Ireland face Argentina before a packed Saturday in the Nations Championship

Ireland face Argentina on Friday before an intriguing Saturday of Nations Championship rugby, with South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales and France all in action.

Ireland v Argentina: Farrell’s new-look side face a familiar Aviva test

Ireland’s return to Test rugby begins with a fixture that rarely offers an easy night.

Argentina visit the Aviva Stadium on Friday, 6 November, for an 8:10pm kick-off, bringing power, pace and the confidence of a side that has already shown it can trouble Ireland on this ground.

The teams last met in Dublin in 2024, when Ireland held on for a 22-19 victory after leading 22-9 at half-time. Argentina fought back strongly and had chances to snatch the result.

The Pumas have lost all 11 of their previous Tests in Dublin, but that record will mean little if they can turn pressure into points this time.

Andy Farrell has made several changes to the Ireland side that finished the summer with a 40-21 defeat to New Zealand.

Some are enforced. Caelan Doris and Jack Conan are absent through injury, while Garry Ringrose is unavailable. Others give players an opportunity to make their case in a busy season with next year’s World Cup in view.

Sam Prendergast has recovered from a wrist injury to start at fly-half, with Craig Casey selected at scrum-half. Casey’s inclusion is one of the most intriguing calls. He brings sharp service and a lively running threat, while Prendergast will be asked to control the game against a defence that can make opponents pay for loose possession.

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There are returns, too. Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen are back in the starting side after injury absences. Sean Jansen gets an important chance at number eight, with Nick Timoney at openside. The back row will need to work hard at the breakdown and keep Argentina’s powerful carriers from building momentum.

Dan Sheehan captains the side from hooker. He packs down between Porter and Tadhg Furlong, with Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy in the second row. Ireland will look to establish control up front, but the challenge is to do that without conceding the penalties and yellow cards that allowed Argentina back into the 2024 match.

Felipe Contepomi has made 12 changes to Argentina’s starting XV since their last Test, a 28-28 draw with Australia in September. The selection brings back many of the team’s European-based players, including captain Julián Montoya, centre Santiago Chocobares and fly-half Tomás Albornoz. Pablo Matera and Guido Petti add experience and physical presence to the pack.

Argentina’s threat extends beyond their forward power. Juan Cruz Mallía is a dangerous counter-attacker from full-back, while Mateo Carreras and Bautista Delguy offer pace out wide. If Ireland’s kicking game gives the Pumas space, they have the players to turn a loose ball into an immediate attacking opportunity.

Ireland’s summer was mixed: victories over Australia and Japan were followed by defeat to New Zealand. This first home Test gives Farrell’s side a chance to reset, while the Nations Championship adds significance to every result as teams build towards the 'Finals Weekend' at Allianz Stadium at the end of the month.

Ireland will start as favourites - with Argentina having an underwhelming summer -  but the 2024 meeting showed how quickly this contest can tighten.

A strong opening, accurate goal-kicking and discipline around the breakdown could be decisive. Argentina arrive with a near full-strength side and a clear incentive: to turn a long-standing Dublin frustration into one of the opening weekend’s biggest results.

Saturday's action

After Friday night’s Ireland v Argentina opener, Saturday offers a packed programme stretching from Turin to Lyon. The northern sides have not played Tests since July, while several southern teams have had additional matches in the intervening months.

That contrast in preparation adds another layer to the competition’s return, with points now crucial in the race towards the finals weekend across 27-29 November.

Italy v South Africa: 11.40am, Allianz Stadium, Turin

Italy face a formidable opening challenge against the Springboks, who arrive in Europe with their status as tournament favourites strengthened by a successful run of results.

They recovered from losing the first Test of their 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series against New Zealand to win the next three, and they also edged out Argentina at the start of August.

A 42-38 defeat to Australia in September was a reminder that even South Africa can be caught out, but Rassie Erasmus has named a seasoned side for Turin.

Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese give the visitors a powerful back row, while Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit provide a formidable front-row challenge. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at fly-half, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel in midfield.

Italy, meanwhile, have selected a side with several changes and new combinations. Giacomo Nicotera captains the team, Paolo Garbisi is at fly-half and Ange Capuozzo starts on the wing.

Samuele Locatelli makes his Test debut at openside, and the centre pairing of Leonardo Marin and Paolo Odogwu is new at international level. Italy will need to bring energy and accuracy from the start. South Africa’s pressure game can quickly turn a few missed tackles or penalties into a long afternoon.

Scotland v New Zealand: 2.10pm, Scottish Gas Murrayfield

Scotland’s meeting with New Zealand is the standout fixture of the day.

The All Blacks arrive after a demanding four-Test series against South Africa, which they lost 3-1, but followed that with two convincing Bledisloe Cup victories over Australia. Will Jordan, who has scored six tries in the Nations Championship so far, is among the players Scotland must contain.

Gregor Townsend has made wholesale changes from Scotland’s July win over Fiji and named a full-strength side.

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Finn Russell and Ben White form the half-back partnership, while captain Sione Tuipulotu is joined by Huw Jones in midfield.

Matt Fagerson returns from injury, and Kyle Rowe has been selected at full-back. Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are both absent from the matchday squad, putting extra focus on Scotland’s ability to create opportunities through the midfield and keep their attack moving.

New Zealand’s power and pace make that a demanding task, but Murrayfield gives Scotland a chance to test themselves against one of the tournament’s leading sides.

Wales v Japan: 4.40pm, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

This is a valuable opportunity for both sides to build momentum.

Wales began their summer with a win over Fiji, then lost to Argentina and South Africa. Japan opened the Nations Championship with a notable victory over Italy, but followed it with defeats to Ireland and France.

Since then, Eddie Jones's side beat Canada but lost to Australia and Fiji. Their attacking ambition makes them dangerous when they find space, and Wales will need to defend the width of the field as well as win the collisions.

Steve Tandy has made seven changes to the Wales team beaten 43-0 by South Africa in July.

Dafydd Jenkins returns in the second row, while Sam Costelow and Tomos Williams are paired at half-back. Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams start on the wings.

Japan’s pace and willingness to move the ball should make for an open contest, but Wales will hope their set-piece and home support can help them impose a more physical game. Cardiff could be an important chance for both teams to put a result on the board before facing tougher tests later in November.

France v Fiji: 8.10pm, Groupama Stadium, Lyon

France close the day against a Fiji side that can make any match unpredictable.

Les Bleus finished the summer strongly, beating Australia and Japan after a narrow loss to New Zealand. Fiji lost all three of their July fixtures - and also suffered a 20-15 defeat to Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final - but did beat the Brave Blossoms 34-28 two weeks ago in Tokyo.

That win over Japan showed the danger they can pose when their backline gets room to attack. France will be favourites, though they cannot afford to let the game become loose and broken.

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Antoine Dupont captains France at scrum-half alongside Romain Ntamack, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the wing.

Uncapped loose forward Esteban Capilla could make his debut from the bench after Oscar Jegou was injured in training.

France have a busy November ahead, including a mouth-watering meeting with South Africa next week, but will want to begin this home sequence with a strong performance. Fiji’s ability to turn turnovers into rapid attacks should ensure the final match of Saturday’s programme remains lively.