Why Argentina feels like an early audition for Lions No12 jersey
Have the British and Irish Lions ever fielded a more imposing midfield?
In Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu, Andy Farrell is rolling out a hard-running centre partnership which collectively tips the scales at around 32 stone.
That's a lot of midfield muscle. Aki and Tuipulotu are the kind of operators which strike fear into opposition out-halves. The prospect of one of these powerhouses paying a visit down the No10 channel is daunting. Dealing with both is positively alarming. Bundee Aki. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Shorn of his France-based frontliners, who are still on Top14 duty, Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has named a youthful Lions side to face down the Lions at Aviva Stadium on Friday evening.
Benetton out-half Tomas Albornoz, uncapped centre Justo Piccardo and Saracens centre Lucio Cinti are going to have a busy night in Dublin trying to contain this potent Lions midfield.
But Contepomi will sense some opportunities, too. Yes, this Aki/Tuipulotu axis will pack a punch but it's also a combination which looks a bit one-paced. Sione Tuipulotu. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Defensively, they could be exposed. Indeed, neither player – for all their undoubted talent – has looked entirely comfortable at outside centre in the past.
Aki had a defensive nightmare in the No13 jersey for Ireland during the 2023 Six Nations when he and Stuart McCloskey struggled to contain a free-running Italian backline in Rome.
The Connacht midfielder has always looked his gainline-busting best at inside centre. Ditto, the destructive Tuipulotu.
Even his Glasgow head coach Franco Smith came to the same conclusion recently. Tuipulotu started at outside centre against Leinster in the URC quarter-final. But the Scotland skipper was shifted back to his customary position at No12 at the half-time break because he clearly wasn't having the same impact on the game. Bundee Aki tackling Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
It will be fascinating to see how this combination goes against this expirimental Pumas side. It's an imposing combination but it lacks balance.
In truth, this feels like an early shoot-out for the inside centre spot ahead of the Test series.
Tuipulotu, despite missing the entire Six Nations with injury, remains the favourite to start against the Wallabies. But Aki, who turned 35 in April, is in the shape of his life and has a tonne of credit in the bank with Farrell.
On Fridy night, both players will have a chance to lay down an early marker. Because there is unlikely to be space in the starting XV for both, especially when Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones get up to speed. Lions head coach Andy Farrell. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Farrell's preference is for a midfield which combines power and panache. Go back through previous Lions tour and the starting centres always complimented each other. Whether it was Scott Gibbs and Jeremy Guscott or Brian O'Driscoll lining up alongside Rob Henderson or Jamie Roberts, there were the perfect balance of blunt force, fleet footwork, vision and deft skills.
Tuipulotu would appear to have the edge in this midfield battle. The Glasgow centre can offer the same physical presence as his rival, but he has a bit of an edge when it comes to out and out pace.
Aki, however, is a hugely underrated distributor and offers so much more than just a crash ball option. Both players are proven leaders in their environments, too. Bundee Aki. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Both are set for big tours. But there is only going to be room for one behemoth in this Lions midfield.
Then again, if they combine to devastating effect in this pre-tour runout and gel as a defensive pairing, then perhaps we might a trend being bucked in the coming weeks.
Right now, it's expected that a combination of Aki or Tuipolotu and Jones or Ringrose will face down Joe Schmidt's side in the Test series. The Wallabies backline is laced with pace and the presence of superstar rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will demand that that the Lions have pacy and experienced defender in the outside channels.
The Lions midfield was one of many interesting selections made by Farrell and his backroom team on Wednesday.
This was a matchday squad which went along expected lines. The late arrival of the Leinster frontliners and the likes of Bath out-half Finn Russell, who were tied up with URC and English Premiership finals last weekend, meant that the crew which pitched up at last week's warm weather training camp in the Algarve had the jump on selection.
It's an English heavy starting line-up, with just three Irish starters – and three more on the bench – and a big opportunity to make an early impression on Farrell.
