Ireland - who entered the weekend in fourth - engineered a significant statement on the back of five match points in the Nations Championship table, and seven tries

Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick at the Aviva on Friday night as Ireland posted a bonus-point win against Argentina.

The full-back was named Player of the Match, while Sam Prendergast, Robert Baloucoune, Andrew Porter, and Tadhg Beirne also caught the eye for Andy Farrell’s home side.

Dan Sheehan was exceptional too, but he was replaced after 35 minutes for a head injury assessment, raising concerns over his availability for the remainder of the month.

It was a performance set to give the Nations Championship northern hemisphere conference plenty of food for thought.

Ireland - who entered the weekend in fourth - engineered a significant statement on the back of five match points in the table, and seven tries.

At the same time, Ireland were entitled to be taken aback by Argentina’s blistering start, which was aided by a sluggish opening from the hosts.

Ireland lost the first three contestable kicks, Ryan Baird missed an important tackle, and the home side conceded an early penalty for hands on the floor at a ruck.

It was entirely in keeping with the run of play, therefore, when the Pumas struck first.

Establishing an immediate attacking platform with a nine-metre rolling maul off a lineout, Argentina recycled quickly.

Out-half Tomás Albornoz dropped back, spotted left-winger Mateo Carreras in space, and picked him out with an inch-perfect cross-kick.

Ireland’s response over the next 30 minutes was sensational, producing three converted tries to send them into the break leading 21-5.

Keenan struck first off a slick right-to-left backline move inside the Argentina half.

Prendergast handled twice on the loop to send Baloucoune across the gain-line, before the Ulster winger fed the scampering Mack Hansen on the touchline. Hansen fired a pass back infield for Keenan to gather and run home.

The second try showcased Sheehan’s brilliance in the loose. The hooker found his target at an attacking lineout before peeling around to take the return pass at the tail.

Flattened by the first Puma tackler, Sheehan managed an offload to Nick Timoney, who weaved his way toward the line before being hauled down just short. Craig Casey recycled quickly, and Sheehan - having scrambled back to his feet - arrived on cue to take the scoring pass.

The final try of the half came after Ireland stole an Argentine lineout deep in Puma territory. Keenan collected possession out wide beyond the second-centre channel, cut back against the defensive drift, and evaded four defenders to dot down.

There could have been a fourth before the interval when Sheehan squeezed down the left touchline, but he was ruled to have been tackled into touch illegally.

Referee Luke Pearce balked at awarding a penalty try, opting instead for a standard penalty.

The second half began at a ferocious tempo, yielding three tries in the opening 10 minutes. Prendergast opened the scoring with an out-half’s dream finish, knifing through from metres out and racing in untouched (below).

The Pumas replied just two minutes later. Attacking Ireland’s line under a penalty advantage, they spun the ball wide for Carreras to cross for his second of the evening.

Needing another score to secure a bonus point, Ireland delivered in the 50th minute. Setting up a ruck 15 metres out, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, and Baird all handled before Keenan took the final pass to complete his hat-trick.

Ireland’s fifth try arrived in the 56th minute, with replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher touching down off the back of a well-executed rolling maul.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Rob 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: Rónan Kelleher for Sheehan 35, Tom O’Toole for Porter 56-68 for subbed Timony 68-71, Sam Illo for 58, James Ryan for McCarthy 57, Josh van der Flier for Jensen 46, Jamison Gibson-Park for Casey 54, Ciarán Frawley for Prendergast 54, Jamie Osborne for Baloucoune 58.

Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Boris Wenger, Julian Montoya (capt), Francisco Morena; Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera.

Replacements: Leonel Oviedo for Montoya 26, Mayco Vivas for Wenger 63, Joel Sclavi for Morena 50, Efrain Elias for Petty 50, Juan Martin Scelzo for Kremer 54, Simon Benitez Cruz for Garcia 51, Geronimo Prisciantelli for Piccaedo 63, Lucio Cinti for Mallia 63.