Ireland prepare to host Argentina, Fiji and South Africa in Nations Championship this November

Andy Farrell's Ireland will play Argentina, Fiji and South Africa in Dublin during the Nations Championship, with fixtures scheduled for 6, 14 and 21 November.

A year out from the Rugby World Cup, Ireland's autumn programme follows mixed recent form: they ended 2022 top of the world rankings after a Test series win over New Zealand and victories over South Africa, Fiji and Australia, but have struggled against the game's other leading nations since the World Cup rematch in Paris. Persistent defeats by New Zealand, South Africa and France have left questions over their trajectory, and successive home Tests against the Pumas, Fiji and the Springboks present a chance to address those concerns ahead of next year's tournament.

Ireland have lost their past six meetings with New Zealand, France and South Africa by double-digit margins, scoring 101 points and conceding 191 across those fixtures; the two most recent reverses were a 36-14 loss away to France in this year's Six Nations and July's 40-21 defeat at Eden Park. There have been positives, notably Ireland's comprehensive win at Twickenham earlier this year, but Farrell wants his side to rectify the error-prone display in Auckland that allowed New Zealand to put the game beyond reach by half-time.

The coaching staff have placed a heightened emphasis on conditioning, with assistant coach Johnny Sexton saying they want it to be their "point of difference". Avoiding first home losses to Argentina and Fiji before facing South Africa is presented as a priority, given last year's 24-13 defeat to the Springboks in Dublin.

Tadhg Furlong's availability is a significant boost for Ireland's front row after the three-time British and Irish Lions tourist was cleared by a disciplinary committee of grabbing Gavin Coombes in the groin during Leinster's United Rugby Championship win over Munster. With Furlong and fellow Lion Andrew Porter available, Farrell and scrum coach John Fogarty face the task of restoring Ireland's set-piece dominance ahead of the South Africa Test.

Selection questions persist in the loose forwards and backs. Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are ruled out, leaving Sean Jansen as the apparent frontrunner for the number eight jersey while Dan Sheehan's run-out in the back row against Munster has opened the possibility of a different configuration; uncapped Ulsterman James McNabney can also cover the position though recent comments suggest his game time may be limited. There is uncertainty at fly-half after Jack Crowley was ruled out and Sam Prendergast has been managing a wrist problem, with Ireland saying they were "optimistic" he will be available; Ciaran Frawley may be given another opportunity at 10. Other selection notes include Garry Ringrose being unlikely to feature in November and Jamie Osborne as a potential outside-centre deputy, Jamie Benson as a less-known option at playmaker, and the return of Mack Hansen, who missed the Six Nations and summer Tests and scored a hat-trick in the 15 jersey against Australia last year.

Ireland's opponents arrive with varied recent records. Argentina have never beaten Ireland in Dublin but stunned the British and Irish Lions on their most recent Aviva Stadium visit; head coach Felipe Contepomi has made three late call-ups — Facundo Isa, Rodrigo Martinez and Mateo Soler — while Julian Montoya returns after missing defeats by South Africa and Australia in August and a draw in September, and Santiago Grondona, Ignacio Ruiz and Joaquin Oviedo are among the injured absentees. Fiji were beaten by Scotland, England and Wales during the southern hemisphere leg but registered a Test win over Japan in October in Jake White's first game in charge; White named a 35-strong squad that includes former England number eight Nathan Hughes as one of four uncapped players, plus Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo and Caleb Muntz. South Africa, despite a recent loss to Australia, followed a 3-1 series win over New Zealand with three summer Nations Championship victories at home and will be without Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, Handre Pollard and Andre Esterhuizen, while Rassie Erasmus retains access to Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende and has included six uncapped players.

Forwards: Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, James McNabney, Darragh Murray, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan (captain), Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Rob Baloucoune, Jamie Benson, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale.

Ireland face Argentina on Friday 6 November at 20:10, Fiji on Saturday 14 November at 20:10 and South Africa on Saturday 21 November at 17:40; the Nations Championship finals weekend is scheduled for 27-29 November with Ireland's opponent to be confirmed.