Finlay Bealham wasn't even part of the original squad. Zander Fagerson's injury woe allowed the Connacht tighthead to make the cut. All eyes will be on Tadhg Furlong. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Bealham, who was born and raised in Canberra, needs to make of the most of this start. England's Will Stuart had a big season while Tadhg Furlong, if he can prove his fitness, is a shoo-in to start against Australia. All eyes will be on Furlong, who was last seen in a Leinster shirt in a URC league game against Glasgow on May 17. The Ireland tighthead has a Lions Royal Flush in his sights, as he targets nine consecutive starts spanning tours of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
But Furlong has been blighted by calf and hamstring injuries for the past two years. Farrell will be praying that the Wexford native has one more tour of duty left in him.
Tadhg Beirne packs down with tour captain Maro Itoje in the second row. Many pundits and former players believe that his the lock combination will will start the opening Test in Brisbane on June 19. Tour captain Maro Itoje training with the Lions on Monday. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and the underrated Scott Cummings will have something to say about that.
The Munster captain will back himself. His role at the lineout will be vital. The backrow unit of Tom Curry, Jac Morgan and Ben Earl doesn't lack pace, breakdown impact or energy. It doest lack a bit of height, however. Itoje and Beirne will be heavily marked by this Pumas pack.
Same goes for the midfield. This will certainly be Aki's last dance in a Lions jersey. He's primed for a massive battle with Tuipulotu and it begins in Ballsbridge.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
21 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Farrell throws down the gauntlet as opportunity beckons for chosen Lions
Andy Farrell has fired the starting gun on his players' race to a British & Irish Lions Test jersey this summer after naming his first matchday squad for Friday night's Dublin date against Argentina. The 1888 Cup match on the eve of the Lions squad's departure for a 10-match tour of Australia, highlighted by a three-Test series against the Wallabies, may be a non-cap international but the head coach is expecting a Test-level challenge from Los Pumas and that means an opportunity for the 23 players selected to pull on the famous red jersey first to make the earliest of impressions. There will be five further opportunities in country Down Under to persuade Farrell of individual merits for inclusion in the July 19 First Test squad to meet Joe Schmidt's men in Brisbane but whoever follows the 23 chosen for this historic first Lions game on Irish soil, there will be an element of playing catch-up. Farrell has named six Irishmen, including a fit-again Tadhg Furlong, in a team captained by tour skipper Maro Itoje to face the Argentinians at a sold-out Aviva Stadium on Friday night. Furlong missed Leinster's URC Grand Final win over the Bulls at Croke Park last Saturday as he completed his rehabilitation from a calf issue that had sidelined him since May 3, but of his 11 Leinster team-mates who joined the squad last Monday alongside English Premiership finalists from Bath and Leicester Tigers, only replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher has been asked to double up from Saturday's respective club deciders to this Friday's pre-tour match. Read More Players must adapt to the Lions way or get left behind, insists Beirne Farrell duly threw down the gauntlet to those who will be in the stands watching their fellow tourists get their first bites as 2025 Lions. Kelleher aside, the other 22 players have been already been in camp. 'It's tough for them coming in, because these lads are fully up to speed and bonded and these lads have subtly worked their way in and so the more they can come out of themselves or be themselves as soon as possible, the quicker they are going to learn. 'There's quite a bit of experience in terms of being able to do that, so they've certainly added another dimension. We had a great session against Portugal in Quinta on Friday. It's a different level when the squad come back together, and we've got 15 on 15 and that type of talent going at one another. You can see the competitive nature and the talent that's in the room.' There was also a message from the head coach for his matchday squad, that the starting gun on Test selection has been fired. "This is all about putting your best foot forward as a group. They're representing the group. This is a full-blown Test match for us, for all that are involved internally. We're lucky to have the quality of the Argentinian side to come over and test that. It's going to be a fantastic occasion." All four nations will be represented in this opening match but for the half-dozen Irishmen on display, it is a particular moment of pride to represent the Lions in their first ever match on Irish soil. There are some combinations within the starting line-up which already have the look of Test partnerships with Bundee Aki named at inside centre