Farrell drops Gibson-Park to bench as Casey gets Ireland start against Argentina

Craig Casey will start at scrum-half for Ireland against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, with Andy Farrell dropping British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park to the bench for the Nations Championship fixture in Dublin.

Casey, 27, partners fit-again fly-half Sam Prendergast in the half-backs, in one of seven personnel changes Farrell has made to the XV beaten 40-21 by New Zealand at the end of the summer series. Dan Sheehan takes over the captaincy from the injured Caelan Doris, with Nick Timoney handed a start at openside flanker and Sean Jansen named at number eight.

“If ever a player feels comfortable, we’re failing the group,” Farrell said. “We’ve not got those players anyway. I don’t think people are comfortable, just by their nature, but if you want to keep ambition growing as a group then you’ve got to keep the ambition within the individual.”

Farrell was clear that Casey’s selection is both a reward for form and a deliberate test of responsibility. “Craig deserves to play in a big game at the start of the season, to have the responsibility to be in charge of the week and how they go about that,” he said. “He knows the competition is there but he’s got the shirt so it’s up to him and his team-mates to make a good first impression.”

Prop Andrew Porter, flanker Ryan Baird and wing Mack Hansen also return to the starting line-up after more than a year out through injury. Hansen, who scored a hat-trick in a 46-19 win over Australia last November, has not featured since a foot injury sustained during the 24-13 defeat to South Africa a week later.

“It’s fantastic to have Mack back, first of all for himself,” said Farrell. “He’s been through a lot, and it’s great to have not just his ability as a player but to have his personality back in the group.”

Ireland won their opening two Nations Championship matches against Australia and Japan before losing to New Zealand, and Farrell is explicit that the autumn series is framed around the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year. After hosting Argentina, Ireland face Fiji on 14 November before taking on world champions South Africa a week later.

“It’s a year that means a lot to us,” Farrell said. “There’s no better way to start that 12-month journey with a first game of the international season against a really tough and respected opponent in Argentina.”