larmour, left winger Jacob Stockade, and inside center Bundee Aki.
In the backs the changes see veteran Keith Earls back to play right wing, Robbie Henshaw in for Garry Ringrose at outside center, Jonathan Sexton in at fly half and Kieron Marmion at scrum-half.
The forwards are entirely new. All eight starting players this weekend are to be different to that from Chicago. Former South African u20s captain CJ Stander joins Sean O’Brien, and Peter O’Mahony in the back-row. James Ryan, and Iain Henderson, start in the second-row and Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best, and Cian Healy will be the front-row.
As reported on the Americas Rugby News Podcast Guido Petti will play out of position. Mario Ledesma’s surprise sees Petti starting at flanker in one of five changes to the side that closed out the Rugby Championship against Australia in Salta.
In the front-row Santiago Medrano will earn his second test start at tight head prop. He replaces Ramiro Herrera for his 9th cap overall. Medrano’s prior start was in the 23-19 win over Australia earlier this year. Meanwhile Santiago García Botta takes over from the injured Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro to start at loose head.
Petti’s selection at flanker comes in place of Marcos Kremer who is out of the tour. This sees Matías Alemanno elevated from the bench and specialist flanker Tomás Lezana in addition to uncapped Rodrigo Bruni covering from the bench. Bruni joins Jaguar Joaquín Díaz Bonilla and u20 prop Lucio Sordoni to give Argentina three uncapped replacements.
In the backs Tomás Cubelli replaces Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half and a fit-again Bautista Delguy is back with Matías Moroni dropping to the bench.
Saturday’s match is to be the 24th between Ireland and Argentina. Ireland have the upper hand with 13 wins, Argentina have won 8 and there has been 1 draw.
Los Pumas have played 9 prior test matches in Ireland. The Europeans have won all previous meetings in Ireland dating back to the 1973 when they won 21-8.
There are numerous head-to-head battles of note in the match. Jonathan Sexton vs Nicolás Sánchez places two of, arguably, the world’s three best 10’s up against each-other. Outwide Jacob Stockdale against Ramiro Moyano is a highlight.
In the forwards James Ryan vs Tomás Lavanini and CJ Stander vs Javier Desio Ortega loom as enticing battles. The scrum, though, is the base from which both teams must deliver. The winner of the front-row battle will have a notable advantage.
Ireland is the world’s no 2 and has beaten all opponents since RWC 2015. The Irish, nonetheless, retain a fair of Los Pumas. It is related to their RWC rivalry. Of Argentina’s 8 wins over the Irish 3 have come in World Cups. In 1999 Argentina won 28-24 in Lens, in 2007 Argentina won 30-15 in Paris and in 2015 Argentina won 43-20 in Cardiff. On all occasions it saw Ireland eliminated.
Argentina’s five remaining victories were at home. In 2007 Felipe Contepomi captained his country to 22-20 and 16-0 wins in Santa Fé and Buenos Aires to complete a series win. In 2000 Argentina won 34-23 in Buenos Aires and they also did so by scores of 6-3 and 8-3 in 1970.
Ireland are a settled side well ahead of where they need to be for RWC 2019. Argentina has a new Head Coach and a roster missing European-Based players. The change from Daniel Hourcade to Mario Ledesma has been tremendously successful but this does not change the likely result. Ireland enter as favorites to win by 8 points.
TEAMS
IRELAND
15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Kieron Marmion, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 James Ryan, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Andrew Conway
ARGENTINA
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Guido Petti, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Santiago García Botta
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Rodrigo Bruni, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 23 Matías Moroni
Date: Saturday November 10
Kick-Off: 3:30pm (Argentina)
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Ludovic Cayre (France)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
