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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has praised Cian Healy ahead of the prop's record-equalling 133rd cap against Argentina.

Five-time Six Nations winner Healy will tie former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll's record when he is introduced from the bench against the Pumas at Aviva Stadium.

"The utmost respect doesn't do it justice," Farrell said when asked about his thoughts on the Leinster forward, who made his Test debut in 2009.

"It's been a pleasure to be able to coach him. I was thinking back, when I coached Cian for the first time was 2013 on the [British and Irish] Lions tour.

"I was amazed by his athleticism. He would have been right in his pomp then in 2013 and he got a terrible ankle injury and the tour was taken away from him. That tour was made for him.

"He's been a world-leading loosehead throughout his career."

In addition to his longevity in the Test arena, Healy boasts a hugely decorated club CV having won four Champions Cups and seven league titles with Leinster, for whom he also holds the cap record.

Here's the list of the most-capped players in Ireland's history.

Cian Healy can draw level with Brian O'Driscoll as the man with the most Ireland caps in history.

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Brian O'Driscoll
Former Ireland captain on TNT Sports

There hasn't been a good mood among Irish rugby fans in the past week. It was a real wake up call for everyone and they will look to bounce back tonight.

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Felipe Contepomi has done a "magnificent" job with Argentina.

Former Leinster fly-half Contepomi left his coaching role with the Irish province to join Michael Cheika's Pumas backroom team.

But having replaced the Australian following last year's World Cup, the 47-year-old has overseen some impressive results, including Rugby Championship wins over New Zealand and double world champions South Africa.

"They're more of a complete team, that's for sure. They're not backs and forwards anymore, they're a team that plays an exciting brand of rugby," said Farrell.

"It's amazing to see how much more comfortable on the ball the forwards are and the interlink between the backs and the forwards is seamless.

"At the same time they still have the DNA, the fighting spirit and the dangerous, exciting outside backs as well."

Farrell added: "Felipe's done a magnificent job. You can see the cohesion they have in how they want to play.

"The hardest thing at top-level sport is consistency and rightly so, they're earning the right to be, in our mind, in the same type of bracket as the game we were talking about last week.

"Their performances and results over the last year certainly warrant that."

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Rather than reflect upon history, World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Contepomi is keen to see his side make it on Friday night.

Ireland have won 13 of the 19 Tests played between the two sides, including all 10 in Dublin.

"It's not about me bringing the national team here. We have the chance, as Argentina, to play against one of the best teams in the last few years," he added.

"Ireland has been consistently in the top three for the last six, seven years, so it is a great opportunity for us. We are always very proud to come here and try to beat Ireland, which, by the way, we have never done here in Ireland.

"I think it’s a big challenge, a great challenge, but we always want to play against the best and that’s what we are preparing for."

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While plenty of attention has already been given to the looming return of former head coach Joe Schmidt when Ireland welcome Australia at the end of this month, tonight's visit from Argentina will bring another familiar face to the opposing coaches' box at the Aviva Stadium.

The Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi represented Leinster with some distinction as a player for six years between 2003 and 2009, before returning as the province's attack coach for four seasons in 2018.

Having spent chunks of his playing and coaching career in Ireland, the 47-year-old, who qualified as a doctor while a Leinster player, enjoyed "really good memories" in Dublin.

"It’s always good to be back. I love Dublin and Ireland," he said.

"I've got one son and a daughter who were born in Ireland as well. Unluckily, they are not Irish because of the rules or whatever, but many milestones in my life happened here in Ireland, definitely.

"I spent 10 years here. It's a lot of my adulthood. I'm 47 so say from 17 to here, 10 years is a third of my [adult] life in Dublin, so that's a lot, and I'm grateful."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Resilience has long been an impressive trait in the Andy Farrell era.

Take some of their most high-profile defeats, for instance. In their Test series opener in Auckland, New Zealand hammered them. They responded with back-to-back wins to seal a historic series triumph.

Having been left to stew on another World Cup exit at the hands of the All Blacks, they rocked up to Marseille and hammered France.

At Twickenham earlier this year, dreams of back-to-back Grand Slams were ended by Marcus Smith. A week later, they dusted themselves off and retained the title despite a sub-par display against Scotland.

