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ABC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
British and Irish Lions lose 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin ahead of Australia tour
The British and Irish Lions of 2025 have had an inauspicious start to their tour of Australia, losing 28-24 to Argentina at a raucous Aviva stadium in Dublin. It is the first time that the Lions have lost an opening tour match since 1971 and 20 years since Argentina drew with the Lions in Cardiff. First-half tries to Ignacio Mendy and player of the match Tomás Albornoz gave Argentina a 21-10 lead at half-time, local favourite Bundee Aki crossing for the Lions in a sloppy defensive display. But after that disappointing first half the contest developed into a thrilling game in which both teams threw the ball around with the apparent abandon of a post-season friendly. The Lions hit back early in the second half through a penalty try and a Tadhg Beirne score to give the hosts the lead. But a trilling score by Santiago Cordero saw the Lions fall to a deflating defeat as the Pumas celebrated in style on the pitch and reminded the Lions hierarchy that perhaps South America too would one day be a worthy tour destination. The Lions rarely play matches on home soil and, in the bright sunshine of a summer Friday night in Dublin, there was a degree of frivolity in the sold-out stands far from the pressure cooker of a Test match — albeit one where the Lions were not handing out official Test caps. Any suggestion that this was a fun kickabout in the Dublin sun was dispelled by the stern words that veteran tourists Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly imparted in the post-match huddle. No doubt those conversations will continue on the plane Down Under, with the squad departing for Australia on Saturday morning. "I think there are a few learnings. I think we showed glimmers of what this team can be about," Itoje said post-match. "I think there were a few teething issues, [it was] our first run out. "We'll take our lessons … we'll learn from our mistakes and move forward." Many of those teething issues came at the lineout, where the Lions were awful, and in defence, where Argentina's pacing attack tore the line to shreds. This is not the first-choice Lions team that will likely suit up in Brisbane on July 19 — just three Irish players made the starting XV due to the Leinster contingent's participation in the United Rugby Championship final last weekend. But it was still an all-star-packed side that will have been chastened by the enthusiasm and skill of the Argentina side, who were missing plenty of players themselves, in front of them. "We're building a team," Itoje added. "We were nowhere near as consistent or accurate. "We'll learn, we'll get better." Despite the defeat, that improvement was evident as the game went on. The Lions offered a glimpse of how Farrell wants his side to play and, against a ready and willing Argentine side that have claimed the scalps of all three southern hemisphere giants in the past 12 months, they showed glimmers of real class. The scrum was utterly dominant — even with Irish pair Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong not involved — as Ellis Genge showed all his power. It also indicated some combinations that Farrell may be interested in using, including a power-packed centre partnership of Aki and Sione Tuipulotu. Fin Smith started at 10 but Marcus Smith, playing 15, popped up at first receiver with abandon in the latter stages of the match, flashing his fast feet and poking his nose through the line with increasing regularity. That being said, both were overshadowed by the superb play of Benneton flyhalf Albornoz. The polish may not have been there from the Lions, but the speed at which they attempted to play was indicative of the assault the Wallabies line will be under whenever they are without the ball — this Lions team will be coming to entertain as well as win. Winger Tommy Freeman in particular was supreme in the air, a warning to avoid kicking in his direction should he make the cut for the test team. But the pack, admittedly shorn of many of its key personnel, will need to step up — particularly in the lineout, which was desperately poor. The Lions will have precious little time to regroup, with post-match briefings perhaps taking place on the long flight Down Under this weekend. The nine-match tour, with three Tests and six tour matches, kicks off in Perth on Saturday, June 28 against the Western Force, where the Lions will no doubt be desperate to kick off their tour proper with a win. British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (c), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen. Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgró, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomás Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Mayco Vivas, Julián Montoya (c), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin González, Joaquín Oviedo, Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquín Moro, Simon Benitez Cruz, Matías Moroni, Santiago Cordero.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Lions left to rue missed chances as Argentina win in Dublin
British & Irish Lions 24 Argentina 28 History was made on a historic night, although not the kind which the Lions desired. Instead of a winning send-off to Australia, it was Los Pumas who marked the 60th anniversary of the year they effectively came into being with a first ever win over the famed Lions. On a balmy evening in Dublin, under blue skies and in temperatures at kick-off of 23 degrees, both sides were adventurous from the off. But the rusty Lions left a hat load of half-chances behind them, and the amount of interceptions by Los Pumas was also testimony to how the forced passes and offloads didn't always stick. Playing their first game in seven months, Felipe Contepomi's irreverent and skilful team were the more clinical, hung on likes dogs with a bone, had some smart plays and conjured two brilliant long-range tries. Bringing together a side from four countries is always a challenge and perhaps this will do the Lions good in the long run but at the full-time whistle it just didn't feel like it. READ MORE An opening passage of three-and-a-half minutes set the tone, as did former 7s star Rodrigo Isgró who brought his aerial skills to bear when reclaiming a perfectly weighted up-and-under by the game's outstanding performer, Tomás Albornoz, which was gathered by Lucio Cinti. Bundee Aki scores the Lions first try despite Argentina's Gonzalo García, Justo Piccardo and Lucio Cinti Rodrigo Isgró. