Fin Smith and Mitchell team up for the Lions
LONDON -England and Northampton halfback duo Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell will take their partnership to the next level after being named as starters for the British and Irish Lions in their warm-up fixture against Argentina in Dublin on Friday.
Fellow Northampton man Tommy Freeman is on the right wing, with Duhan van der Merwe on the left in the team named by coach Andy Farrell on Wednesday.
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu, edging his way back to fitness after an injury-ravaged year, teams up in midfield with Bundee Aki.
Jac Morgan starts at open side flanker with the only other Welshman in the 38-man squad, scrumhalf Tomos Williams, on the bench. Ben Earl and Tom Curry complete the back row, with 20-year-old Henry Pollock on the bench.
Saracens and England lock Maro Itoje will captain the side for the first time as he prepares for his third tour.
In total 14 players could make their Lions debut against the Pumas. While two-times tourists Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Curry, Marcus Smith and Van der Merwe all featured in South Africa in 2021.
The Lions can also call on the experience of three-times tourists Elliot Daly and Tadhg Furlong off the bench.
"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," Farrell said in a statement.
"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."
The match is a non-capped international and around half the Lions touring squad were involved in the URC and English Premiership finals last Saturday, limiting Farrell's options.
British and Irish Lions team to play Argentina on Friday (1700GMT)
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) (captain)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens/England)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
17. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland)
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
20. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England)
21. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales)
22. Elliot Daly (Saracens/England)
23. Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland)
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