Hello and good evening!

Good to have you with us again for Ireland’s second outing in the Autumn Nations Series. After last week’s disappointing performance against the All Blacks, Andy Farrell’s side will be hoping to get back on track against Argentina this evening at the Aviva Stadium.

We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few moments as the 8.10pm kick-off draws near. Sinéad Farrell will be taking you through all the updates and we’d love to hear from you in the comments below if you have any observations you would like to share.

Ireland

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (Captain)

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ryan Baird
20. Peter O’Mahony
21. Craig Casey
22. Sam Prendergast
23. Jamie Osborne

Argentina

15. Juan Cruz Mallia (40 caps)
14. Rodrigo Isgro (5)
13. Lucio Cinti (30)
12. Matthias Moroni (87)
11. Bautista Delguy (31)
10. Tomas Albornoz (15)
9. Gonzalo Bertranou (66)

1. Thomas Gallo (33)
2. Julian Montoya (103) (capt)
3. Joel Sclavi (25)
4. Guido Petti (85)
5. Pedro Rubiolo (18)
6. Pablo Matera (107)
7. Juan Martin Gonzalez (38)
8. Joaquin Oviedo (11)

Replacements:

16. Ignacio Ruiz (16)
17. Ignacio Streets (6)
18. Francisco Gomez Kodela (39)
19. Franco Molina (10)
20. Santiago Grondona (19)
21. Gonzalo Garcia (9)
22. Santiago Carreras (51)
23. Justo Piccardo (0)

The calm inside…

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

The craic outside…

Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

How do you see this going?

If you’re looking to pass the time before the game starts, here’s a selection of our best coverage building up to tonight.

• Pumas chase history but small improvements can get Ireland back on track

• ‘We’re confident’ – Ireland back their lineout to fire against Argentina

• ‘He’s probably one of the most skillful guys I’ve come across’

• ‘Your strength is your weakness and that’s probably the case with Irish rugby’

This is also a huge night for Cian Healy as he looks to equal Brian O’Driscoll’s appearance record of 133 caps for Ireland.

The teams are out now. Not long to go.

Kick-off! Ireland v Argentina

1 min: Ireland 0-0 Argentin

Fiery start as Josh van der Flier gets a charge down to put Argentina on the back foot. Captain Caelan Doris follows up with a similar serving and this is a brilliant start as Ireland work through the phases.

2 mins: Ireland 0-0 Argentina

Jack Crowley holds his forehead after taking a heavy hit. Argentina push Ireland back but continue to hold possession.

2 mins: Ireland 0-0 Argentina

Matthias Moroni has just crossed over for a try but the referee is reviewing that hit on Crowley by Moroni so it may be chalked off.

3 mins: Ireland 0-0 Argentina

Yellow card for Moroni and off field review, meaning the try is overturned. A let off for Ireland but it was a high challenge and a fair all. The play comes back to Argentina territory and Crowley kicks for the corner.

TRY! Ireland 7-0 Argentina (Jack Crowley ’3)

4 mins: Ireland 7-0 Argentina

Brilliant from Crowley to sneak in with a wicked step. It was a well executed lineout to set them up for the score.

TRY! Ireland 12-0 Argentina (Mack Hansen ’5)

7 mins: Ireland 12-0 Argentina

Two tries in two minutes and Crowley is unlucky to see his second conversion fall short under the bar. It was another brilliant piece of play from Ireland, and it was all down to Garry Ringrose breaking the line to advance into Argentina’s half of the pitch. 

Tadhg Beirne put the Connacht man Hansen in to finish at the corner.

𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐘!

Weaves through for his second international try!

🟢 7-0 🇦🇷#IREvARG | #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/t7j77KA3MJ

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 15, 2024

𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐊! 💫

Hansen gets Ireland's second try after just 6 minutes!

Brilliant from Garry Ringrose & Gibson-Park!#IREvARG | #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/37EyT2SSvC

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 15, 2024

10 mins: Ireland 12-0 Argentina

Now it’s Ireland’s turn to defend and we’re coming back for a penalty against Robbie Henshaw who was offside. Meanwhile, the referee has advised that Moroni’s yellow card will remain as such meaning he will be back on shortly.

12 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

Tomas Albornoz opts for the posts from close range to get the visitors on the board.

13 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

Scrum for Ireland as James Lowe works well to hold the player up. Good turnover and another chance for Ireland to attack.

14 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

Another error gives possession back to Argentina but Hugo Keenan gets under a kick return and races back up the field. Ireland make great gains as Joe McCarthy and Jamison Gibson Park link well.

15 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

Beirne goes over but the referee is checking with the TMO to check if he grounded the ball or dropped it. On field decision is a try.

15 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

NO TRY!