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho The Pumas worked the ball to Ignacio Mendy in space on the left and the Lions were indebted to a strong tackle by Tom Curry to prevent a try by Justo Piccardo, making his first start for Argentina. Compensation for the Pumas and relief for the Lions came by way of an Albornoz penalty. Still, the Lions were quickly into a smooth attacking rhythm, the Fin Smith-Aki-Marcus Smith axis were putting plenty of pace on the ball with an array of subtle passes. But Luke Cowan-Dickie had a try rightly ruled out when losing control of the ball before grounding, and Duhan van der Merwe also demonstrated his danger on the ball before Fin Smith drew the sides level. Whereupon the Pumas struck stealthily with a two-phase attack from a lineout 40 metres out, trucking the ball up the middle before Albornoz's skip pass took out Tommy Freeman – who bit in slightly – and Santiago Carreras linked with Mendy for him to step van der Merwe. Sione Tuipulotu also had a try ruled out after a clear exchange of knock-ons and he was then only denied from the Lions' ensuing scrum by Albornoz's brilliant tackle. However, Cowan-Dickie, Marcus Smith, Tuipulotu and Fin Smith worked the ball to Aki, who had to swivel in gathering before beating Gonzalo García and Cinti to score. Fin Smith's conversion nudged the Lions in front, before Albornoz did likewise with a penalty. The Lions again didn't convert a third scrum penalty to the corner, there were a couple of lineout mishaps and their passing close to the line led to Isgró intercepting and Carreras threading a 50-22 up the touchline. Argentina's Santiago Cordero celebrates scoring the Puma's third try. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA This in turn led to another lovely strike move and Isgró forcing Marcus Smith to concede a five-metre scrum off an Albornoz grubber into space, the latter adding another penalty after another try-saving tackle by Curry, this time on Pablo Matera. The Pumas then struck at the end of the half when the ball spun loose after van der Merwe carried into contact. Juan Martin Gonzalez latched on to the ball and when his offload went to ground Isgró picked up, make ground and released Carreras with a no-look inside pass for the full-back to again draw the last man, Albornoz finishing off the 80-metre turnover try and converting for a stunning 21-10 interval lead. Lions players and fans alike look stunned but the home side regrouped at half-time and were certainly not of a mind to start playing cautiously. Another prolonged passage of play featured a daring counter run deep initiated by Marcus Smith and Freeman, as well as the latter's break up the touchline before another penalty to the corner had the double effect of a penalty try and a Mayco Vivas yellow card for pulling the maul down. The impact of the benches seemed likelier to favour the Lions, and they were further energised by the introduction of Rónan Kelleher, Henry Pollock and Tomos Williams. But it was a huge rumble up the middle by Ellis Genge that did the damage, and two recycles later Tadhg Beirne held his depth and called for a skip pass from Williams which the Welsh scrumhalf delivered for the try, Fin Smith converting. The Pumas then struck from deep again. Albornoz saw Curry's charge and dummied him delightfully inside his own 22, then beat another player before passing to Joaquin Oviedo and Matias Moroni grubbered perfectly for fellow replacement, the recently released Connacht man Santiago Cordero to beat Marcus Smith to the touchdown for a try. 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour To Australia, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 20/6/2025 British & Irish Lions vs Argentina Lions' Tadhg Beirne scores a try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher Albornoz, have a dream night, converted and another lineout malfunction having gone to the corner was compounded by Freeman dropping the clearance. Cue the night's second rendition of The Fields of Athenry and roars of encouragement from a completely engaged crowd. But as the din increased, a neck roll by Beirne, having taken over the captaincy from the withdrawn Itoje, led to an attacking penalty being reversed. Los Pumas kept one more attack at arm's length and they and their pockets celebrated accordingly. Fully deserved. Fair play to them. SCORING SEQUENCE – 4 mins: Albornoz pen 0-3; 9: Smith pen 3-3; 11: Mendy try 3-8; 18: Aki try, Smith con 10-8; 25: Albornoz pen 10-11; 39: Albornoz pen 10-14 40: Albornoz try, con 10-21; Half-time 10-21 ; 45: pen try 17-21; 52: Beirne try, Smith con 24-21; 58: Cordero try, Albornoz con 24-28. BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: M Smith (England); T Freeman (England), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), B Aki (Ireland), D van der Merwe (Scotland); F Smith (England), A Mitchell (England); E Genge (England), L Cowan-Dickie (England), F Bealham (Ireland); M Itoje (England, capt), T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Morgan (Wales), B Earl (England). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland) for Cowan-Dickie, T Williams (Wales) for Mitchell, H Pollock (England) for Morgan (all 49 mins), M Hansen (Ireland) for van der Merwe, E Daly (England) for Aki, T Furlong (Ireland) for Bealham, P Schoeman (Scotland) for Genge (all 59), S Cummings (Scotland) for Itoje (71), Bealham for Furlong (81, HIA). ARGENTINA: S Carreras; R Isgró, L Cinti, J Piccardo, I Mendy; T Albornoz, G Garcíal M Vivas, J Montoya (capt), J Sclavi; F Molina, P Rubiolo; P Matera, J M Gonzalez, J Oviedo. Replacements: S Cordero for Mendy (44 mins), F Coria Marchetti for Sclavi (47), B Wenger for Oviedo (47-56), M Moroni for Cinti (55), S Grondona for Molina (59), J Moro for Moroni (60), Cinti for Oviedo (65), Wenger for Vivas (66), S Benitez Cruz for Garcia (70), B Bernasconi for Montoya (80). Yellow card: Vivas (45-55). Referee: J Doleman (NZR).
