Ireland head coach Andy Farrell spoke to reporters in Dublin after naming his team for Friday's Nations Championship match against Argentina at Aviva Stadium.

Farrell made a couple of surprising calls, with Craig Casey and Nick Timoney starting at scrum-half and open-side flanker ahead of Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier respectively.

Sam Prendergast is preferred to Ciaran Frawley at fly-half after shaking off a wrist injury, while Robbie Henshaw replaces the injured Garry Ringrose at outside centre.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Sam Illo, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciaran Frawley or Jamie Benson, Bundee Aki.

"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 along with his team-mates to make a good first impression."

"He brings a lot to, not just to our game, but in different positions as well. Look at our 23-man squad and we've got a decent bench as well, you know with James Ryan coming on and Bundee Aki.

"Nick gets the chance to wear the seven jersey for the first time and I'm sure Josh [van der Flier] will have something to do with that in the coming weeks as well."

"Those two guys have shown that they mean business this year and a few good man of the matches between the two of them as well, playing with a bit of freedom in their own minds and therefore started the season very well."