mens
nations-championship
Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick as Ireland maintained their perfect home record against Argentina by facilitating a 42-12 bonus point victory in the Nations Championship.
The Cougars stunned Andy Farrell’s 2025 Britain and Ireland Lions national team in their last visit to the Aviva Stadium, but they have lost all 11 of their previous meetings with Ireland in Dublin.
Mateo Carreras’ try gave Felipe Contepomi’s side an early lead before full-back Keenan crossed either side of captain Dan Sheehan to help the hosts take a 21-5 lead into the break.
Sam Prendergast scored his first international try to add five successful conversions, with Keenan’s third and Ronan Kelleher’s powerful finish sealing an emphatic victory.
Ireland’s win was their third in four matches at this tournament Nations Championship after summer successes against Australia and Japan a loss to New Zealand followed.
Argentina looked for consolation through Carreras’ second half of the night, but their bid for a spring surprise was hampered by yellow cards for Justo Piccardo and Efraín Elias, as well as an early head injury to skipper Julian Montoya.