Good night, bad night: Casey service gives Prendergast perfect platform

Brendan O'Brien takes a closer look at who impressed, and who struggled, on a productive night for Andy Farrell's Ireland at the Aviva.

Hugo Keenan of Ireland celebrates with teammates Sam Prendergast, right, and Craig Casey, left, after scoring their side's first try. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Craig Casey and Sam Prendergast:

The Munster scrum-half needed this. His only start for Ireland against a major nation prior to this had been an aborted audition against South Africa. Too often he has been asked to play in radically changed teams or at the fag end of games.

He was superb here, his service and selection exactly what Ireland needed and allowing Prendergast the luxury of the perfect platform from which to damage the Pumas before they both came off after 55 minutes with jobs done.

Prendergast has been rejuvenated for Leinster this season. His willingness to attack the line is proof of that. He mined his own try from doing just that after half-time and showed a general level of comfort and composure that bodes well.

Joe McCarthy:

Ireland are blessed with the quality of their second rows with McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan providing a trio of matchday options that most Test nations would die for.

McCarthy is the youngest but has probably become the first of those names on the teamsheet given his power and abilities with ball in hand, at the lineout and breaking up the odd Puma maul while at it.

He was abrasively good here and showed great hands at times too, not least when part of the conveyor belt that fed Hugo Keenan for his hat-trick try on 50 minutes.

Felipe Contepomi:

The Argentinians have endured a brutally tough 2026 and never really looked like sacking the one major rugby Test city they have never won in despite their head coach naming a very strong squad in his old Dublin haunt.

The Pumas have the players, and still some time, to get their house more in order in time for a potential World Cup quarter-final meeting with Ireland in Australia in 12 months’ time.

A meeting with Italy in Genoa next week should be targeted as a chance for a rare recent win before they end the ‘pool’ stage of this Nations Championship with a daunting ask against France in Paris.