Wed, 04 Nov, 2026 - 14:41

Prendergast wins race to face Argentina as Beirne earns 74th cap

Sam Prendergast and Tadhg Beirne have been named in the Ireland team to face Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has rewarded Sam Prendergast's impressive start to the season by handing him the number 10 jersey for Friday's Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series clash against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.

Prendergast produced back-to-back man-of-the-match performances for Leinster in October, starring in the URC win over Cardiff before repeating the feat against Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup.

The out-half missed Leinster's recent meeting with Munster at the Aviva Stadium due to a wrist injury, which threatened his involvement this week. However, after increasing his training load over the past week, he has been selected ahead of Ciarán Frawley and will make his 18th appearance for Ireland.

Eadestown's Tadhg Beirne is included in the pack and is set to earn his 74th Ireland cap.

There is no place in the squad for Jimmy O'Brien, whose preparations were also disrupted by injury, despite returning to full training last weekend. Jamie Osborne, Cian Prendergast and Billy Bohan have also been left out of the matchday squad.

Captain Dan Sheehan leads Ireland as they get their November campaign underway in Dublin.

Sean Jansen is selected to make his first Test start in green having made his debut during the summer, while Sam Illo is also in line for his home debut at Aviva Stadium off the bench.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back with Robert Baloucoune and Mack Hansen, who will make his first Ireland appearance in a year, on the wings.

Stuart McCloskey partners Robbie Henshaw in the Ireland midfield, as Craig Casey and Prendergast link up as the half-back pairing.

In the pack, Andrew Porter, captain Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Beirne in the engine room.

Ryan Baird is named at blindside flanker, Nick Timoney is at openside and Jansen completes the starting team at number eight.

Farrell has an experienced bench to call upon on Friday night, with Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Illo, James Ryan and Josh van der Flier providing the forward replacements, while Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciaran Frawley and Bundee Aki are the backline options.

Ireland (v Argentina):

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(48)

14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(9)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(85)

12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(31)

10. Mack Hansen (Connacht)(30)

10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(17)

9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(30)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(79)

2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(41)(captain)

3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(88)

4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(26)