Unlucky but fair. The ball just slipped out of his grasp at the last second before the grounding. 

16 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

Hansen battles well in the air to nudge a box kick into the hands of Beirne. It’s a knock-on however and Finlay Bealham could be in trouble with the referee for an apparent croc roll.

16 mins: Ireland 12-3 Argentina

And that’s a yellow card for the Ireland prop. 

17 mins: Ireland 12-6 Argentina

A penalty is the outcome of that decision as Albornoz converts again to reduce the gap again.

19 mins: Ireland 12-6 Argentina

Keenan picks up a spilled ball after no-one in an Irish shirt jumped to collect an Argentina box kick. 

Penalty for Ireland over a spear tackle on Doris. And Crowley is sending Ireland to the forward again despite the loss of Bealham for the lineout.

20 mins: Ireland 12-6 Argentina

Very messy lineout as Kelleher’s throw is tapped backwards but Ireland don’t secure possession and get pushed back. They’re trying to get their attack working again.

21 mins: Ireland 15-6 Argentina

DROPGOAL!

Lovely strike from Crowley to restore that nine-point lead. Relief for Ireland as well as Bealham’s yellow stays a yellow.

23 mins: Ireland 15-6 Argentina

Ireland appear to be making a temporary change as Thomas Clarkson comes for van der Flier to contest a scrum while Bealham is still in the bin.

25 mins: Ireland 15-6 Argentina

Ireland get the advantage and Gibson Park takes the free kick quickly. But Joe McCarthy gets penalised in possession and it’s another Argentina penalty. Albornoz is lining up for the posts.

26 mins: Ireland 15-9 Argentina

And he slots the kick off his left to put six between the sides again. Bealham is coming back into the action again.

27 mins: Ireland 15-9 Argentina

Super fetch from Keenan from the restart. They get the attack rolling again.

28 mins: Ireland 15-9 Argentina

Good passing and carries to advance further. Henshaw feeds McCarthy who gets gobbled up but Argentina concede a penalty for coming in at the side. Crowley kicks to the corner once more.

28 mins: Ireland 15-9 Argentina

Good lineout again. They’re sniffing to get in.

29 mins: Ireland 15-9 Argentina

Ringrose spins around to try and fool their opponents. Ireland are at the corner now, inches from home.

31 mins: Ireland 15-9 Argentina

Argentina get the ball back and boot it out for touch to ease the pressure momentarily.

TRY! Ireland 22-9 Argentina (Joe McCarthy ’31)

33 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Joe McCarthy lunges over as Ireland profit from the lineout to put some distance between the teams. That’s try number three for Ireland Crowley adds the conversion.

35 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Ireland turn Argentina over. Good work from van der Flier to get the dispossession. They cycle the ball out to Lowe on the opposite wing who doesn’t connect right with the kick, and Argentina will wind up to go at them again.

𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐉𝐎𝐄!!! 🟢

McCarthy gets Ireland's third try of the night!

🟢 22-9 🇦🇷#IREvARG | #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/dRClo9oHmD

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 15, 2024

36 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Penalty for Argentina for an offside on Doris. They’re opting for the corner and Ireland will be under pressure to keep them out.

33 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Not a great throw from Argentina but they retain possession. 

33 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Another penalty against Ireland. Argentina bundle through but they’ve been held up so we’ll be coming back for that penalty.

40 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Frantic few moments there. Albornoz sends over a cross-kick for the winger to chase. The ball bounces and eventually falls to Keenan. But there’s another penalty for Argentina to come.

Half-Time! Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Patchy stuff but that was solid defensive work from Ireland to see out the half without conceding a try. Credit to Ringrose for a well-time turnover while Doris also features to bring the ball forward before feeding Crowley to kick the ball out and bring the half to a close.

Andy Farrell will surely be happy with that first-half display. Three tries on the board from Crowley, Hansen and McCarthy, along with that dropgoal puts the hosts in a commanding position. 

Rob Kearney has criticised the decision to allow play continue for as long as it did after the head-high challenge on Crowley. What are your thoughts?

Second Half: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

40 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Great kick from Gibson-Park to get off the mark from Argentina’s start in the second half.

43 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

James Ryan is penalised for ripping the ball and Argentina are down in Ireland’s corner. Ryan disagrees but says he did so after calling tackle.

44 mins: Ireland 22-9 Argentina

Great kick from Crowley who is adding to his consistent performance last week. Keenan knocks on the ball after contesting the ball in the air. 

TRY! Ireland 22-16 Argentina (Juan Cruz Mallia ’45)

47 mins: Ireland 22-16 Argentina

Juan Cruz Mallia makes it a one-score game as he punches a hole in the Irish defence at speed and steps around Hansen to race through. Lowe tries to snatch at his jersey but he’s too quick. An easy conversion brings Argentina back into this tie.

