Sam Prendergast fit to play outhalf, as Nick Timoney starts over Josh van der Flier in the backrow

Ireland team to play Argentina: Hugo Keenan; Rob Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen. Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Sam Illo, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciarán Frawley, Bundee Aki.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Boris Wenger, Julian Montoya (capt), Francisco Morena; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera. Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Efrain Elias, Juan Martin Scelzo, Simon Benitez Cruz, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Lucio Cinti.

That’s all from me for today, goodbye!

On Hansen being back in the Irish squad for the first time since the defeat to South Africa:

“It’s fantastic to have Mack back, first of all for himself, really. He’s been through a lot, and it’s great to have not just his ability as a player but to have his personality back in the group.

“You look at Ports [Andrew Porter] who’s been out for a good while and also Hugo [Keenan] has missed quite a bit of the international game as well but when these guys come back into your group, you 100 per cent understand why they are so revered as top-line players, because of the standards that they hold themselves to and hold the rest of the team accountable to.

“So it’s great to have those three back in the building.”

Some quotes from Andy Farrell now courtesy of Gerry Thornley:

Explaining the selection of Casey as the starting scrumhalf, Farrell said: “Craig deserves to play in a big game at the start of the season, to have the responsibility to be in charge of the week and how they go about that and take responsibility for how we play on Friday.

“We need him to be able to have the opportunity to do that. Plus he’s been playing pretty well himself. He knows the competition is there but he’s got the shirt so it’s up to him and his team-mates to make a good first impression.”

Similarly, on choosing Timoney as the starting openside, the head coach said: “Certainly last year he grabbed hold, finally, of the understanding of what he can bring and what international rugby is all about. We saw a consistency within that. He brings a lot not just to our game but in different positions as well.

“Look at our 23, and you’ll see a decent bench as well – James Ryan coming on and Bundee Aki and all of that. Nick gets to wear the seven jersey for the first game and I’m sure Josh will have something to say about that in the coming weeks as well.”

In part these selections were an attempt to bridge the gap between established first-choice players and understudies.

“Yeah you have to, and you have to keep them hungry as well. They will stay hungry no matter what, because that’s the type of people that they are, but you’ve got to make sure your squad is your strength, certainly for what’s coming up in the next 12 months. It’s important that we keep feeding that.”

This also fuels competitions for places.

“If ever a player feels comfortable, we’re failing the group. We are. We’ve not got those players anyway. I don’t think people are comfortable, just by their nature but if you want to keep ambition growing as a group then you’ve got to keep the ambition within the individual.”

IRFU urges fans to watch out for fraud when buying tickets

The IRFU has issued a statement urging supporters to exercise “extreme caution” when purchasing tickets after a significant increase in fradulent digital ticket sales for upcoming Ireland matches.

These tickets were purchased through unauthorised websites and advertisements, particularly promoted through social media.

The IRFU reminds supporters that the only authorised sources for tickets are the Irish Rugby Account Manager platform through Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster itself. It says no other ticket resale or ticketing website is authorised to sell tickets.

Supporters who believe they may have purchased fraudulent tickets are encouraged to contact their bank or card provider immediately to explore options for reversing or disputing the transaction as well as reporting to An Garda Síochána.

More from Gerry Thornley:

There’s no doubt that opportunity knocks for more players than had been expected ahead of this Friday’s Nations Championship game against Argentina.

It was always likely that Porter, Baird and Hansen would be welcomed back after almost a year away from Test rugby due to injuries, and also that Jansen would start in the absence of the injured captain Caelan Doris and Conan.

His work on both sides of the ball, physicality and ability to come up with big plays, usually at important moments, had already caught the eye of Andy Farrell, Paul O’Connell et al. But this window is now a gilt-edged chance for the Connacht number eight to become as established member of the squad ahead of the World Cup.

Robbie Henshaw’s rejuvenation this season, along with Garry Ringrose’s hamstring injury, has earned him this opening to remind us all that he still has plenty to offer Ireland at Test level.

However, when the 35-man squad was initially named, not many would have expected Farrell to start Timoney and Casey, perhaps including those players themselves.

The 31-year-old Timoney has had an extraordinary late blooming in his international career, only becoming a regular member of the squad last season when an ever-present in the Six Nations and in July after augmenting his dynamic carrying with the improved contact work in defence which Farrell had demanded.