alongside Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu, while Itoje partners his 2021 Test team-mate Tadhg Beirne in the second row. There is also continuity in the shape of a Northampton Saints and England half-back partnership in scrum-half Alex Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith, whose fellow national playmaker Marcus Smith is named at full-back with another Saint in Tommy Freeman on the right wing, Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe occupying the left wing. The front row of the pack sees England duo Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie pack down at loosehead and hooker alongside Irish tighthead Finlay Bealham while there is a combative back row formed by flankers Tom Curry and Welshman Jac Morgan with the former's English team-mate Ben Earl handed the start at No.8. Farrell has picked a team to show the Australians what his 2025 Lions are about, and 'what we want to stand for as a team'. In return he asked for: 'Cohesion, connection. An ability to attack the game from the off and be the best version of themselves individually and collectively. 'You can give yourself any excuse in terms of time together. But we've had good preparation. If you want to be a good Lions player, you have to hit your straps straight from the off. We want to see these players compete.' BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: M Smith (England); T Freeman (England), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), B Aki (Ireland), D van der Merwe (Scotland); F Smith (England), A Mitchell (England); E Genge (England), L Cowan-Dickie (England); F Bealham (Ireland); M Itoje (England) – captain, T Beirne (Ireland); T Curry (England), J Morgan (Wales), B Earl (England). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland), P Schoeman (Scotland), T Furlong (Ireland), S Cummings (Scotland), H Pollock (England), T Williams (Wales), E Daly (England), M Hansen (Ireland). ARGENTINA: S Carreras; R Isgró, L Cinti, J Piccardo, I Mendy; T Albornoz, G García; M Vivas, J Montoya - captain, J Sclavi; F Molina, P Rubiolo; P Matera, JM Gonzalez, J Oviedo. Replacements: B Bernasconi, B Wenger, F Coria Marchetti, S Grondona, J Moro, S Benitez Cruz, M Moroni, S Cordero.
The 42
4 hours ago
- The 42
Ex-Southampton boss replaces Chris Wilder as Sheffield United manager
Updated at 20.12 SHEFFIELD UNITED have appointed Ruben Selles as their new manager after Chris Wilder expressed 'great regret' over his departure from Bramall Lane. Selles was swiftly named as Wilder's successor on Wednesday evening, with the Spaniard signing a three-year deal at the Championship club. The 42-year-old former Southampton, Reading and Hull boss told the Blades website: 'When we first heard about the possibility of coming here, it was a no-brainer for us to join a club with this kind of history and with a mission to move forward and try to be even more competitive. 'This is a very powerful and ambitious project. It was very important at the start of the conversations that everyone was on the same page. 'We need to embrace data and new technologies, but the most important thing is not to forget the football essence. 'I think we are capable of delivering a good model and optimising our performance by using all the tools that we have. 'Our identity is always very clear. We want to be aggressive, we want to make things happen. 'So, the fans can expect a team which is not going to wait or be reactive, we will be proactive, we are going to go and try and be as competitive as we can in every single game. If we can do that, then we'll give ourselves a very good chance of winning games.' Advertisement Wilder's departure had been expected over the last 24 hours following the club's end-of-season review into their failure to win promotion to the Premier League. Despite amassing 92 points, United finished third behind Leeds and Burnley and were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the play-off final at Wembley after taking the lead. The Blades described Wilder's departure as a 'mutually agreed decision'. The 57-year-old quickly released his statement through the club's media platforms, saying he was 'obviously disappointed' to be leaving Bramall Lane. Wilder said: 'It is with great regret that my time at Sheffield United has come to an end. 'I'd like to thank Stephen Bettis (chief executive) and Prince Abdullah (former owner) for bringing me back to the club and giving me the opportunity to rebuild the team and take this great club forward. 'To the fans, I'm obviously disappointed to be leaving, particularly because we were so close to getting back to the Premier League. 'I'm a Sheffielder through and through, I love this club and this city, and that feeling will never change. 'I depart with some cherished memories and feel proud to be talked about in the same manner that special Sheffield United managers are remembered — leading this team over 300 times will remain an incredible part of my life. This is a heartfelt thank you for all your support.' American-based consortium COH Sports, who completed a takeover in December last year, had handed Wilder a new contract until the end of the 2027-28 season in January.
