Jordan Larmour is rewarded for his dazzling Chicago hat-trick, while Rory Best and Sean O’Brien make welcome injury returns as Joe Schmidt named a much-changed Ireland XV to take on Argentina this weekend.
Schmidt has opted for 12 changes from the side that beat Six Nations rivals Italy 54-7 at Soldier Field a week ago but Larmour will start at full-back once more after his electric treble.
Bundee Aki at inside centre and Jacob Stockdale on the wing are the only other remaining starters as Ireland look to kick on and avoid just a second defeat to the Pumas in the last decade.
Skipper Best missed out on the summer tour to Australia through injury and was not part of the squad that travelled to Chicago last week but he is back at hooker, to form a front-row trio with Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong.
Meanwhile Leinster flanker O’Brien will make his first international appearance since starting against Argentina at Aviva Stadium 12 months ago, following an injury-plagued year.
He will earn his 52nd cap in a back row that also includes a pair of Munstermen in Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander.
Saturday will be Larmour’s first start at the Aviva Stadium for his country and Schmidt is excited to see how the 21-year-old – whose rapid ascent shows no signs of slowing down – fares.
“It will be a step up for Jordan but he’s given us confidence off the back of some Test matches where he has come into the game late,” explained the Ireland coach.
“At Twickenham [against England in the Six Nations] he came on in the midfield and did a good job and then he came on in the third Test in particular against Australia over the summer and a did a great job at full-back.
“He acquitted himself really well last week both at full-back and on the wing. That versatility, that enthusiasm – he’s a ball of energy from back there. That gets other people energised.
“Hopefully we can maintain that throughout the game and give Jordan some more confidence in what is building to be a really positive introduction to Test rugby.”
Ireland team to face Argentina this weekend: 15. Jordan Larmour (Leinster), 14. Keith Earls (Munster), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht), 11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), 10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), 9. Kieran Marmion (Connacht), 1. Cian Healy (Leinster), 2. Rory Best (Ulster, captain), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), 4. Iain Henderson (Ulster), 5. James Ryan (Leinster), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster), 7. Sean O’Brien (Leinster), 8. CJ Stander (Munster) Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin (Leinster), 17. Jack McGrath (Leinster), 18. Andrew Porter (Leinster), 19. Devin Toner (Leinster), 20. Dan Leavy (Leinster), 21. Luke McGrath (Leinster), 22. Joey Carbery (Munster), 23. Andrew Conway (Munster)
