Ireland and Argentina have met 19 times at Test level, dating back to their first encounter in 1990.
Ireland hold the upper hand with 13 wins, including an unbeaten record in all 10 home games. Their latest home victory was a dominant 53-7 win over Los Pumas in the 2021 Autumn Nations Series. Yet Argentina have managed to make their mark, especially on the world stage, where they have claimed three out of their four World Cup clashes against Ireland.
The most recent came in the 2015 quarter-final in Cardiff, where despite Ireland entering as favourites, the Pumas stormed to an early 17-0 lead and ultimately secured a commanding 43-20 victory.
Several members from that Cardiff showdown could potentially feature in this clash. Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, and Iain Henderson remain pillars of Ireland's lineup, while Santiago Cordero and Matias Alemanno continue to bring experience to Argentina’s squad.
Form check
Ireland will be keen to bounce back from a disappointing loss to New Zealand that ended their impressive 19-match home winning streak, a feeling they haven’t experienced since the 2021 Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
Ireland haven’t lost back-to-back Tests in Dublin since November 2013 (versus Australia and New Zealand) - a stat that Farrell’s men will be hoping not to repeat.
Meanwhile, Argentina arrive with morale and spirits high after a thumping 50-18 victory over Italy in Udine where they ran in seven tries.
Argentina also had a successful 2024 Rugby Championship, securing wins over all competing teams and even challenging for the title before narrowly falling short to South Africa.
Contepomi’s homecoming
Felipe Contepomi, Argentina’s head coach, needs no introduction to Irish rugby fans.
The former Pumas fly-half, with over 80 caps and 651 points, was a Leinster favourite from 2003 to 2009. During his time there, he mentored a young Johnny Sexton.
Contepomi's Leinster stint ended with a bittersweet farewell as a knee injury kept him out of Leinster’s European Cup victory in 2009, secured thanks to a clutch Sexton drop goal.
In 2018, Contepomi returned to Leinster as the backs coach under Leo Cullen before rejoining Argentina as an assistant to Michael Cheika. The Cheika-Contepomi partnership saw the Pumas reach an impressive fourth-place finish at the most recent World Cup, after which Contepomi took the helm as head coach.
Irish fans will also recall Contepomi’s role in the 2007 World Cup, where he scored 11 points to help Argentina eliminate Ireland at the pool stage, marking a historic first-round exit for the Irish.
As he returns to Ireland with the Pumas, Contepomi’s influence will certainly add another fascinating layer to this high-stakes clash at the Aviva Stadium.
