Ireland v Argentina - Autumn international match preview

Jonathan Sexton: Ireland fly-half expects confrontational approach from Argentina

One of Test rugby's more unlikely rivalries will be renewed in Dublin on Saturday when Ireland welcome Argentina for a match that has implications for seedings at the 2015 World Cup draw.

A pool containing hosts England and one of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or France potentially awaits the losers.

Ireland have handed a debut to Craig Gilroy, 21, on the wing in place of Andrew Trimble, who is discarded from Declan Kidney's match-day squad in the only change to the side that was edged 16-12 by South Africa two weekends ago.

Gilroy earned his chance with three tries in the non-cap 53-0 victory over Fiji at Thomond Park last Saturday.

Stand-off Jonathan Sexton is expecting a tough encounter as Ireland attempt to halt a run of five successive Test defeats, their worst losing sequence for 14 years.

"Rugby's a physical game and sometimes there are little arguments. They're good and sometimes that's why people watch the sport," he said. "Argentina and Ireland matches have always been like that. We're two very passionate teams that want to do well and that boils over at times.

"At outside-half I don't get involved too much and try to stay away from it. If there is a confrontation then there is one, but we won't be looking for it.

"Argentina have really evolved their game in recent times and their team has strength throughout. I'd say we're fairly evenly matched across the board, so it's about who turns up and plays better on the day."

Argentina, who have made four changes to the starting XV beaten by France last weekend including the return of full-back Juan Martin Hernandez after injury, lost on their most recent visits to Dublin in 2008 and 2010.

"In 2010, maybe we were tired at this stage," said winger Gonzalo Camacho. "Now we have more confidence and a team that is growing, we have a new team with new people coming up."

Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 8 Jamie Heaslip (c), 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Iain Henderson, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Fergus McFadden

Argentina: 15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo; 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (c), 5 Julio Farias Caballo, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Nicolas Vergallo, 22 Gonzalo Tiesi, 23 Manuel Montero

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