Contepomi names 750-cap Argentina side to end three-game winless run against Ireland

Felipe Contepomi has named a battle-hardened Argentina side — 750 caps across the starting XV — for Friday’s Nations Championship fixture against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, as Los Pumas seek their first win in four Tests.

Three players in the starting line-up have passed 100 Test appearances: captain Julián Montoya (120 caps) at hooker, lock Guido Petti (104), and No.8 Pablo Matera (127), who comes in to replace the injured Joaquín Oviedo. The trio’s combined experience alone runs to 351 caps, underlining Contepomi’s decision to lean on proven heads during a difficult run of form.

Argentina sit fourth in the southern hemisphere standings after a Nations Championship campaign that has produced one win — over Wales — sandwiched by defeats to Scotland and England. Prior to that, defeats to South Africa and Australia, plus a draw with the Wallabies, have left Los Pumas without a victory in their last three outings.

“We’ve been inconsistent at certain times,” Contepomi acknowledged in his pre-match media briefing. “In July, we couldn’t get out of the blocks as quickly as we wanted to and then, because of player welfare, we rested a lot of players in September and we had some new guys brought through. Overall, we have been competitive but we have lost more than we want. That is not good enough. But I think we are on the right track and this November series is a good opportunity to play two of the best four teams in the world and a team in Italy that has been improving a lot.”

In the pack, Petti and Pedro Rubiolo continue their lock partnership in a scrum that has yet to concede a put-in during the Nations Championship. Juan Martín González, Marcos Kremer, and Matera complete the back row.

Gonzalo García and Tomás Albornoz form the half-back pairing, with Santiago Chocobares and Justo Piccardo in midfield. The back three of Mateo Carreras, Bautista Delguy, and full-back Juan Cruz Mallía carries significant experience despite the season-ending ACL injury that has ruled out Santiago Carreras.

Eight of Friday’s starting XV were on the field the last time Argentina visited Dublin in 2024, when Mallía scored Los Pumas’ only try in a 22-19 defeat — a result that saw the visitors fall short after trailing 22-9 at half-time. Two of the replacements also featured in that game, giving the squad a clear sense of unfinished business at the Aviva.