Banned fly-half back as Argentina name team with 50-cap average vs Ireland

Felipe Contepomi has named an experienced line-up with 750 caps between them, as Argentina resume their Nations Championship campaign with a clash against Ireland on Friday night at the Aviva Stadium.

Los Pumas are fourth in the southern hemisphere standings after a win over Wales against was sandwiched by defeats to Scotland and England.

Since July, Argentina have suffered defeats to South Africa and Australia, and then drew with the Wallabies in their most recent outing.

After a run of three games without a win, Contepomi is hoping his team can turn the corner with a first win over Ireland at the Aviva at the 11th attempt.

“We’ve been inconsistent at certain times,” he admitted, when addressing the media.

“In July, we couldn’t get out of the blocks as quickly as we wanted to and then, because of player welfare, we rested a lot of players in September and we had some new guys brought through.

“Overall, we have been competitive but we have lost more than we want. That is not good enough. But I think we are on the right track and this November series is a good oopporutnity to play two of the best four teams in the world (Ireland and France) and also a team (Italy) that has been improving a lot, and then whoever we play in Finals week.”

Julián Montoya captains Argentina once again from hooker and is one of three centurions in the side, with lock Guido Petti and Pablo Matera, who replaces the injured Joaquin Oviedo at No.8, having also reached three figures in terms of Test appearances.

Petti and Pedro Rubiolo lock down a scrum that has yet to lose a feed on its own put-in, in the Nations Championship, while Juan Martín González, Marcos Kremer and Matera form the back row.

Head-to-Head

We do not have any previous games on record.

Gonzalo García and Tomás Albornoz are the half-backs, with Santiago Chocobares and Justo Piccardo making up the midfield.

Albornoz returns to the team for the first time since July after serving a four-match ban for misconduct.

While losing Santiago Carreras to a season-ending ACL injury is a blow, Contepomi is still able to field a back three with plenty of miles on the clock.

Mateo Carreras is on the left wing, Bautista Delguy is on the right, while Juan Cruz Mallía completes the team at full-back.

Eight of the XV started the last time Argentina were in Dublin in 2024, while two of the bench also featured.

Mallía scored Los Pumas’ only try in a 22-19 defeat, as the visitors fell just short in their attempt to battle back from a 22-9 half-time deficit.

Argentina team vs Ireland:

1. WENGER, Boris (11 caps)
2. MONTOYA, Julián (120 caps) – Captain
3. MORENO, Francisco (3 caps)
4. PETTI, Guido (104 caps)
5. RUBIOLO, Pedro (31 caps)
6. GONZÁLEZ, Juan Martín (51 caps)
7. KREMER, Marcos (83 caps)
8. MATERA, Pablo (127 caps) – Vice-captain
9. GARCÍA, Gonzalo (19 caps)
10. ALBORNOZ, Tomás (24 caps)
11. CARRERAS, Mateo (36 caps)
12. CHOCOBARES, Santiago (35 caps)
13. PICCARDO, Justo (13 caps)
14. DELGUY, Bautista (42 caps)
15. MALLÍA, Juan Cruz (51 caps) – Vice-captain

Replacements

16. OVIEDO, Leonel (3 caps)
17. VIVAS, Mayco (44 caps)
18. SCLAVI, Joel (32 caps)
19. ELIAS, Ephraim (6 caps)
20. SCELZO, Juan Martín (2 caps)
21. BENÍTEZ CRUZ, Simón (15 caps)
22. PRISCIANTELLI, Gerónimo (6 caps)
23. CINTI, Lucio (45 caps)