Lions v Argentina: Tadhg Furlong makes bench as Andy Farrell names three Irish in starting team
Andy Farrell
has named three Irish players in his first
Lions
squad for the match against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday (8pm kickoff).
Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Finlay Bealham are included in the side, where Bealham will make his Lions debut. Tadhg Furlong will make the bench after an injury-hit season which saw him play only nine times for Leinster and Ireland. Mack Hansen and Rónan Kelleher are also on the bench, with most of Leinster's players unavailable for selection.
Saracens and England lock Maro Itoje will captain the side for the very first time as he prepares for his third Tour.
Lions Head Coach Farrell 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.
READ MORE
'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 British & Irish Lions v 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)(capt)
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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