Argentinians pack punch

Ireland Development XV v Argentina, Donnybrook, 7.0Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe is the only player to be retained from the Argentina team that hammered Italy 36-6 in Stadio Flaminio at the weekend for tonight's encounter with an Ireland Development XV.

Lobbe started in the second row against Italy but switches to number eight for the Donnybrook clash.

A number of the Argentinian second string on duty tonight came on as replacements at the weekend while the bench contains seven players who will start the Test match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Niclas Fernandez Miranda captains the team from scrumhalf, while Manuel Contepomi, a brother of first-choice outhalf Felipe, starts in the centre. Experienced prop Martin Selzo and second row Pedro Sporleder join Lobbe in a physically strong pack.

There is a fitness doubt surrounding Irish loosehead prop Simon Best so Emmet Byrne has been placed on standby. The Irish XV draws heavily on youth and it will be interesting to note how they respond, particularly up front, to the combative qualities of the Argentinians.

In this respect the lineout and scrums will be central to how the home side fare. Donncha O'Callaghan, Aidan McCullen and captain Paul Shields will be expected to provide the inspiration in the trenches. The back five boasts great athleticism and ball-winning ability and should allow Ireland to adopt a fluent approach.

Bryn Cunningham has been in excellent form at fullback, making the transition from outhalf with more aplomb than several young rivals. Gavin Duffy may be short on match practice but there can be no doubting his ability while the performance of Brian O'Riordan at scrumhalf is eagerly anticipated.

Tonight represents a rare opportunity for fringe players to make an impression pre-World Cup .

IRELAND DEVELOPMENT XV: B Cunningham; T Robinson, G Duffy, D Quinlan, M Lawlor; M McHugh, B O'Riordan; S Best, P Shields (capt), P Bracken; D O'Callaghan, A Kearney; A McCullen, D Dillon, J O'Connor. Replacements: J Flannery, J Fitzpatrick, D Browne, N McMillan, K Campbell, S Moore, S Young.

ARGENTINA: B Stortoni; JM Nuñez Piossek, M Gaitán, M Contepomi, H Senillosa; J de la Cruz Fernández Miranda, N Fernández Miranda (captain); M Selzo, JJ Villar, S Gonzalez Bonorino, P Albacete, P Sporleder; M Durand, I Fernández Lobbe, M Schusterman. Replacements: M Ledesma, M Reggiardo, R Alvarez, R Martin, A Pichot, J Orengo, J Martín Hernández.

Referee: H Watkins (Wales).