mens
nations-championship
Sam Prendergast will start halfway for Ireland on Friday vs Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in the fourth round of the Nations Championship.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a doubt for the start of the Northern series Nations Championship after picking up a wrist injury ahead of Leinster’s clash with Munster in the United Rugby Championship but was cleared to start in Dan Sheehan’s captaincy in the absence of Caelan Doris.
Prendergast will form a half-back partnership with Craig Casey, with his Leinster teammate Jamison Gibson-Park provides cover for the Munster man on the bench. Ciaran Frawley will serve as a substitute on the bench.
The match will see Sean Jansen make his first start for Ireland at the back, having made his debut in the summer. He will form the back row alongside Leinster’s Ryan Baird and Ulster’s Nick Timoney.
There will also be a home debut for Connacht’s Sam Illo from the bench, with Tadhg Furlong โ who avoided a ban last week for an alleged groin grab โ starting with strength.
The team will welcome back Mack Hansen for the first time in 2026, who eventually overcame a nagging foot injury. He will be joined by Robert Baloucoune on the other wing.
Ireland XV: 15 Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(48), 14 Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(9), 13 Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(85), 12 Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(31), 11 Samander Mander (31), 11 Samgaht Mander (31), 11 (Lansdowne/Leinster)(17), 9 Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(30); 1 Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(79), 2 Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(41)(capt), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(88), 4 Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(26), 5 Tadhg Daun Beirne/3M (3M) (36) (Dublin University/Leinster)(33), 7 Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(14), 8 Sean Jansen (Connacht)(2).
Replacements: 16 Rรณnan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(51), 17 Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(24), 18 Sam Illo (Buccaneers/Connacht)(1), 19 James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(83), 20 Josh van der Lein (Josh van der Leinster)(53), 22 Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Connacht)(15), 23 Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(72).
