Tadhg Furlong set for Lions return as Andy Farrell names side to face Argentina in Dublin
TADHG FURLONG will bid to prove his fitness for the Lions Tour against Argentina on Friday.
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Andy Farrell has confirmed his starting XV for Friday's clash against Argentina
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Leinster star Tadhg Furlong will start at Aviva Stadium on Friday as he bids to prove his fitness
But he is fit enough to be named on the bench for
He is joined in the replacements by Rónan Kelleher, the only other Leinster player involved because they were involved in the
There are still three Irish players in the starting XV with 2021 tourists Bundee Aki of Connacht and Munster's Tadhg Beirne included, along with Finlay Bealham who was added to the squad after Scotland's Zander Ferguson was ruled out through injury.
Aki and Bealham's provincial teammate Mack Hansen is also included among the replacements.
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Farrell has not included any Bath representatives with the side involved in the Premiership final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday.
Lions captain Maro Itoje will skipper the side for the first time and Farrell said: '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.'
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After their first outing on Irish soil, the Lions will travel to Australia ahead of the three-Test series against the Wallabies.
Lions: M Smith (England), Freeman (England), Tuipulotu (Scotland), Aki (Ireland), van der Merwe (Scotland), F Smith (England), Mitchell (England), Genge (England), Cowan-Dickie (England), Bealham (Ireland), Itoje (England), Beirne (Ireland), Curry (England), Morgan (Wales), Earl (England).
Andy Farrell picks Simon Easterby among British & Irish Lions coaching team
Replacements: Kelleher (Ireland), Schoeman (Scotland), Furlong (Ireland), Cummings (Scotland), Pollock (England), Williams (Wales), Daly (England), Hansen (Ireland).
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