Irish coach Declan Kidney makes five changes for Argentina Test
Ireland have made five changes for their Test match against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday 28 November.
Irish coach Declan Kidney was forced to make a number of changes to his team after three of his first choice players were injured in Ireland’s 38-18 defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday 20 November.
Winger Andrew Trimble comes in for Luke Fitzgerald who sustained a knee injury in the All Blacks Test, while Geordan Murphy will replace the British and Irish Lion Rob Kearney, who also injured his knee in last week’s physical encounter.
Peter Stringer is preferred to Leinster scrum-half Eoin Reddan and he is set to partner Jonathan Sexton in the half-back pairing.
Kidney has made two changes to the forward pack. Rory Best was forced to come off in the All Blacks Test and Sean Cronin replaced the injured hooker. After an impressive performance as a substitute, the Connaught player is set to continue in the front row.
He will be joined by Munster’s Tony Buckley who is selected ahead of prop Tom Court. Buckley has not started a game since picking up an injury in Ireland’s 23-21 defeat to South Africa.
Stephen Ferris, David Wallace, Tommy Bowe, Gordon D’Arcy and captain Brian O’Driscoll were all passed fit to start for Ireland.
Utility back Keith Earls and out-half Ronan O’Gara will have to be satisfied with their places on the bench, but the two Munster players will hope to make an impact as substitutes.
Ireland will be hoping to improve on their impressive performance against New Zealand, but they will hope that they can record their second win of the Autumn Internationals when they take on the Pumas.
Ireland have only managed to beat Samoa 20-10 in their Autumn International Tests so far.
Kidney will be optimistic that if Ireland can produce a similar display against the All Blacks then they should beat Argentina.
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