Match Facts

Ireland have won eight of their last nine matches against Argentina, including each of their last three clashes, their only loss in that run coming at the quarter-final stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup (20-43).

Argentina have never beaten Ireland in Ireland, losing all 10 of their previous such meetings, four at the old Lansdowne Road, one at Croke Park and five at the Aviva Stadium; Japan are the only other Tier one nation not to beat Ireland in Ireland (P4, L4).

Ireland have lost three of their last five Test matches (W2), including their most recent (13-23 v New Zealand), as many as in their previous 35 combined (W32), however, they have lost back-to-back games just once under Andy Farrell, in their first two matches of the 2021 Guinness Men’s Six Nations (v Wales and France).

Ireland’s loss to New Zealand last week ended a 19-game winning streak at the Aviva Stadium, their longest ever such run, however, they haven’t lost back-to-back Tests in Dublin since November 2013 (v Australia and New Zealand).

Argentina have won three of their last four Test matches (L1) and scored 50 points against Italy last weekend (50-18), their joint highest tally against a Six Nations side (also 50-44 v Wales in 2004) – the Pumas have scored 5+ tries in each of their last two games against Six Nations teams, as often as in their previous 92 combined.

Argentina have averaged 10.9 attacking 22 entries per match in 2024, the highest average of any men’s Tier 1 side, however, Ireland have conceded both the fewest 22 entries per game (6.4) and the fewest points per entry (1.8) of any team this year.

Ireland have retained possession from 97.6% of their attacking rucks this year, the highest rate of any men’s Tier 1 side in 2024, while Argentina are the only team to have completed their rucks in under three seconds on average (2.89s).

Ireland have moved the ball beyond the first receiver from 32.16% of their attacking phases in 2024, the highest rate of any men’s Tier 1 side, while only France (23.46%) and South Africa (21.07%) have done so from a lesser share of theirs than Argentina (23.48%).

Ireland’s Josh van der Flier hit the most defensive rucks of any player in last weekend’s set of Autumn Nations Series fixtures (17) in addition to scoring Ireland’s only try – the flanker scored two tries the last time Ireland faced Argentina (November 2021), his only brace in Test rugby.

Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallia was the only player to both score and assist a try in the most recent round of Autumn Nations Series fixtures and ranked second for both carries (18) and metres gained (145) last weekend (behind Malo Tuitama - 20 carries, 216m).