
‘G'day mate' – Watch Donncha O'Callaghan & Tommy Bowe's hilarious skit as Lions fever ramps up before Aviva Stadium game
Andy Farrell's charges begin their 10-game slate
2
The Munster great went on the 2005 and 2009 tours
Credit: @donnchaocallaghan
2
Similarly, Tommy Bowe was a two-time tourist in 2009 and 2013
Credit: @donnchaocallaghan
Ahead of the 2025 edition of the rugby tradition getting officially underway he and fellow Irish legend Tommy Bowe were joined by Lions' CEO Ben Calveley
In order to promote that chat Donncha donned his best Aussie Outback hat and channelled Mick Dundee, Alf Stewart and whomever else you're having yourself.
Farrell yesterday
The headline item from it was that
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The prop
has not played since
to Northampton because of a calf injury.
He is joined in the replacements by Rónan Kelleher, the only other Leinster player involved because they were involved in
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
Aki and Bealham's provincial teammate
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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
'I live life on the edge' - Watch Peter O'Mahony storm off after wife Jessica startles him while gardening
'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.'
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).
Replacements: Kelleher (Ireland), Schoeman (Scotland), Furlong (Ireland), Cummings (Scotland), Pollock (England), Williams (Wales), Daly (England), Hansen (Ireland).
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