Ireland's strength of character will be tested once more tonight. After another humbling night against New Zealand that stripped Farrell's side of their long unbeaten run at home, defeat against the Pumas will turn a blip into a mini-crisis.

History favours them but that won't be enough to carry them over the line against Argentina.

Argentina have made three changes from their 50-18 win over Italy last weekend for Friday's meeting with Ireland in Dublin.

Vice-captain Pablo Matera returns to the back row after suspension as he takes over from Santiago Grondona, who drops to the replacements.

Guido Petti replaces Franco Molina at lock while there is one backs change as Matias Moroni comes in for Matias Orlando.

Fit-again fly-half Santiago Carreras is named on the bench after missing the game in Udine because of a calf injury.

Molina is named in the replacements as Orlando drops out of the matchday squad.

The Pumas ran in seven tries against the Azzurri with fly-half Tomas Albornoz scoring 20 points.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (capt), Joel Sclavi; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo

Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.

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Guess who?!

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Ireland captain Caelan Doris admits the team has been given a "second chance" by head coach Andy Farrell after a flat performance in last week's defeat by New Zealand.

Doris, who expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance last week, said he wants Ireland to show more "edge, physicality and intent" against Argentina, who have never won on Irish soil.

"There's competition, there's a lot of people who want to wear the jerseys so there's a bit of pressure to perform there, but excitement and opportunity too," said Doris, 26.

"That's the underlying thing."

The Leinster back row, appointed captain before the Autumn Nations Series, added: "I think the way it's framed from Faz [Farrell] and the coaches in quite a positive way.

"There's expectation coming from ourselves and the group and coming from what we see in training and the plan we have. It feels like positive pressure to a lot of guys, to myself."

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Head coach Andy Farrell has welcomed the pressure last week's defeat by the All Blacks has put on Ireland and says some players are "lucky enough" to be given an immediate shot at redemption against Argentina.

Ireland's autumn campaign began in dispiriting fashion with a sub-par performance allowing New Zealand to win 23-13 in Dublin.

Having slipped to third in the world rankings after their 19-game home unbeaten run was ended, Farrell views the Pumas' visit to Aviva Stadium as the "perfect" test for his players.

"It [pressure]'s what concentrates the mind, it's when you see where your character's at," he said.

"We want to win all of our games but the opposition is always going to have a say in that. I think this is perfect because we have another top-drawer opponent coming and we want to test ourselves because we feel we let a few people down last week."

Cian Healy is set to equal Brian O'Driscoll's Ireland cap record after being named on the bench for tonight's autumn international against Argentina, while Sam Prendergast and Thomas Clarkson are set to make their debuts.

The 37-year-old prop will draw level with the former Ireland captain on 133 appearances if he is introduced against the Pumas.

Head coach Andy Farrell has opted against making wholesale changes following last week's defeat by New Zealand, with Robbie Henshaw's inclusion at inside centre ahead of Bundee Aki - who does not make the squad - the only alteration to the starting line-up.

Prop Clarkson and fly-half Prendergast are primed to earn their first caps after being named among the replacements.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Jamie Osborne.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

Image source, John Birch

When another 51,000 file into the Aviva Stadium for Ireland's autumn Test against Argentina on Friday night, the meeting between the third and fifth ranked sides in the world will have the feel of a glamour international fixture.

Despite the Pumas having claimed some hugely memorable wins over their weekend hosts down through the years, however, it was as recently as 1990 that the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] first recognised games against Argentina as official Tests.

As such, those who wore the green jersey against the South American side without ever going on to face what were termed "IRB board member countries" went decades without having their status as Irish internationals recognised, an oversight that was only rectified last year.

Hooker John Birch, who toured Argentina with Ireland in 1970 alongside a host of British and Irish Lions, was one such player, though he says the five-decade wait for his cap did not bother him.

"I don't think I'm being falsely modest, it didn't really mean anything to me," said Birch, now 82.

"I knew that I had been with the Irish team. I knew that Ronnie Lamont, Bill [Willie John] McBride, Syd Millar had all been there representing Ireland.

"If there was a cap, there was a cap, if there wasn't, it didn't matter."

BBC Sounds

You can listen to tonight's game on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Sounds from 20:00 GMT.

