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Joe Schmidt Names Strong Ireland XV To Go And Get Some Revenge On Argentina

Joe Schmidt Names Strong Ireland XV To Go And Get Some Revenge On Argentina
Michael McCarthy
By Michael McCarthy
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40-23.

25 months ago, Ireland's latest best ever chance at getting to a World Cup semi final was destroyed by an Argentina team who absolutely decimated an Irish defensive line that was living off fumes, a week after a destructive win over France put us top of a group we had to win, but cost us hugely.

This week, there's a lot less at stake at the Aviva Stadium for our first meeting with Argentina since that horrible day in Cardiff. Still though, there will be a measure of revenge in the minds of at least the supporters.

While Ireland's record against the Pumas at World Cups remains largely shameful, they've never beaten us in Dublin, with Ireland victorious all five times the two countries have met in Autumn internationals.

After the trouncing of South Africa two weeks ago, Joe Schmidt made 13 changes to the side for the game against Fiji last weekend, a game in which Ireland only won by three points.

Instead of reverting, as assumed to the supposed "first team" that lined out against South Africa, Schmidt has named a team that again looks very slightly experimental, and with an eye to the future.

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The likes of Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Sean O'Brien and Rory Best do come back into the team, but there are three changes from the team that started against South Africa.

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The news that Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out with a hamstring injury probably contributed to another change the coach wasn't expecting, with Chris Farrell selected to win his second cap alongside another second capper, Bundee Aki, in the centre.

Leinster's Adam Byrne has been selected on the right wing for his Irish debut, while his Leinster teammate James Ryan will make his first international start in the second row.

Andrew Conway and Devin Toner, the only two to start in both tests so far, both start on the bench, suggesting this was the plan all along.

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The Ireland Team vs Argentina:

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For Argentina, it's the last match of a very long season, as they continue to establish themselves in the Rugby Championship.

There, they finished bottom of the table, losing all six of their games to the giants of Southern Hemisphere rugby. They've suffered a 21-8 defeat to England already on this tour, though did manage to stem the tide a bit last week with a comfortable 16 point win in Italy.

 

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