Timoney started the games against Wales and Japan, but this is arguably the biggest opportunity of his Test career.

The 27-year-old Casey has been an established member of the squad for longer, but similarly this has been as primarily a back-up to the world-class Jamison Gibson-Park. Given all three of his Six Nations starts have been against Italy, this is arguably his biggest opportunity in the nine jersey as well.

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Snap analysis from Gerry Thornley:

In making a total of seven changes in personnel to the starting XV from Ireland’s defeat by New Zealand in Eden Park last July for Friday’s meeting with Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, Andy Farrell has gone further than expected.

This is most likely due to the upcoming November window being a four-game rather than three-game block, with Ireland hosting Argentina, Fiji and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium before contesting a playoff match in Twickenham on the final weekend of the month.

It had been anticipated that Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen would all return after missing both the Six Nations and the southern series of the Nations Championship.

Injuries to Jack Conan and Garry Ringrose also led to the forecasted call-ups for Sean Jansen and Robbie Henshaw. A little more unexpectedly, Nick Timoney and Craig Casey start ahead of Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park.

As well as rotating with the four-game itinerary ahead, perhaps Farrell is also seeking to further develop squad depth with the World Cup in mind.

Tadhg Beirne reverts to blindside flanker alongside Joe McCarthy, meaning James Ryan is also named on the bench along with another starter from the Auckland loss in Tom O’Toole.

There is another mild surprise in Sam Illo being chosen ahead of Tom Clarkson, which appears to be a form pick. Illo had been performing strongly for Connacht since winning his first cap last July against Japan, whereas Clarkson has not carried on his strong form of last season thus far.

Sean Jansen is selected to make his first Test start in green having made his debut during the summer, while Illo is also in line for his home debut at Aviva Stadium off the bench. A good chance for some players to make their mark against quality opposition ahead of the World Cup next year.

The team is out!

Ireland: Keenan; Baloucoune, Henshaw, McCloskey, Hansen; S Prendergast, Casey; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Beirne, Baird, Timoney, Jansen. Replacements: Kelleher, O’Toole, Illo, Ryan, van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Frawley, Aki.

Some interesting calls there, Jamison Gibson-Park on the bench stands out as Craig Casey takes the scrumhalf position. Sam Prendergast is fit and is preferred over Ciarán Frawley. Nick Timoney starts over Van der Flier in the backrow. Sam Illo is on the bench, rather than Clarkson.

The team announcement should be coming imminently. One to watch out for is will outhalf Sam Prendergast be fit or will Ciarán Frawley take the 10 jersey?

Ireland have never been about tactics or a clever play, it’s collective performance that counts, says Gordon D’Arcy.

“It has never really been about tactics or a clever play for Ireland. It has been about collective performance, and that starts with individuals. It runs from Farrell and Paul O’Connell down to whoever is number 34, 35 or 36 in the squad. Those players may not get many minutes across the series, but they are as responsible and as engaged as those playing every minute of every Test.

“Argentina’s inconsistency – capable of being brilliant and poor in the same breath – makes them dangerous and unpredictable. Felipe Contepomi has a plan. Will his players be able to implement it?”

As for Ireland, Gerry Thornley predicts that Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen, who all missed both the Six Nations Championship and the three-match southern series of the Nations Championship, could be restored to the starting lineup against Argentina.

He writes:

All three last played Test rugby in the concluding match of last year’s Autumn Nations series, the 24-13 loss to South Africa, when Ireland incurred one 20-minute red card and four yellow cards. Porter suffered recurring calf problems and Baird suffered two leg fractures, while Hansen had repeated foot problems that also required surgery.

But each has returned to fitness and form this season, and there is every chance Farrell will name the trio in the starting XV for Friday’s game. Porter’s power and high energy has been missed, while Baird provides a point of difference with his exceptional athleticism. He would also strengthen any lineout and restart game, whether offensively or defensively, and more besides.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the announcement of the Ireland team to face Argentina. Andy Farrell will name his team to play in the first Nations Championship in the European leg of fixtures, with the match at 8.10pm at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

The team announcement is expected at about 2pm. Earlier, Argentina named a strong side to face Ireland with 12 changes from draw with Australia.

ARGENTINA: Juan Cruz Mallia; Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Boris Wenger, Julian Montoya (capt), Francisco Morena; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera.

Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Efrain Elias, Juan Martin Scelzo, Simon Benitez Cruz, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Lucio Cinti.