Fin Smith and Mitchell team up for the Lions
LONDON, June 18 - 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)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
King Charles III is left disappointed as Rainbow's Edge finishes seventh in Kensington Palace Stakes - a day after his horse was easily beaten on Royal Ascot opening day
King Charles III was left disappointed after his horse Rainbow's Edge slumped to a seventh place finish on the second day at Royal Ascot, as Miss Information claimed top honours in the Kensington Palace Stakes. With the well-fancied Reaching High unable to land a blow when the 11-4 favourite for Tuesday's Ascot Stakes, attentions turned to the next runner to carry the royal silks in the penultimate race on Wednesday's card and Rainbows Edge was the 3-1 market leader come the off. The four-year-old had won three of her four starts for the the in-form training team of John and Thady Gosden, but while she travelled strongly for the first half of this straight mile contest under William Buick, she was a spent force with two furlongs to run and faded out of contention. John Gosden said: 'The ground was too quick for her, it dried out too much for her and she wants stepping up to a mile and a quarter. 'She's actually run well for a filly who wasn't in love with the ground, so we will just now go a mile and a quarter with a bit of ease in the ground and hopefully win a Listed race with her.' At the business end of proceedings it was Andrew Balding's Miss Information (11-1) and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen who came to the fore, with the former coming out on top by a length in the hands of Oisin Murphy. Balding said: 'She's been a star, this filly. She had no luck last time at Epsom, she got shuffled back and just didn't seem to enjoy herself. 'Fast ground is what she wants, she just about got the mile. 'It's so nice for her owner, they really get a lot of enjoyment out of it and I'm so pleased for them. 'She's in the Bunbury Cup, we will try to get some black type at some stage and she'll make a lovely broodmare.' It comes just a day after the King's horse Reaching High was well-beaten on the opening day as Ascending won the Ascot Stakes by a head. The horse, ridden by Ryan Moore, was the hot favourite before the runners set off at the historic Flat race meeting, at 11/4 to claim the £57,000 first-place prize ahead of going to post. Trained by National Hunt superstar trainer Willie Mullins, Reaching High was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II out of Estimate, who won the Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Disappointment for the King and Queen as Miss Information triumphs at Ascot
Rainbows Edge could finish only seventh in the colours of the King and Queen, as Miss Information claimed top honours in the Kensington Palace Stakes on day two of Royal Ascot. With the well-fancied Reaching High unable to land a blow when the 11-4 favourite for Tuesday's Ascot Stakes, attentions turned to the next runner to carry the royal silks in the penultimate race on Wednesday's card and Rainbows Edge was the 3-1 market leader come the off. The four-year-old had won three of her four starts for the the in-form training team of John and Thady Gosden, but while she travelled strongly for the first half of this straight mile contest under William Buick, she was a spent force with two furlongs to run and faded out of contention. John Gosden said: "The ground was too quick for her, it dried out too much for her and she wants stepping up to a mile and a quarter. "She's actually run well for a filly who wasn't in love with the ground, so we will just now go a mile and a quarter with a bit of ease in the ground and hopefully win a Listed race with her." At the business end of proceedings it was Andrew Balding's Miss Information (11-1) and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen who came to the fore, with the former coming out on top by a length in the hands of Oisin Murphy. Balding said: "She's been a star, this filly. She had no luck last time at Epsom, she got shuffled back and just didn't seem to enjoy herself. "Fast ground is what she wants, she just about got the mile. "It's so nice for her owner, they really get a lot of enjoyment out of it and I'm so pleased for them.
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
Norwich sign goalkeeper Moulden after Palace exit
Norwich City have signed goalkeeper Louie Moulden following his release by Crystal 23-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the option of a further 12 months having not made a first-team appearance for Palace after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August started his career with Manchester City before signing for Wolves but did not break into the senior team at either does have EFL experience through playing 12 games for Northampton Town in the 2023-24 season, while he has also featured for both Rochdale and Solihull Moors in the National League."He's a young goalkeeper with plenty of potential and scope for further development," Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper told the club website., external