The 42
4 hours ago
- The 42
'If you want to be a Lion, you have to adapt or you'll get left behind'
TADHG BEIRNE IS not one of the 14 potential first-time Lions in line to feature against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night [KO 8pm, TG4/Sky Sports], but the Munster and Ireland lock is fully aware the opportunity that lies ahead of him in the coming weeks will have a very different feel to his previous taste of the Lions experience. The 33-year-old was a member of Warren Gatland's Lions squad that toured South Africa in 2021, but it was a diluted, restricted version of what the Lions is meant to be, with the Covid pandemic still very much shaping everyday life at the time. With that in mind, making the cut again this time around in order to feel the real thing proved a big motivation for Beirne across the season. 'Me and Jack Conan had spoken about it very briefly during the Six Nations, how much we both wanted it, just because of experiencing the Covid Lions tour isn't really what it's meant to be,' said Beirne. Beirne speaking to the media in Dublin today. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'So when we both got the name called out, that's what I was thinking in my head, that we're going to get the actual experience of what the Lions is actually meant to be about, full crowds, having the fans come over, experiencing that wave of red coming into each city for each game and just the buzz around the place, it's going to be a much different experience and I'm really, really excited about it.' Advertisement Four years is a long time in rugby, and Beirne admits he's a slightly different player to the one who toured in 2021 – where he played six games and came off the bench in two of the three Tests. 'I've probably gotten slower, put on a bit of weight,' he smiled. 'No look, I've learned a lot over the last four years. If I think about that year I probably wasn't getting selected for Ireland at the start of the year, it was a strange time obviously with Covid and the opportunity came to me in the Six Nations and all of a sudden I was in the Lions squad. 'I was kind of playing as a six more than a second row back then, I've been between both over the last couple of years, but if anything I've probably become more settled in the second row spot over the last couple of months, particularly with Munster. 'I like to think, or I've convinced myself anyway, that my game has improved a bit over the last four years just in terms of understanding the game and being a smarter rugby player and particularly in the second row because I've been playing there a lot more, what's expected of me in that role, whether it be for Munster or Ireland. I've definitely got a better understanding of it but still a lot of room for improvement for sure.' He's in the starting team for Friday's clash with the Pumas, lining out in the second row alongside squad captain Maro Itoje. Andy Farrell has already called for his players to hit the ground running in their first outing, and Beirne says there would be no excuse for any lack of cohesion on the night, even if the group are still in the early stages of getting to know each other and learning new systems. 'You're talking about world class players here. We're talking about the best of the best. 'The expectation we would have of each other is that you can adapt to any system you're given and that's the challenge laid in front of us. That's the challenge of being a Lion. Every four years there's going to be a new system, the coach is going to want to play a certain way and if you want to be a Lion, you're going to have to adapt or you'll get left behind. 'I would say if you came in here thinking that you could just play your club system or your country system, then you're probably already at a loss. So I think everyone comes into these things with a massive open mind and look forward to getting to play these new systems, getting to try something new and eager to learn. 'If you're not floating ideas at players in your position, you're already at a loss as well. We're in such a privileged position to come into these environments and learn from one another and get better as rugby players. Adaptation is a big part of that. We all want to be on the same page. 'I think that's what we'll be chasing, that cohesion and connection.' 'Getting to play in Ireland is extra special for us Irish players,' he added. 'The last week and a half has been really enjoyable so looking forward to getting stuck in and playing with some of the new lads.'
