Casey, Jansen and Timoney start for Ireland against Argentina in Dublin

Craig Casey, Sean Jansen and Nick Timoney have been named in Ireland’s starting XV to face Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday night in the Nations Championship, with kickoff scheduled for 20:10 GMT on 6 November; Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier are named among the replacements.

Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are absent through injury, prompting Andy Farrell to select Connacht’s 27-year-old Sean Jansen at number eight after his try-scoring debut against Japan in July and a replacement appearance against the All Blacks a week later. The inclusion of Craig Casey at scrum-half and Ulster back row Nick Timoney was less widely anticipated, while Gibson-Park and van der Flier drop to the bench. Farrell’s selection decisions come as Ireland resume their Nations Championship campaign at home.

Jamison Gibson-Park, aged 34, missed the start of Leinster’s season with a groin injury and returned in the 24 October win over Munster; with only that match this season he is named on the bench and Craig Casey is preferred to start at nine alongside fly-half Sam Prendergast, who has recovered from a wrist injury.

Timoney, 31, has struggled previously to secure regular Ireland starts despite strong provincial form; his selection against Argentina will be his ninth consecutive Test involvement, seven of which have been as a replacement, and his starting place comes at the expense of former World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier.

Garry Ringrose is ruled out with a hamstring problem, so Robbie Henshaw will wear the 13 jersey and partner Stuart McCloskey in midfield. Mack Hansen, Andrew Porter and Ryan Baird all return to start after their last Ireland appearances came in the defeat by South Africa in November 2025; the trio missed the Six Nations and summer Nations Championship fixtures through injury. Hansen is selected on the left wing, Robert Baloucoune keeps the right-wing berth and Hugo Keenan is named at full-back, while Baird is picked at blind-side flanker to complete a back row with Timoney and Jansen.

Andrew Porter will pack down at loose-head alongside hooker Dan Sheehan, who captains the side in Doris’ absence, and tight-head Tadhg Furlong; Furlong was cleared by a disciplinary committee of grabbing Gavin Coombes in the groin last month. With Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy selected as the starting locks, James Ryan is among the replacements alongside van der Flier and Gibson-Park.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Sam Illo, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciaran Frawley or Jamie Benson, Bundee Aki.

Argentina boss Felipe Contepomi has made 12 changes from the side that drew 28-28 with Australia in September and Toulouse full-back Juan Cruz Mallia returns to win a first cap since November 2025 after injury. Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Boris Wenger, Julian Montoya (capt), Francisco Moreno; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera. Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Efrain Elias, Juan Martin Scelzo, Simon Benitez Cruz, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Lucio Cinti.

Kickoff is at 20:10 GMT on Friday 6 November with live commentary on BBC Radio Ulster and the BBC Sport website and app, and Argentina will be seeking a first away win over Ireland.