Molina Named in Los Pumas Side for Ireland Clash

After a victory over Italy last weekend, Franco Molina has again been named in the Argentina 23 to take on Ireland.

The confident 50-18 win over Italy in Udine is behind them and Los Pumas have already turned the page in view of the next great challenge that lies ahead: Ireland on their homeland. 

This Friday will be the twelfth meeting between the two teams in Dublin, a fortress that so far Los Pumas have never been able to overcome (they have accumulated 11 defeats).

The Argentines and Irish have faced each other since 1952 and have already accumulated 24 duels, of which Los Pumas won 8, lost 15 and drew 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 Los Pumas beat the shamrock). 

Andy Farrell's team comes into this match after falling last Friday to the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (scene of the next match) by 23-13.

The team news this week sees three changes in the starting XV: Pablo Matera will come on in place of Santiago Grondona; Guido Petti for Franco Molina; and Matías Moroni for Matías Orlando.

Santiago Carreras returns to the team and will be part of the finishers.

Justo Piccardo will go to the bench for the first time and if he enters it will be the Puma #896

Argentina:

1 Thomas Gallo

2 Julian Montoya

3 Joel Sclavi

4 Guido Petti

5 Pedro Rubiolo

6 Pablo Matera

7 Juan Martin Gonzalez

8 Joaquin Oviedo

9 Gonzalo Bertranou

10 Tomas Albornoz

11 Bautista Delguy

12 Matias Moroni

13 Lucio Cinti

14 Rodrigo Isgro

15 Juan Cruz Mallia

Replacements:

16 Ignacio Ruiz

17 Ignacio Calles

18 Francisco Gomez Kodela

19 Franco Molina

20 Santiago Grondona

21 Gonzalo Garcia

22 Santiago Carreras

23 Justo Piccardo