Keenan hat-trick helps Ireland to bonus-point win over Argentina in Dublin
Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick as Ireland opened the home leg of the Nations Championship with a bonus-point win over Argentina in Dublin on 6 November 2026. Ireland crossed six times overall — Keenan (3), Dan Sheehan, Sam Prendergast and Ronan Kelleher — while Mateo Carreras scored both of Argentina's tries.
Ireland moved to the top of the northern hemisphere table ahead of this weekend's matches involving France, Scotland and England, and secured a 30-point victory after a mixed display. The Pumas came to Dublin having won once in six this year and remain without an away win over Ireland after 12 attempts; Ireland had closed the summer with a 40-21 loss to New Zealand in Auckland.
Argentina struck first when Tomas Albornoz's kick to the corner released Mateo Carreras to out-jump Craig Casey and score, but Casey — selected ahead of Jamison Gibson-Park — won a turnover penalty that swung momentum back to Ireland. From the resulting line-out, Rob Baloucoune's break and an offload to Mack Hansen created space for Keenan to finish Ireland's first try.
Nick Timoney's inclusion ahead of Josh van der Flier proved influential as he won a turnover and then featured in a line-out strike that put Dan Sheehan over for Ireland's second. Ryan Baird stole a line-out to set up a third try as Hansen again found Keenan for his second score before half-time.
Sam Prendergast, who started despite a wrist problem, ghosted through early in the second half to secure Ireland's bonus point, and Carreras replied for Argentina shortly after. Keenan completed his hat-trick following a clever offload from Baird, and Ronan Kelleher grounded a maul try after Efrain/Ephraim Elias was sin-binned for a high hit on Keenan.
Discipline and injuries disrupted Argentina: Justo Piccardo and Ephraim Elias were sin-binned, captain Julian Montoya failed a head injury assessment and was replaced; Leonel Oviedo also failed an HIA, forcing loose-head prop Boris Wenger to fill in at hooker. Ireland lost Dan Sheehan to a head knock after a denied second try, and replacement tight-head prop Sam Illo was yellow-carded for driving early at a maul on the hour.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Rob 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, Jamie Osborne.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Boris Wenger, Julian Montoya (capt), Franciso Moreno, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera. Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Efrain Elias, Juan Martin Seelzo, Simon Belitez Cruz, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Lucio Cinti. Sin-bin: Piccardo (34), Elias (54). Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (SRU) and Morne Ferreira (SARU). Television match official: Andrew Jackson (RFU). Foul play review officer: Matteo Liperini (FIR).
Ireland will host Fiji next week before world champions South Africa visit Dublin on 21 November.