Irish Rugby

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Sean Jansen says he is relishing a "massive opportunity" to prove he can be Ireland's long-term starting number eight as he prepares for his home debut against Argentina.

With Caelan Doris and Jack Conan out injured, Jansen has been selected to start Friday's Nations Championship fixture with the Pumas at Aviva Stadium (20:10 GMT).

While squad captain Doris and two-time British and Irish Lion Conan are ahead of him in the pecking order, the 27-year-old Connacht back row is backing himself to become a regular presence in Andy Farrell's team in the lead-up to next year's Rugby World Cup.

"It's a massive opportunity for me," said New Zealand-born Jansen.

"I know that and I just can't wait to hopefully get out there and show what I've got and prove why I'm there.

"It was awesome to get my debut in the summer but I'm climbing higher. I want to put myself on the front foot to be that starting eight."

Dunedin-born Jansen joined Connacht from Leicester Tigers in 2023 and earned his Test debut in the summer after a string of commanding displays for the Irish province last season.

He marked his bow with a try in the win over Japan and came off the bench in the defeat by the All Blacks.

When asked what sets him apart from Ireland's other number eights, he said: "Hopefully just the way I play, the physicality I bring, the way I carry and tackle.

"Yeah, I don't know. I back myself."

Having closed the southern hemisphere Nations Championship leg with a humbling 40-21 loss to New Zealand, Jansen admits Ireland must tighten up defensively in this month's meetings with Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.

"I think defensive-wise, playing our game and playing our Irish system," he said when asked about improvements the team must make.

"I felt we might have just fell back a little bit over the summer tour, but the way we're training, we're flying and ready for these games coming up."

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell spoke to reporters in Dublin after naming his team for Friday's Nations Championship match against Argentina at Aviva Stadium.

Farrell made a couple of surprising calls, with Craig Casey and Nick Timoney starting at scrum-half and open-side flanker ahead of Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier respectively.

Sam Prendergast is preferred to Ciaran Frawley at fly-half after shaking off a wrist injury, while Robbie Henshaw replaces the injured Garry Ringrose at outside centre.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Sam Illo, James Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciaran Frawley or Jamie Benson, Bundee Aki.

On starting Casey: "Because Craig deserves to play in a big game at the start of the season and have the responsibility to be in charge of the week and how we go about and take responsibility for how we play on Friday.

"We need him to be able to have the opportunity to do that. Plus, he's been playing pretty well himself. He knows the competition is there but he's got the shirt so it's up to him along with his team-mates to make a good first impression."

On Timoney: "Certainly last year, I think he finally grabbed hold of the understanding of what he can bring and what international rugby is all about. We saw consistency within that.

"He brings a lot to, not just to our game, but in different positions as well. Look at our 23-man squad and we've got a decent bench as well, you know with James Ryan coming on and Bundee Aki.

"Nick gets the chance to wear the seven jersey for the first time and I'm sure Josh [van der Flier] will have something to do with that in the coming weeks as well."

On Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley's form: "That's what players tend to do when they've got ambition over an off-season, have a word with themselves about how they wanted to look from the start.

"Those two guys have shown that they mean business this year and a few good man of the matches between the two of them as well, playing with a bit of freedom in their own minds and therefore started the season very well."

On the year ahead: "It's an exciting year, it's a year that means a lot to us because we want to grow our game and build the right belief for what's coming in 12 months' time (the World Cup) and there's no better way to start that 12-month journey than with a first game of the international season against a tough and respected opponent in Argentina."

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Ireland are optimistic that Sam Prendergast will be fit for Friday's Nations Championship opener against Argentina as the fly-half continues his recovery from a wrist injury.

Prendergast, 23, missed Leinster's United Rugby Championship win over Munster on 24 October after injuring his wrist in training.

Speaking after that game, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted Prendergast recovering in time to face the Pumas would be "tight".

But in a squad update issued on Sunday, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said he "continues to improve" and that "management are optimistic" he will be available for selection.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is already without the injured Jack Crowley, with Connacht's Ciaran Frawley and uncapped Ulster player Jamie Benson the other options at fly-half.

In positive news, Leinster utility back Jimmy O'Brien will be available to face Argentina.

The 29-year-old has resumed training having passed return to play protocols after sustaining a concussion against Munster.

