Keenan hat-trick leads Ireland to 42-12 win over Argentina

Hugo Keenan scored three tries as Ireland began the home leg of the Nations Championship with a 42-12 bonus-point win over Argentina in Dublin on Friday.

Dan Sheehan, Sam Prendergast and Ronan Kelleher also crossed for Ireland, who led 21-5 at half-time. Mateo Carreras scored both of Argentina’s tries.

The result put Ireland top of the northern hemisphere table before France, Scotland and England were due to play this weekend. Ireland next face Fiji, followed by a match against world champions South Africa in Dublin on 21 November.

Argentina had Justo Piccardo and Efraín Elías sin-binned, and captain Julián Montoya left before half-time after failing a head injury assessment. Ireland also lost Sheehan to a head knock and had replacement Sam Illo sent to the sin-bin in the second half.

Ireland’s win came after a 40-21 defeat by New Zealand in Auckland to close their summer campaign. Coach Andy Farrell’s side scored six tries, but the BBC described their performance as a mixture of fluent attacks and careless moments.