Athlone's Robbie Henshaw has been named to start Ireland's Nations Championship clash against Argentina on Friday night

Henshaw to start in Nations Championship test against Argentina

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Robbie Henshaw will make his 86th international appearance for Ireland in the Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series clash against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night (kick-off, 8.10pm).

Henshaw has been named in his customary centre role as the hosts return to competitive action.

Former Buccaneers rugby player Sam Illo has been named as one of eight replacements for the the clash with Ireland's southern hemisphere counterparts.

The Nations Championship consists of two groups of teams competing in a Northern versus Southern Hemisphere tournament format across six rounds, before culminating in the first of its kind finals weekend at the end of November to decide the dominant nation and balance of power between the rugby hemispheres, every two years.

Ireland have won two of their opening three Nations Championship encounters. In the opening salvo of games played in July, Ireland defeated Australia and Japan before tasting defeat to New Zealand.

Following Friday night's fixture against Argentina, Ireland host Fiji on Saturday, November 14 (kick-off, 8.10pm) and South Africa on Saturday, November 21 (kick-off, 4.40pm).

The competition's finals weekend takes place on the weekend of November 27.

Friday’s match is live on Virgin Media One, while there is live radio commentary on RTÉ.

Ireland (v Argentina)

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(48)

14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(9)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(85)

12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(31)

10. Mack Hansen (Connacht)(30)

10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(17)

9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(30)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(79)

2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(41)(captain)

3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(88)

4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(26)

5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(73)

6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(33)

7. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(14)

8. Sean Jansen (Connacht)(2)

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(51)

17. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(24)

18. Sam Illo (Buccaneers/Connacht)(1)

19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(83)

20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(81)

21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(53)

22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Connacht)(15)

23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(72).

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