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Munster welcomes the Argentina XV to Thomond Park this weekend in what promises to be a compelling exhibition fixture. With 11 changes to the starting XV and a four-match winning streak in the United Rugby Championship (URC), Munster enters the contest in strong form and hope to deliver an exciting performance for their passionate supporters at home.
Munster welcomes the Argentina XV to Thomond Park this weekend in what promises to be a compelling exhibition fixture. With 11 changes to the starting XV and a four-match winning streak in the United Rugby Championship (URC), Munster enters the contest in strong form and hope to deliver an exciting performance for their passionate supporters at home.
Munster Team News: Rotation and Opportunity
Captain Jack O’Donoghue will be leading a revitalized Munster team following their close 17–15 victory over Connacht last weekend. The front row features the return of Josh Wycherley, alongside Academy tighthead Ronan Foxe—who will be making his first senior start—and Lee Barron. In the second row, Conor Ryan is set to make his Munster debut, while Evan O’Connell will be earning his first start of the season. The back row remains mostly consistent, with O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes retaining their positions, and Ruadhán Quinn stepping in at openside flanker, underscoring the coaching staff’s confidence in their core group’s cohesion and performance.
In the half-back positions, Paddy Patterson and Tony Butler have been paired together at scrum-half and fly-half, respectively. The midfield also sees some adjustments, with Seán O’Brien starting at inside centre and Fionn Gibbons making his first appearance for Munster at outside centre, his third overall for the province. The back three consists of Diarmuid Kilgallen on the right wing, Shay McCarthy on the left, and Mike Haley returning at full-back. Among the substitutes, four Academy players- Max Clein, Luke Murphy, Jake O’Riordan, and Ben O’Connor - are included, with Clein and Murphy in line for their senior debuts. Mark Donnelly and Kieran Ryan provide prop cover, while Fineen Wycherley and JJ Hanrahan bring experience to the second row and out-half positions
This lineup reflects a strategic blend of seasoned players and emerging talent, aiming to foster team unity and build on recent successes. Munster’s commitment to development and resilience is evident, and they look forward to engaging in upcoming fixtures with renewed focus and determination.
Munster’s Recent Form: Building Momentum
Munster’s recent URC performances reflect a team growing in confidence and cohesion. In Round 5, they edged Connacht 17–15 at Thomond Park, with O’Donoghue scoring twice and Kilgallen adding a crucial try. The previous week saw a dominant 31–14 away win over Leinster at Croke Park, a result that sent a strong message across the league. In Round 3, Munster held off a late surge from Edinburgh to win 20–19, avenging past defeats to the Scottish side. Round 2 featured a tense but composed 23–20 victory over Cardiff, a team that has historically posed challenges.
A key aspect of their success has been the impressive depth of the squad, with 47 players participating across five matches, allowing for strategic rotations and sustained performance levels. These performances collectively highlight Munster’s growing cohesion and readiness to face upcoming challenges with confidence and resilience, setting a positive trajectory for the remainder of the season. The upcoming clash against Argentina XV offers a valuable opportunity to test emerging talent and maintain momentum.
Argentina XV: Squad Profile and Tour Context
The Argentina XV arrives in Limerick off the back of 4 consecutive wins spanning back to 2023 and the tour concluding against the Bristol Bears on Friday, November 7. The squad is composed entirely of players within the national setup, with no external call-ups—a strategic shift from the 2022 tour, which featured several Pumas players in matches against Georgia and Portugal.
Thirteen of the starting XV have played in Super Rugby Americas 2025, while Alejo Sugasti and Tobias Wade come from the Los Pumas Sevens program. All players are under active consideration for full national selection, and three have already been capped earlier this year in a test against Uruguay. This will be the first-ever meeting between Munster and the Argentina XV. Previous fixtures against Irish opposition have involved Emerging Ireland and Ireland XV, but never a provincial side.
Venue and Officials
Thomond Park hosts the match, adding another layer of significance. Interestingly, the venue has never hosted an Ireland vs Argentina test match—all previous encounters have taken place in Dublin, beginning in 1973. The officiating team is led by Australian referee Angus Gardner, with Irish officials Peter Martin and Jack MacNeice serving as assistant referees. The TMO for the match is Mark Patton, also from Ireland.
Final Thoughts
Combining experienced leadership with youthful potential, Munster’s lineup demonstrates a thoughtful approach to team development. The upcoming match against Argentina XV presents a valuable international opportunity and an excellent chance to continue building momentum ahead of the upcoming URC fixtures. We look forward to an exciting evening of rugby at Thomond Park.
Stay tuned for post-match analysis following the final whistle.
