Andy Farrell has said that he’s ‘keeping the players hungry’ as he named an experimental team for Friday night’s Nations Championship clash with Argentina.

Munster scrum-half Craig Casey and Ulster back-row Nick Timoney both start over Leinster duo Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh Van der Flier, while Connacht pair Sean Jansen and Sam Illo also make the squad, the former starting at No 8.

Sam Prendergast has won his fitness battle to start ahead of Ciarán Frawley after missing the last couple of weeks with a wrist injury. Mack Hansen plays for Ireland for the first time in nearly a year as he starts in an exciting back field of himself, Rob Baloucoune and Hugo Keenan.

Sam Prendergast Ireland
Sam Prendergast during an Ireland men’s rugby squad training session. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Stuart McCloskey and Robbie Henshaw partner each other in the midfield, with Bundee Aki on the bench to add some firepower to the physical pairing.

Dan Sheehan captains the side back in his familiar hooker position, with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong alongside him after he was cleared to play. Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne form a formidable duo in the second row as Ryan Baird joins Timoney and Jansen in the back row.

It’s certainly a squad that will please fans looking for some experimentation ahead of next year’s World Cup, but speaking at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell felt the changes were earned and not just given.

Craig Casey Ireland
Craig Casey. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

‘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 that and take responsibility for how we play on Friday,’ Farrell said.

‘We need him to have the opportunity to do that, and plus he’s been playing pretty well himself. He knows the competition’s there, but he’s got the shirt, so it’s up to him along with his teammates to make a good first impression.’

Timoney has become a key cog in the Ireland system over the past 12 months, making serious inroads into the matchday squad after several stellar performances off the bench. He now earns another proper start after getting the 7 shirt for the Wales match in the Six Nations, and Farrell feels he’s proven himself now.

nick timoney
Nick Timoney scores a try against France. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

‘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 a consistency within that. He brings a lot, not just to our game but in different positions as well. Look at our 23-man squad, and we’ve a decent bench as well, James Ryan coming on and Bundee Aki and all of that.

‘So, Nick gets the chance to wear the jersey, and I’m sure that Josh will have something to do with that in the coming weeks as well.’

This is very much a change of pace from the normal ‘ol’ reliable’ approach Farrell has favoured in the past, but the boss feels that with an eye on the World Cup in 12 months, it’s time to plan around the tournament in Australia.

Andy Farrell Ireland
Head coach Andy Farrell during an Ireland men’s rugby squad media conference at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

‘You have to keep them hungry as well,’ said Farrell. ‘I mean, they will stay hungry no matter what because that’s the type of people that they are, but you’ve got to make sure that your squad is your strength, certainly with what’s coming up in the next 12 months, so it’s important that we keep feeding that.

‘If ever a player feels comfortable, we’re failing the group. We’ve not got those players anyway.

‘I don’t think people are comfortable just by their nature, but if you want the ambition to keep growing as a group, then you’ve got to keep the ambition within the individual.’