48 mins: Ireland 22-16 Argentina

Ireland guilty of some poor kicking and decision making as Gibson-Park gives possession back to Argentina. They have a penalty which they send to the corner and more pressure is on the way for Ireland.

𝐋𝐎𝐒 𝐏𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄! ⚡️

That's a brilliant try from Argentina!

Incredible pace from Juan Cruz Mallia!

🟢 22-16 🇦🇷#IREvARG | #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/FX4Q8qjStV

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 15, 2024

49 mins: Ireland 22-16 Argentina

Ireland’s penalty count continues to rise, the latest which is against McCarthy for offside. And it’s a yellow card for the try-scorer.

51 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Albornoz decides take the points and there is just three between the teams now. This will be a very challenging period for Ireland.

53 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Bad kick from Hansen as Bealham makes way for Clarkson. Hansen redeems himself with a good catch in the air.

54 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Crowley comes in too late with a challenge on his opposite number Albornoz. The penalty count reads Ireland 10-3 Argentina which sums up this game so far.

55 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Doris unlucky not to get a turnover as Argentina work the passes to create a dropgoal attempt. But Albornoz is way off with his kick and it’s a let off for Ireland.

56 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Lowe in with a charge down and Ireland win the ball back. The crowd is finding their voice as well but again a bad kick hurts Ireland’s attacking chances. Crowley’s attempt to find touch is caught in play.

58 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Ireland work another turnover through a textbook tackle by Ringrose. A loose pass sees Keenan gets pushed back but there’s a scrum to Ireland.

61 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Good scrum from Ireland as Crowley, Lowe and Keenan link up well. Lowe tries a grubber kick which doesn’t get picked up by an Irish shirt but they keep the ball when Argentina find touch.

62 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Excellent box kick from Gibson-Park. Henshaw collects but drops the ball and it’s an Argentina scrum.

Meanwhile….

Sam Prendergast is in for Crowley!

64 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Argentina are awarded a penalty which causes a brief scrap. 

Ireland change: Rob Herring replaces Kelleher and Ryan Baird and Jamie Osborne come in for Ryan and Henshaw.

64 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

That’s a blow for Baird as he must make away almost as soon as coming on for a HIA. Peter O’Mahony comes in to replace him.

65 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Clarkson wins a penalty from a scrum and he gets plenty of praise from his teammates. Prendergast puts Ireland in the corner.

Cian Healy looks to be coming on to equal Brian O’Driscoll’s appearance record.

66 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Ireland attack quickly as Prendergast offloads to Lowe for the final charge but he knocks the ball on.

67 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Bad kick from Argentina lands into the clutches of Hansen who starts Ireland up swiftly. A penalty to Ireland follows and they’re going back to the corner.

69 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

The maul gets wrapped up and they’re not getting through. They start working the ball out towards the opposite wing. But no gap is emerging.

70 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Brave of Prendergast to try and shove his way through with the ball after 14 phases from Ireland. But they’ve lost the ball and get pushed back out the field.

73 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

O’Mahony gathers the ball from a lineout and Ireland are on the march again.

The ball comes to Osborne who slips through two players but he gets swept up and there’s a penalty against Ireland for not releasing.

Ireland change: Craig Casey is on for Jamison Gibson-Park.

74 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

The referee is reviewing an incident involving some dangerous play against Argentina. 

75 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

And it’s a yellow card for Francisco Gomez Kodela for a strike on Doris. That could be a huge turning point. Can Ireland make use of the advantage?

73 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Another solid kick from Prendergast to set up for the lineout.

77 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Great work from Ireland to spray the ball across with Prendergast and Keenan getting involved. The ball is slippery but Ireland still have it. Casey almost has his pocket picked but it’s another let-off for Ireland.

Then McCarthy takes them further forward. They’re closing in.

78 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

More impressive phase play as Ireland secure the ball. 

79 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

But it’s a penalty to Argentina for holding on. Ireland are on the back foot as the clock goes red.

80 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Argentina are being patient. They’re looking to see if Ireland will blink

80 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

They’ve broken through to Ireland’s ’22.

81 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Ireland staying disciplined, not conceding a penalty. Argentina edging closer.

81 mins: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

KNOCK ON!!

Ireland have the ball back and that will be that

Full-Time! Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Phew….

That was close. Too close. Ireland fail to score in the second half, losing that period 10-0. But they just about hold on.

A mixed performance for sure. Andy Farrell will not be happy with the error count again. But they have recovered from the All Blacks defeat, and have their first win of the series.

Well, that’s all from us folks. Stick around for our match report and post-game coverage.

Until next time, all the best!