Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick as Ireland opened the November leg of the Nations Championship with a commanding 42-12 bonus-point victory over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, 6 November 2026.

The full-back crossed three times as Andy Farrell's side ran in six tries to two, turning a cagey opening into a 30-point rout. It was Ireland's third win from four matches in the new global tournament, following summer victories over Australia and Japan and a defeat by New Zealand.

Carreras strikes first before Ireland take control

Argentina landed the first blow in the 10th minute, when wing Mateo Carreras soared to collect an inch-perfect kick-pass from Tomas Albornoz over the head of final defender Craig Casey and touched down. Albornoz missed the conversion, and Ireland hit back within five minutes.

A Casey-led counter-ruck earned the territory, and a sweeping backline move saw Robert Baloucoune arc around the defence before Mack Hansen offloaded inside for Keenan to finish. Sam Prendergast added the conversion to put the hosts in front.

Ireland's forwards then took charge at the breakdown. Nick Timoney won a penalty by his own try-line to halt a Pumas surge, Tadhg Beirne stole an Argentina lineout, and Timoney was at the breakdown again on halfway. From the resulting lineout, captain Dan Sheehan played a blind inside ball for Timoney to charge forward, and quick service from Casey sent Sheehan over for a 14-5 lead in the 25th minute.

Five minutes later Keenan had his second, battling and bouncing his way over past several defenders after Ryan Baird won another lineout steal. Prendergast converted, and Ireland led 21-5 at half-time.

Discipline costs the Pumas as Keenan completes treble

Argentina's indiscipline proved costly throughout. Centre Justo Piccardo was sent to the sin-bin late in the first half for a cynical penalty after failing to retreat 10 metres from a Sheehan quick tap, and Ireland were unlucky not to add a fourth try before the break, when Sheehan was illegally halted in the corner by replacement Leonel Oviedo and referee Luke Pearce ruled a penalty was sufficient.

The bonus point arrived less than two minutes after the restart. With Argentina briefly down two backs, Prendergast threw a dummy that Marcos Kremer bought and raced in from deep for his first try in international rugby. Prendergast converted his own score.

Carreras replied with his second try four minutes later, powering over past Keenan after a break from centre Santiago Chocobares, but Ireland then kicked on to another level. Beirne won a trademark breakdown penalty deep in the Argentina half, and quick hands from Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Baird gave Keenan the space to dive over for his third try in the 50th minute.

Replacement lock Efrain Elias was then shown a yellow card for a high shoulder-to-head tackle on Keenan, and from the very next lineout Ireland drove a rolling maul forward at pace for replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher to score the sixth try. Ciaran Frawley's conversion brought Ireland to their eventual 42-12 scoreline.

Farrell wants more despite the margin

Head coach Andy Farrell was pleased with the win but warned his side must be more ruthless, pointing to the chances left unclaimed in the closing stages. He said he was delighted to get a good win, noting that six tries to two said a lot, and praised Keenan, Baird and Andrew Porter among the players returning to international rugby after time away.

Keenan was named player of the match in his first home Test in green at the Aviva Stadium for 21 months. He said he was simply delighted to be back out in front of the home crowd, adding that he had been at the end of three good plays and would take any try. He said beating a tough Argentina side by 30 points without playing to the team's full potential was exciting, because there was still a lot of work to do and room to get better.

There was a cost to the victory. Sheehan left the match after failing a head injury assessment, and Farrell will be anxious over his captain's availability for the fixtures ahead. Argentina, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a night when their early promise faded quickly. The Pumas had stunned Farrell's British and Irish Lions side on their last visit to the Aviva Stadium, but they have now lost all 11 of their previous meetings with Ireland in Dublin.

What comes next

Ireland host Fiji in their second Nations Championship Test of the autumn at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 14 November, with an 8.10pm kick-off, before world champions South Africa visit Dublin on Saturday, 21 November. Argentina travel to face Italy in Genoa on Saturday, 14 November, with an 11.40am kick-off.