Sam Prendergast to start for Ireland against Argentina as Farrell names XV

Sam Prendergast Starts at Fly-Half as Andy Farrell Names Ireland XV for Argentina Test

Ireland will climb to the top of the Northern Hemisphere pool if they extend a four-match unbeaten run against Argentina this Friday, November 6, 2026, at Aviva Stadium. Planet Rugby reported that 23-year-old fly-half Sam Prendergast has been deemed fit to start the Nations Championship Test after shaking off a wrist complaint picked up on club duty with Leinster.

Head coach Andy Farrell has made several key personnel adjustments alongside the Prendergast selection. Hugo Keenan returns at full-back, while Robert Baloucoune and Mack Hansen take up the wing positions. In the midfield, Robbie Henshaw gets the nod at outside centre alongside Stuart McCloskey. Craig Casey starts at scrum-half to form the playmaking axis with Prendergast. The forward pack features an all-Leinster front row of Andrew Porter, captain Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong, backed by Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the locks, and a back-row unit of Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, and Sean Jansen.

Bench Split and Opposing Lineups

Farrell opted for a five-to-three bench split for the fixture in Dublin. Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Sam Illo, James Ryan, and Josh van der Flier provide the forward cover, while Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciaran Frawley, and Bundee Aki cover the backline.

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi named a full-strength visiting side featuring Juan Cruz Mallia at full-back, Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, and Mateo Carreras across the outside channels, with Tomas Albornoz and Gonzalo Garcia at half-back. Los Pumas enter the match seeking their first victory over Ireland in eleven years.

Match Officials and Global Broadcast Details

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:10 local time in Dublin. Luke Pearce of the RFU will officiate the match, assisted by Hollie Davidson and Morne Ferreira, with Andrew Jackson serving as the Television Match Official and Matteo Liperini as the Foul Play Review Officer. International broadcasting rights are held by ITV and ITVX in the United Kingdom, Virgin Media Television in Ireland, Sky Italia, SuperSport across Africa, Nine Network and Stan Sport in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand, FloSports in the United States, and Wowow in Japan.

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