Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has named a star-studded team to face Ireland in Friday night’s Nations Championship Test in Dublin, as they seek to end an 11-year wait for a win against the men from the Emerald Isle.

Los Pumas last tasted victory against Ireland in the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, but in that time have lost four consecutive Tests against the same opposition. All four of those defeats have also come at the Aviva Stadium.

Contepomi’s side come into November’s Nations Championship block fourth in the Southern Hemisphere pool, posting just one win from three back in July, but could leapfrog the Wallabies with a win against Andy Farrell’s outfit.

Argentina go full-strength as they seek to end 11-year wait for win over Ireland

In a bid to end that long wait, Argentina welcome back a number of key men into the squad, namely full-back Juan Cruz Mallía and flanker Juan Martín González, who both return to the side for the first time since their defeat to England in the 2025 November Tests.

Toulouse back Mallía is joined by Bautista Delguy and Mateo Carreras in an exciting back-three, while Justo Piccardo and Santiago Chocobares form the midfield pairing. Tomás Albornoz starts at fly-half, with Gonzalo Garcia partnering him at nine.

Saracens man González features in an almighty back-row alongside Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer, while Pedro Rubiolo and Guido Petti start in the locks. Francisco Moreno, Julian Montoya and Boris Wenger are the run-on front-row.

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Contepomi has opted for a traditional 5:3 split on the bench, with Leonel Ovideo, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Efrain Elias and Juan Martin Scelzo the forwards and Simon Beneitez Cruz, Geronimo Prisciantelli and Lucio Cinti the backs.

Argentina team v Ireland in full

Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Boris Wenger
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Efrain Elias, 20 Juan Martin Scelzo, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 23 Lucio Cinti

Date: Friday, 6 November 2026
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 20:10 (local), 20:10 (UK), 21:10 (France), 22:10 (South Africa), 07:10 (7 November, AEDT), 09:10 (7 November, New Zealand), 17:10 (Argentina), 05:10 (7 November, JST), 15:10 (EST)
Broadcasters: ITV / ITVX (United Kingdom), Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland), Sky Italia (Italy), SuperSport (South Africa / Africa), Nine Network / Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Sport (New Zealand), FloSports (USA), Wowow (Japan)