Cian Healy says 'It's very different between Drico and me' as he equals record

By Michael Scully

Cian Healy insists that any comparison with Brian O'Driscoll only extends to them landing on the same record Ireland caps number on Friday night.

When Healy comes off the bench against Argentina he will represent Ireland for the 133rd time, a mark reached by O'Driscoll 10 years ago. It took both Leinster greats a decade and a half to get there and Healy, if he stays fit, is likely to make the record his own before the end of the month.

The 37-year-old ran into O'Driscoll at a friend's wedding a few weeks ago but this upcoming landmark occasion wasn't discussed. "I didn’t bring it up," admitted Healy. “Like, it's very different between Drico and me. I wasn’t ever and will never be the player that he was, so it is separated in that immediately."

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Argentina team named

While we await news on the Ireland team, Felipe Contepomi has named his Argentina side for Friday evening's clash.

Contepomi has made three changes to the side that thrased Italy last Saturday but has left out Connacht star Santiago Cordero from his matchday squad.

"Yes, there are a few changes but that's because these guys compete really hard with each other throughout the week and we always try to field the best 23 that we think out of this group of 32 can represent us the best," added Contepomi, speaking in Dublin this morning after announcing his squad.

"In this case Santi didn't make it. He had a great game last weekend and we know we can count on him and he's really training really well, but we made other selections, it's more tactical around strategy, Santi Cahas come back and we think he can give us something from the bench."

Vice-captain Pablo Matera returns to the back row after he was suspended for the Italy game. Matthias Moroni has been selected at inside centre at Matias Orlando's expense while Guido Petti is added to the second row.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Matthias Moroni, Bautista Delguy, Thomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya, Joel Sclavi, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.

Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Streets, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Franco Molina, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Justo Piccardo.