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Sam Prendergast and Thomas Clarkson set for debuts as Robbie Henshaw starts against Argentina

Nov 14,2024

Sam Prendergast and Thomas Clarkson are in line to make their Ireland debuts in Friday's Autumn Nations Series meeting with Argentina at Aviva Stadium, with both players named on the replacements bench by Andy Farrell.

The Ireland head coach has made one change to his starting team for the visit of Los Pumas, as Robbie Henshaw starts at inside centre, replacing Bundee Aki who is dropped.

Prendergast takes the 22 shirt on the bench, with Ciarán Frawley missing out on selection, while his Leinster team-mate Clarkson is set for his debut due to injuries for Tadhg Furlong and Tom O'Toole.

Meanwhile, Cian Healy is also among the replacements, with the 37-year-old set to win his 133rd Ireland cap, which will draw him level with Brian O'Driscoll at the top of Irish rugby's all-time list.

Farrell has kept faith in the majority of his players following last week's disappointing defeat to New Zealand, and has retained the same starting pack which started at Aviva Stadium last Friday.

Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham all start again, despite both props playing more than 70 minutes each against the All Blacks.

Thomas Clarkson will make his Ireland debut off the bench

Joe McCarthy and James Ryan partner up in the second row, with Tadhg Beirne continuing at blindside flanker - his third start in a row at that position for Ireland.

Caelan Doris captains the side from number 8, with last week's try-scorer Josh van der Flier completing the forwards.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley team up in the half-backs, with Henshaw joining Garry Ringrose in midfield, while Farrell continues with the same back three of Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Hugo Keenan.

Rob Herring will be the replacement hooker, joining Healy and Clarkson as the front row subs, while Ryan Baird is preferred to Iain Henderson as second row cover, and Peter O'Mahony again wears the 20 shirt.

Craig Casey gets the nod over Conor Murray as replacement scrum-half, while Jamie Osborne is set for his fourth Irish cap, providing backline cover.

Ireland have won each of their last three meetings with Argentina, and have never been beaten by Los Pumas in Dublin.


Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne. Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julián Montoya, Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.

Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Kodela Gomez, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.