Key occasions
PENALTY! Lions 3-3 Argentina (Fin Smith)
The Pumas cough up a penalty and Fin Smith steps up for a protracted kick to posts. It’s fantastically weighted and the Lions have their first factors on the board.
9 min An inch-perfect kick from Fin Smith virtually finds Morgan within the nook, however Mendy intercepts. That was so, so shut.
7 min The Lions roar again instantly, Van der Merwe virtually bulldozing by way of solely to be introduced down on the final. They find yourself with a lineout, which they win. A driving maul ends with Cowan-Dickie going over and, seemingly, scoring the primary attempt of the 2025 tour. Replays present that he misplaced management of the ball as he rolled away to attain, nevertheless, and the TMO overturns the on-pitch choice.
PENALTY! Lions 0-3 Argentina (Tomás Albornoz)
The kick sails serenely by way of the posts. It’s first blood to Argentina, who’ve began aggressively.
3 min Argentina push and probe early on, however Beirne intercepts a cross to kill their momentum. The 2 sides commerce kicks earlier than the Pumas get their first huge opening, Ignacio Mendy getting inside 10 metres of the attempt line. The Lions give away a penalty for offside. Tomás Albornoz steps up …
Kick-off!
James Doleman, the referee, blows the whistle, Argentina ship up an enormous kick, and we’re off.
The perimeters stroll out to the customary blast of pyro. We get a vigorous rendition of the Argentinian nationwide anthem. The stadium is wreathed in a sort of ethereal smoke. Onerous to not be excited, isn’t it?
The groups are within the tunnel. Itoje seems laser targeted. The Lions are about to stroll out in Dublin for the primary time. Pretty stuff.
The Lions have rattled off their pre-match huddle. The stadium is beginning to fill out. A bit below 10 minutes to go. Whoosh.
It seems like there are wonderful vibes in and across the Aviva proper now. A very good few pints of Guinness put away, little doubt. (Different stouts can be found.)
The 2 sides are out on the pitch, the backs operating a number of passing drills and the forwards warming up on the sort out pads. Just below half an hour to go till kick-off.
That is Andy Farrell’s first match as Lions head coach, so it’s an enormous evening for him personally. Requested what he desires to see from the crew, he says: “To be the very best model of themselves. There’s no excuses, the shirt calls for that.
“They’ve been collectively for 12 days. There was lots of info that went into them within the first week, however this week has been a fairly regular Check week. We all know the significance of the sport for everybody and we’re actually excited to get the present on the highway.”
In the meantime, Farrell Sr has additionally taken a while to share his ideas. “It’s there for everybody to see who’s been on the town at this time,” he says, when requested concerning the significance of the event. “It’s a sea of purple that we’re accustomed to seeing with the Lions travelling help, they’ve come out of their 1000’s right here to Dublin and made their voices heard.
“Hopefully we will placed on a efficiency that will get them going within the stadium as properly.”
Owen Farrell, who stays on standby for the Lions, is working as a Sky Sports activities pundit tonight. Whereas he demurs on the opportunity of him linking up with the squad at a later stage of the tour, he does open up on what it means to put on the jersey. “It’s unbelievably particular. I believe that phrase most likely will get used a bit an excessive amount of, however I actually imply it once I discuss concerning the Lions.
“Every little thing about it’s totally different. Coming collectively from all 4 nations, the followers, every thing that goes with it. It’s the very best of the very best, however you don’t actually know what that’s like till you get right here and you’re feeling it.”
Requested what success seems like this night, Itoje provides: “We wish to win. We’re not right here to simply play properly and lose.
“We wish to win. Each time the Lions take to the sphere, that needs to be the ambition.”
Maro Itoje has taken a second to talk with Sky Sports activities earlier than the match. “It’s been wonderful,” he says, when requested how he’s settling into his captaincy position. “To begin with, the expertise is obvious for everybody to see. We have now a gaggle of males who’re decided to do properly, a gaggle of males who wish to succeed, so it’s been an absolute pleasure to be part of. The coaches, the entire employees have been nice, so I’m having fun with it to date.”
Requested what he’s hoping to see from the Lions towards the Pumas, he says: “What I’m hoping for tonight is cohesion. We all know Argentina are a superb facet, they’ve proved over the past couple of years what they’re about. However, from our viewpoint, if we’re cohesive, if we’re a good unit, we’ll do properly tonight.”
In search of a rundown of the remainder of our stay protection this weekend? Right here’s every thing it’s essential to know.
The lineups
Right here’s a reminder of the beginning XVs, in case wanted.
Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (captain), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl.
Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgró, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomás Albornoz, Gonzalo García; Mayco Vivas, Julián Montoya (captain), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martín González, Joaquín Oviedo.
Preamble
And so it begins. After all of the hype, buzz and anticipation, the 2025 Lions tour is about to get below means.
Earlier than the squad fly out to Australia, there’s the small matter of a troublesome warm-up match towards Argentina, ranked fifth on the earth, on the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It is going to be the primary time the Lions have performed in Eire, a historic event which the squad’s 16-strong Irish contingent shall be particularly eager to mark with a win. Tadhg Beirne, who will begin at lock, has stated as a lot, telling the press: “For us Irish gamers it’s additional particular and means quite a bit.” Beirne was a part of the Eire facet that narrowly beat Argentina 22-19 on the Aviva final November, a consequence which hints at simply how powerful this recreation might be.
Whereas the Pumas’ final outing was a 37-23 defeat to France quickly afterwards, their three wins on the Rugby Championship final 12 months – towards New Zealand in Wellington, Australia in Santa Fe and South Africa in Santiago del Estero – are a greater measure of their mettle. Count on brutal ahead play and threats throughout the again line.
As for the Lions, it’s early days. It is a likelihood to experiment, really feel out totally different combos and construct relationships on the pitch, albeit towards steely opposition.
There’s a subplot for England followers, with Steve Borthwick’s facet set to face Argentina in two Exams on 5 July and 12 July. Little question Borthwick shall be maintaining a detailed eye on proceedings.
As for the remainder of us, it’s time to take a seat again and benefit from the experience. Right here’s some pre-match studying to be occurring with.
