British and Irish Lions team v Argentina: Fin and Marcus Smith both start
Fin and Marcus Smith will start together in Andy Farrell's first British & Irish Lions team to play Argentina in Dublin this Friday, as two of nine Englishmen in the starting side.
In a boost to the Lions' prospects in Australia this summer, Tadhg Furlong, the Ireland and Leinster tight-head prop is fit to make the substitute's bench. Furlong has not played since May 3, when Northampton Saints beat Leinster 37-34 in the Champions Cup semi-final, and has been struggling with a calf issue, but is now ready to return. He is joined there by Henry Pollock, who will make his Lions debut just four months after last featuring for England Under-20.
There is a heavily English flavour to Farrell's first Lions team, which is led by tour captain Maro Itoje. Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie make the front-row, alongside Irishman Finlay Bealham, who was a late call-up for Scotland's Zander Fagerson. Tadhg Beirne joins Itoje in the second-row, and in the back-row Tom Curry starts at No6 with Ben Earl No8, and Wales' Jac Morgan the open-side flanker.
Alex Mitchell pairs with Fin Smith at half-back, rekindling their Northampton and England combination, with a powerful pair of centres outside — Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu.
In the back-three Marcus Smith wears No15, as he has done for England in more recent Tests, with Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings.
As predicted Farrell has largely selected from those who were able to train in Portugal last week. Only one player who featured in a domestic final last Saturday is involved, the Leinster and Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher. With Finn Russell, the Scotland fly half, and England's Will Stuart, the tight-head, recovering from Bath's Gallagher Premiership final win neither are involved. Nor are ten of the Leinster contingent, who beat the Bulls 32-7 in the United Rugby Championship final last Saturday.
Huw Jones, the Scottish centre, has not been selected. He is recovering from an achilles issue. However, Mack Hansen, the Ireland wing, is fit to make the bench.
TOM SANDBERG/PPAUK/SHUTTERSTOCK
Completing the replacements are Scottish forwards Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings, with Tomos Williams the replacement No9, and Elliot Daly the utility back.
Farrell, the Lions head coach, said: 'Congratulations to Maro Itoje ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time — it is a truly special moment and one that very few players ever get to experience. Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. This is also our first
opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team.
'We know that Argentina will challenge us up front and out wide — so Friday night will be a tough contest, but also a great occasion for all the fans.'
Felipe Contepomi, the Argentina head coach, has selected a strong-looking Pumas side to face the Lions. For the exhibition match, which does not have Test status, he has Premiership stars Julián Montoya, Pedro Rubiolo, Juan Martín González, Santiago Carreras and Rodrigo Isgró all in the starting team.
British & Irish Lions side to face Argentina
15 Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England)
14 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England)
13 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
12 Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
11 Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
10 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England)
9 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England)
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England)
3 Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (c)
5 Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England)
7 Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
8 Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
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