Ireland host Argentina on Friday (20:10 GMT) before home matches with Fiji and South Africa on 14 and 21 November, and a finals weekend fixture against a yet-to-be determined southern hemisphere opponent the following week at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

In the southern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship in July, Ireland beat Australia and Japan before losing to New Zealand in Auckland.

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United Rugby Championship

Munster (3) 3

Pen: Hanrahan

Sharks (5) 15

Tries: Lombard, Van Zyl Con: Lombard Pen: Lombard

Munster fell to a second successive United Rugby Championship defeat as the Sharks claimed a first away win over the Irish province at a rainy Thomond Park.

Gianni Lombard and Ivan van Zyl crossed in either half for the South African side - the game's only tries - with Munster's only points coming courtesy of JJ Hanrahan's first-half penalty.

While the result deepens Munster's woes after last weekend's derby loss to Leinster at Aviva Stadium, it is a fourth win in five games this season for the Sharks, who move up to fourth in the table.

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan, who was without Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey, made seven changes - which included handing a debut to former Leinster wing Rob Russell - as his side attempted to shake off their derby disappointment.

But they were put on the back foot in the 15th minute when Lombard touched down for the opening try.

Zekhethelo Siyaya, the Sharks' rapid 19-year-old full-back, launched a kick into Munster territory, with Lombard gifted an easy finish after the covering Hanrahan misjudged the bounce of the ball.

Siyaya almost rubbed salt into Munster wounds when he sprinted clear before misreading the bouncing ball as he cantered towards the line.

Struggling to apply pressure while in Sharks territory, Munster registered their only points of the evening when Hanrahan slotted over.

The game's major flashpoint arrived after Lombard had kicked a penalty to restore the Sharks' five-point lead as Ox Nche was shown a yellow card after his shoulder made contact with Munster replacement prop Jeremy Loughman's head.

However, the Springbok prop avoided a 20-minute red following an off-field review.

The Sharks dealt a major blow to Munster's comeback hopes in the 59th minute when Van Zyl crossed after a big carry from captain Nick Hatton, which proved to be the game's final score.

After winning just out of five fixtures in the opening block, Munster are next in action when they travel to Zebre after the international break on 5 December.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Shay McCarthy, Gordon Wood, Alex Nankivell, Rob Russell; JJ Hanrahan, Ben O'Donovan; Josh Wycherley, Marnus Van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes, Evan O'Connell, Fineen Wycherley, Sean Edogbo, Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Alaalatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Gavin Coombes, Jake O'Riordan, Charlie O'Shea, Alex Kendellen.

Sharks: Zekhethelo Siyaya; Edwill van der Merwe, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ethan Hooker, Jaco Williams; Gianni Lombard, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Ethan Bester, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Emile van Heerden, Tino Mavesere, Manu Tshituka, Nick Hatton (capt).

Replacements: Esethu Mnebelele, Cameron Dawson, Thomas du Toit, Stephan Lewies, Vincent Tshituka, Ivan van Zyl, Siya Masuku, Litelihle Bester.

Sin-bin: Nche (57)

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Ireland captain Erin King hailed her side as "history makers" after they sealed a Test series win on South African soil.

Beibhinn Parsons' hat-trick, Aoife Dalton's double and King's opening score lifted Ireland to a 38-17 victory over the Springboks at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.

Having won last week's encounter 40-27, Scott Bemand's side became the first Irish team to secure back-to-back wins in South Africa.

"We spoke about how special it is to get the opportunity to go on tour to such a beautiful place and how rare it is," said King.

"You don't get many opportunities to do it, so we had a really good time on pitch and off pitch.

"We knew on pitch there was a job to do and we stuck to that and I think we kept building throughout the whole Global Series and we really showed today what we're capable of, especially when the pressure is on.

"We spoke about being the first Irish team to come to South Africa and win a Test series and we've done it, so I'd say we're history makers now!

Ireland fell behind early and trailed again with 20 minutes left as the Boks set out to avenge last week's loss.

But the Irish scored 24 unanswered points to storm towards another impressive success as they finished the WXV Global Series with three wins from four.

"The South Africans really brought it to us and we just had to stick to our game plan and stick to our processes and I'm unbelievably proud of the girls," added King, who led Ireland to seven wins from 10 in her first year as captain.

"It was really tough out there, it was a bit level at times, we weren't sure. They just stuck to their guns, we had each other's backs and we had an unbelievable time.

"South Africa is a beautiful place and we've made some unforgettable memories."