In a gripping encounter at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on June 20, 2025, the British and Irish Lions suffered a narrow 28-24 defeat to Argentina in a warmup match ahead of their highly anticipated nine-game tour of Australia. Despite the loss, the Lions emerged without any tour-ending injuries, a silver lining as they prepare to face the Western Force in Perth on June 28.
The match marked the debut of Andy Farrell as Lions coach, guiding a 38-man squad that showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately fell short against a determined Pumas side. The Lions led for only 12 minutes throughout the game and had two prime attacking opportunities in the final four minutes, but their lineout maul was halted, and a crucial penalty in front of the posts was overturned due to a neck roll by Tadhg Beirne.
Lions captain Maro Itoje reflected on the team's inconsistency post-match, telling Sky Sports, "We weren't as consistent as we would have liked to be. We only showed glimmers of what we can do. When we were on it, we looked good, we just need to do it more consistently. Argentina showed us where we are lacking. I am happy we had a hard-fought game. We live and learn. This is only match one." His leadership was evident throughout the match, earning him a rating of 7 for maintaining high standards even as communication hiccups with referee James Doleman occurred.
Argentina, missing a dozen front-liners and having only two proper training runs, nonetheless outplayed the Lions with remarkable cohesion and hunger. They made history by beating the Lions for the first time since their encounters began in 1910. The Pumas matched the Lions with three tries, including two stunning efforts from inside their own 22, which stood out as the game's highlights.
The Lions dominated possession and had the better scrum, conceding only five penalties, but their error rate proved costly. Coach Farrell lamented, "You can't win a test with that error rate. We lost enough balls in that game for a full tour, throwing balls that weren't on. They were hungrier than us with the ball on the ground. There was good and bad throughout. We were just a little bit off, I take responsibility for that. I hope we are better off for that." The coach also noted that few players from the recent English Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals featured, and only six of the 16 Irish players were involved, which contributed to the team's lack of cohesion.
The scoring opened with Tomas Albornoz kicking a penalty for Argentina, followed by a try finished by wing Ignacio Mendy, who capitalized on an Albornoz miss-out pass to fullback Santiago Carreras. The Lions struggled early, having two tries ruled out for knock-ons before Bundee Aki burst through three defenders to score their first legitimate touchdown, earning him a 7 rating for his impactful performance.
Argentina dominated the second quarter, with Albornoz adding two more penalties and converting his own injury-time try to take a 21-10 lead. The Pumas' quick counterattack, involving Rodrigo Isgro and Carreras, set Albornoz away on an 80-meter dash that left the Lions scrambling. The Lions' forwards fought back, earning a penalty try from a lineout maul that also saw Pumas prop Mayco Vivas sin-binned. Taking advantage of the man advantage, the Lions scored a converted try through Tadhg Beirne, who ran a superb line but was penalized in the clutch moments for a costly neck roll, earning a 5 rating.
However, moments later, Isgro's aerial catch sparked a sweeping counterattack involving Albornoz, No. 8 Joaquin Oviedo, debutant Justo Piccardo, and Matias Moroni, culminating in a swan dive try by Santiago Cordero. Despite having 22 minutes left, the Lions could not respond effectively.
Individual performances for the Lions were mixed but showed promise. Marcus Smith impressed at fullback, earning a 7 for his calm presence and playmaking ability, while Sione Tuipulotu was arguably the team's best attacking weapon, also rated 7. Tommy Freeman had a fine outing despite a late uncharacteristic error, receiving a 7, and Bundee Aki's dynamic play was a highlight. Duhan van der Merwe showed threat but lacked finishing polish, rated 6, and Fin Smith had a mixed game with some handling errors, also rated 6.
In the forwards, Finlay Bealham dominated scrum time and topped tackles in the first 40 minutes, earning an 8, while Ellis Genge was a force in scrums and ball carries with an 8 rating. Ben Earl grew into the game impressively, rated 7, and Tom Curry was aggressive and effective in contact, also rated 7. Jac Morgan started slowly, rated 5, before being replaced early in the second half by Henry Pollock, who made a strong impression off the bench. Luke Cowan-Dickie had moments of brilliance but was hampered by wayward lineout throws, rated 4.
Replacements like Ronan Kelleher and Mack Hansen contributed positively, but ultimately the bench could not turn the tide. The Lions will look to tighten their execution and consistency as they head into the Australian leg of their tour.
The Lions' next match is scheduled against the Western Force in Perth on June 28, 2025, where they will seek to rebound from this setback and build momentum for the three-test series against the Wallabies. This initial defeat, while disappointing, may serve as a valuable learning experience and motivation for the squad under Farrell's stewardship.