Gavin Andrews is on presenting duties with former Ireland centre Claire Small and Ulster's defence coach Jonny Bell.

Former Ireland and Ulster wing Craig Gilroy is on commentary along with Jim Neilly in Dublin.

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Ireland winger Mack Hansen says the squad will ignore "outside noise" in the build-up to tonight's Test with Los Pumas.

Andy Farrell's side saw their home winning streak ended at 19 by the All Blacks last week and subsequently lost their place at the top of the world rankings.

While questions have been asked of a team that have been beaten in three of their past five matches, Hansen pointed to how Andy Farrell's side responded to their last setback.

Thanks to a pair of late Ciaran Frawley drop-goals, Ireland came back to beat South Africa and draw their two-Test series in July, one week after being decidedly outplayed in the first meeting.

"People are always very eager to jump on you when you’re down. It’s like in South Africa, nobody gave them a hope after the first Test," said Hansen, who missed that series through injury.

“And what happens? They come back and win it. That’s the best thing about this group. The outside noise is outside noise and nobody knows what goes on in here, how hard we work and how resilient we are.

"People can chat away. The people who know us know, unfortunately, it was one of those weeks [against New Zealand], but we’re ready to bounce back.”

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

A week ago, Ireland were ranked as the best rugby side in the world, unbeaten at home in three and a half years, and viewed as solid favourites when hosting New Zealand.

Seven days on, after a 23-13 defeat by the All Blacks and a performance that wing Mack Hansen described as "not us", Ireland are now facing the most serious questions posed of them since the early days of Andy Farrell's reign, having lost three of their past five Test matches.

Those involved could be forgiven for marvelling at how quickly the narrative can shift, while the head coach himself has been quick to dismiss the notion that his experienced side are running out of road after a period of sustained success.

However, in his final games before an eight-month sojourn to take charge of the British and Irish Lions, plenty will now be looking for evidence of further cracks when Argentina come to Dublin on Friday evening.

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Ireland prop Finlay Bealham says there can be "no sulking" from the side in the aftermath of their 23-13 defeat to New Zealand on Friday.

The All Blacks ended Ireland's unbeaten home run after 19 games in a game where Will Jordan scored the only try in the second half.

Ireland have further games this November against Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

"Everyone is obviously bitterly disappointed," said the Connacht man.

"Look, there's still three games to go in this series, and we'll dust ourselves off.

"We're not feeling sorry for ourselves, we'll analyse it properly and we've another big Test next week. Back on the horse."

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Ireland suffered a first home defeat in more than three years as they were beaten by New Zealand in an Autumn Nations Series match that failed to add a latest exciting chapter to one of rugby's greatest rivalries.

Six penalties from New Zealand fly-half Damian McKenzie lifted the All Blacks to their first win on Irish soil since 2016.

McKenzie kicked three penalties to give New Zealand a 9-6 half-time lead, although they lost Jordie Barrett to a yellow card for a high tackle on Garry Ringrose.

With a numerical advantage, Ireland started the second half in style with Josh van der Flier scoring a much-needed try for the hosts.

But Ireland's discipline cost them as McKenzie nailed three more penalties before Will Jordan's try - his 37th in 39 Tests - killed the home side's hopes of exacting revenge for last year's World Cup quarter-final loss.

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As mentioned, Ireland come into the game on the back of a dispiriting evening against the All Blacks, their first home defeat since the 2021 Six Nations.

Hoping to avenge last year's World Cup quarter-final loss, Ireland failed to fire, with numerous errors proving costly as New Zealand ran out 23-13 winners.

In contrast, Argentina warmed up for their trip to Dublin with a thumping 50-18 win over Italy in Udine on Saturday.

The Pumas ran in seven tries against the Azzurri with fly-half Tomas Albornoz scoring 20 points.

Argentina, who reached the semi-finals at last year's World Cup, also secured some big results in the Rugby Championship, beating the All Blacks in Wellington and world champions South Africa at home.

They also scored 67 points in a home win over Australia.

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Who else is in action this weekend?

Ireland against Argentina is a nice way to kick off a big weekend of rugby.

There's a tasty one on Saturday as England take on the world number one Springboks, while Scotland face Portugal.

Last, but by no means least, Wales host Australia in Cardiff on Sunday.

You can follow it all across BBC Sport!