Ireland will host Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday evening in the Nations Championship, with head coach Andy Farrell selecting Nick Timoney, Craig Casey and Sean Jansen in the starting XV. The match kicks off at 20:10 GMT.
Jansen, the 27-year-old Connacht player, will occupy the number eight position. He made his Ireland debut in July against Japan, scoring a try, and was given a chance from the bench a week later against the All Blacks. Timoney, 31, will face Argentina in his ninth consecutive Test, having come on from the bench in the previous seven. His selection comes at the expense of Van der Flier, the former World Rugby Player of the Year.
Captain Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are out with injuries, so Dan Sheehan takes on the armband. Along with Van der Flier and Gibson-Park, the bench includes James Ryan, Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Ciaran Frawley or Jamie Benson, and Bundee Aki. Sam Illo will get the chance for a home debut if he comes off the bench.
Gibson-Park, the 34-year-old, missed the start of the Leinster season due to a groin injury but returned in the win over Munster on 24 October. Casey, however, was preferred at number nine, partnering fly-half Sam Prendergast, who has recovered from a wrist injury.
Garry Ringrose is out with a hamstring issue, so Robbie Henshaw wears the number 13 jersey in the back row alongside Stuart McCloskey. Wing Mack Hansen, prop Andrew Porter and Ryan Baird return to the squad after not playing for Ireland since the defeat by South Africa in November 2025. All three missed the Six Nations and the summer Nations Championship matches due to injuries. Hansen starts at number 11, Robert Baloucoune retains his place on the right wing, and Hugo Keenan is selected at full-back. Baird is at blindside flanker, alongside Timoney and Jansen in the back row, while Porter returns to openside. Tadhg Furlong is free to play after a disciplinary commission cleared him of allegations of grabbing Gavin Coombes by the shorts last month. Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy form the starting loosehead pair.
Argentina, led by Felipe Contepomi, has made 12 changes to the team that drew 28-28 with Australia in September. Los Pumas are seeking their first away win against Ireland, and Toulouse prop Juan Cruz Mallia returns to the squad, who will make his first appearance since November 2025 after an injury.
