Felipe Contepomi has named the Argentina side to play Ireland in Round 4 of the Nations Championship in Dublin on November 6. Rounds 4 to 6 represent the Northern Series in Europe with the first three rounds of the Southern series completed in July in the southern hemisphere. Following the completion of round 6 the 12 teams will complete in an innovative Finals Weekend to determine the world's best rugby hemipshere.

Following the irleans Test Los Pumas will then  then face Italy in Genoa (14/11) and France in Paris (21/11), before the finals weekend in Twickenham, London (27, 28 and 29/11).

The Argentines and Irish have faced each other 25 times since 1952 and Los Pumas has won 8, lost 16 and drawn once.

Among the most remembered victories are those that occurred in the 1999, 2007 and 2015 World Cups (the 43-20 in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup was the last time the Argentine team beat the shamrock).

In addition, the national team will be looking for a victory against the Irish national team for the first time at the Aviva Stadium, a scenario that brings back great memories for the team led by Contepomi last year when they beat the British & Irish Lions by 28-24.

Contepomi has made 12 changes to the team that drew 28-28 with Australia in their last outing.

The side will be captained by experienced hooker Julián Montoya, while experienced campaigners Pablo Matera and Gonzalo García are named in the starting lineup.

Flyhalf Tomás Albornoz [pictured] will earn his 26th cap for Los Pumas, while the centre pairing will be Santiago Chocobares and Justo Piccardo.

Matteo Carreras will start on the left wing, while Bautista Delguy gets a crack on the opposite wing, and Juan Cruz Mallía starts at fullback.

Speaking at the team announcement, Contepomi said one of their key goals is to get better throughout the competition.

“Well, it’s the only team [Ireland]; we haven’t beaten away from home yet, so it would mean a lot,” he said.

“But I think more so it’s for us to try to get better, be competitive against the third team in the world, and one of the best four teams in the last 15 years or so.

“They’ve been around there, so for us it’s just going and playing against one of those top, top teams in the world and being competitive and trying to impose our game or our game plan.”

Los Pumas' line-up to play Ireland in Dublin:

1. WENGER, Boris (11 caps)
2. MONTOYA, Julián (120 caps) – Captain
3. MORENO, Francisco (3 caps)
4. PETTI, Guido (104 caps)
5. RUBIOLO, Pedro (31 caps)
6. GONZÁLEZ, Juan Martín (51 caps)
7. KREMER, Mark (83 caps)
8. MATERA, Pablo (127 caps) – Vice-captain
9. GARCÍA, Gonzalo (19 caps)
10. ALBORNOZ, Tomás (24 caps)
11. CARRERAS, Mateo (36 caps)
12. CHOCOBARES, Santiago (35 caps)
13. PICCARDO, Justo (13 caps)
14. DELGUY, Bautista (42 caps)
15. MALLÍA, Juan Cruz (51 caps) – Vice-captain

Replacements

16. OVIEDO, Leonel (3 caps)
17. VIVAS, Mayco (44 caps)
18. SCLAVI, Joel (32 caps)
19. ELIAS, Ephraim (6 chapters)
20. SCELZO, Juan Martín (2 caps)
21. BENÍTEZ CRUZ, Simón (15 caps)
22. PRISCIANTELLI, Gerónimo (6 caps)
23. CINTI, Lucio (45 caps)

FULL NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

  • November 6 – Los Pumas vs Ireland  – Dublin
  • November 14 – Los Pumas vs Italy –– Genoa
  • November 21 – Los Pumas vs France  – Paris
  • November 27, 28 and 29 – Finals weekend – Twickenham, London