British and Irish Lions fall to Argentina in opening tour match: five key talking points
Lions vs Argentina: execution lags despite strong tactical shape
The
British and Irish Lions
suffered a
28-24 defeat
to Argentina on Friday, June 20, in Dublin. It was the first time since 1971 that the Lions lost their opening game on tour. Head coach
Andy Farrell
acknowledged the strength of the opposition but emphasized the need for improvement before the team travels to face
Western Force
in Australia on June 28.
In the build-up to the match, the Lions emphasized the importance of building 'cohesion' in a newly assembled squad. Despite featuring several experienced internationals, the side displayed a lack of sharpness in their first full outing together. While their offensive shape showed promise, the attack failed in execution.
Also read:
Australia call up Will Skelton for Fiji warm-up ahead of Lions Series
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Cara Membantu Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma
Limfoma
Pelajari
Undo
Offloads regularly missed targets or ended in turnovers. Passes were either mistimed or failed to reach runners in stride. These breakdowns stalled momentum and allowed Argentina to capitalize on errors.
Two-time Lion Tadhg Beirne noted that the team is composed of 'world class' players, suggesting the squad expects to gel quickly. However, across 80 minutes, it became evident that technical miscues undercut the team's ability to apply consistent pressure.
Live Events
'The whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors and in the end weren't able to put the pace on the game that we wanted to because of that,' said Farrell.
Argentina ends British and Irish Lions' longstanding opening match record
No British and Irish Lions team had lost its opening game on tour since 1971. While previous opening opponents were generally of lower competitive caliber, Argentina arrived in Dublin with high form and strong cohesion. The Pumas took advantage of the Lions' early-stage chemistry and converted key opportunities.
Despite being a scratch side, the Lions showed ambition in how they structured their attack. There were moments of fluid build-up and well-timed support runs. But each promising sequence was offset by basic execution errors, preventing sustained offensive rhythm.
Also read:
Stu Wilson, former All Blacks captain, dies at 70
Farrell is likely to prioritize refinement in timing and technical discipline as the team prepares for upcoming tour matches on Australian soil. The Lions next face Western Force in Perth, where a more synchronized performance will be critical.
While Friday's defeat underscores the challenges of assembling a cohesive unit in limited time, the Lions will aim to address tactical lapses and reduce handling errors in their remaining fixtures.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
38 minutes ago
- First Post
India achieve unwanted record with Headingley defeat as England pull off second-highest Test chase
England went 1-0 up in the five-match Test series against India at Headingley after chasing down the 371-run target set by Shubman Gill's men with five wickets to spare. Here, we take a look at some of the key statistics from the riveting match that concluded in the final hour of Day 5. read more India failed to defend a target of 371 against England in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. Image: Reuters/AP Shubman Gill endured a disappointing start to his tenure as India Test captain, suffering a five-wicket defeat against England in Leeds that gave Ben Stokes' men a 1-0 in the five-match series. This despite the Indian team scoring over 800 runs on a good batting surface at Headingley, with five centuries being scored by four of their batters and Jasprit Bumrah collecting the only five-wicket haul of the match. India found themselves in a dominant position at the end of Day 1, with the score reading 359/3. And at 430/3 on the following day, India had the opportunity to post a total in excess of 600 and thereby assure themselves of securing a draw at the very least. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read | India pay the price for fielding errors as England make history with comeback win Two batting collapses in as many innings along with a flurry of dropped chances – four by Yashasvi Jaiswal alone – and some ordinary bowling by the Indians other than Bumrah proved to be their undoing. England had their shortcomings as well, but were ultimately able to seize control of the game at the right moments, especially in the last two days, to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Records broken and milestones achieved in Headingley The first Test at Headingley also witnessed its fair share of records and milestones, which we look at in greater detail below: – India broke Australia's record for most centuries scored in a losing cause in a Test . Australian batters had scored four centuries in the three-wicket defeat against England in Melbourne in the Boxing Day Test in 1928. India went one step ahead with five centuries from four batters, including two by Rishabh Pant. – The Headingley Test witnessed a total of 1,673 runs being scored by the two teams, the highest aggregate in a Test between England and India. – England's successful chase of the 371-run target set by India is their second-highest in the Test format. Their highest successful chase, incidentally, also came against India in the 'Bazball' Era – winning by seven wickets at Edgbaston three years ago after being set 378 to win. – India's 835 runs in the Headingley Test is the fourth most runs scored by a team in a losing cause in a Test. England top the list with 861 runs against Australia in 1948, incidentally at the same venue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
West Indies vs Australia Live Streaming: When and where to watch WI vs AUS Test series, schedule, full squads and more
The West Indies are set to host Australia for a highly-anticipated three-match Test series starting June 25, 2025, as part of the World Test Championship (WTC). After a disappointing loss to South Africa in the WTC final, Pat Cummins' Australian side will be geared up to bounce back. On the other hand, the Caribbean team will also want to clinch a win at their home ground. The last time these teams faced each other was in the year 2024. The series ended with a 1-1 series draw, highlighted by Shamar Joseph's remarkable 7-68 at the Gabba. Australia will face a challenge after Steve Smith was sidelined for the first Test due to a finger injury sustained in the WTC final. Moreover, Marnus Labuschagne has also been dropped for the opening match. Sam Konstas is likely to open alongside Usman Khawaja, with Josh Inglis replacing Smith. The West Indies, under new captain Roston Chase, are exploring a transitional phase. Chase, who hasn't played a Test since March 2023 took over from Kraigg Brathwaite, who stepped down earlier this year. The absence of veteran pacer Kemar Roach could impact their bowling front. However, young players like Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph are expected to perform well. First Test: June 25 – 29, 2025, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados (10:00 AM local time) (7:30 PM IST) Second Test: July 3 – 7, 2025, National Cricket Stadium, St. George's, Grenada (10:00 AM local time) (7:30 PM IST) Third Test: July 12–16, 2025, Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica (1:30 PM local time) (11:00 PM IST) The series won't be broadcast on TV channels. Fans can stream all matches live on the FanCode platform. Viewers can watch the match on ESPN across the Caribbean, with live streaming available on Disney+. The Tests will be broadcast on ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Disney+, and Fetch TV. Broadcast details are yet to be confirmed. Roston Chase (C), Jomel Warrican, Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales Pat Cummins (C), Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Andy Murray to help design his own statue at Wimbledon
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is to help design a statue of himself to mark the grass-court tournament's 150th anniversary in 2027. Wimbledon organisers said Tuesday (June 25, 2025) they aim to unveil the statue of the British tennis great during the 2027 edition. 'He's got to rightly be very involved in that and he and his team will be,' the All England Club chairwoman Debbie Jevans said. Murray ended Britain's 77-year wait for a home champion in men's singles in 2013 when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. The Scotsman won a second title — and his third Grand Slam singles title overall — in the 2016 final against Milos Raonic. An inspiration for the statue project is the way Rafael Nadal was honoured, with Murray in attendance, this month at Roland-Garros where he won 14 French Open titles. 'We looked at Rafa Nadal having that sort of plaque unveiled to him at Roland-Garros which was all very special,' Jevans said. 'But we thought, what do we want for Andy?' A bronze statue of Fred Perry, the previous British men's champion before Murray in 1936, was put up at Wimbledon in 1984 marking 50 years after his first singles title at the tournament. The 2025 tournament at Wimbledon starts Monday (June 30, 2025).
