Argentina Go Full Strength as Albornoz Returns for Ireland Test

Argentina have gone full strength for Friday night's Nations Championship Test against Ireland in Dublin, naming an experienced side with 750 caps between them — an average of 50 per player. Head coach Felipe Contepomi has recalled fly-half Tomas Albornoz for the first time since July after the playmaker served a four-match ban for misconduct, a timely return for a team seeking its first win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium at the 11th attempt. Julian Montoya captains the side from hooker and is one of three centurions in the team, alongside lock Guido Petti and Pablo Matera, who replaces the injured Joaquin Oviedo at No. 8. Los Pumas sit fourth in the southern hemisphere standings after a win over Wales sandwiched by defeats to Scotland and England in July, followed by a draw with Australia, and a win in Dublin could lift them above the Wallabies. Contepomi described the November series — Ireland, France and Italy — as a chance to test his side against two of the world's best four teams. Friday's match kicks off at 20:10 local time at the Aviva Stadium.