Ireland faces Argentina in Dublin to begin World Cup preparations

Ireland is set to face Argentina in Dublin as head coach Andy Farrell announces his team selection for Friday night's match. Although Ireland has won 14 of their 20 previous meetings against Los Pumas and Argentina has never beaten them in Dublin, Argentina remains a significant threat having knocked Ireland out of three previous World Cups. With the Australia 2027 World Cup approaching in under 11 months, Farrell acknowledges that his team is not yet fully ready to win the trophy. The fixture serves as an important test for Ireland, who have lost their last six games against top-tier opponents by double-digit scores over the past two years, and provides an opportunity for players like Sam Prendergast and Craig Casey to step up.