The British and Irish Lions kicked off their 2025 tour with a gripping and hard-fought encounter against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday, June 20. Despite a spirited performance, Andy Farrell's men fell just short, losing 28-24 to the Los Pumas in a match that showcased both promise and areas needing refinement ahead of the Test series against Australia.
From the outset, Argentina demonstrated their intent and precision. Tomas Albornoz opened the scoring with a penalty, setting the tone for a fiercely competitive match. The Pumas then surged ahead with a try from Ignacio Mendy in the 12th minute, exploiting gaps in the Lions' defense. However, the Lions quickly responded, with Bundee Aki powering through three Argentine defenders to score their first try in the 19th minute, a moment that reignited hope among the home supporters.
Argentina's relentless pressure culminated in two more penalties and a try from Albornoz, giving them an 11-point lead at halftime. The Pumas’ clinical execution contrasted with the Lions’ uncharacteristic errors, a theme that would persist throughout the match. The second half saw a penalty try awarded to the Lions, followed by a try from Tadhg Beirne that briefly restored the lead. Yet, Santiago Cordero's late try sealed a memorable victory for Argentina, marking their first win in eight encounters with the Lions and ending the Lions’ streak of opening tour match wins that had lasted since 1971.
Head coach Andy Farrell acknowledged the tough lesson, stating, "It wasn’t exactly a show from us, it was a show from Argentina. First and foremost, congratulations to them, they thoroughly deserve their win. They capitalised on all the errors we made. You cannot win any Test match with that error rate." Farrell took responsibility for the team's tentative start and emphasized the need for self-honesty and improvement as they prepare for the upcoming challenges.
Lions captain Maro Itoje reflected on the team's inconsistency, noting, "We just weren't as consistent as we would have liked. We showed glimmers of what we could do but didn’t consistently apply pressure. When we were playing front-foot ball, we were awesome. We are building and will live, learn, and get better."
Ellis Genge, making his Lions debut at prop, expressed his disappointment but remained optimistic about the team's capacity to learn quickly: "Pretty sore, pretty gutted. Bittersweet. Credit to Argentina. We want to be a fast-learning team. We’re all world-class players and we should be able to put out a better performance than that."
Bundee Aki, a standout performer throughout the match, echoed the sentiment of growth: "We’re not making any excuses; Argentina are a bloody good outfit. They punished us when we weren’t clinical. Every turnover we made, they scored at every opportunity. We bounced back in the second half, Andy Farrell reminded us at half-time when it meant to be a Lion – when it gets hard, you’ve got to push it to another level." Aki’s try, scored in the 19th minute, was a testament to his power and skill, reinforcing his reputation as one of the best centres in the game.
Speaking of Aki, the New Zealand-born centre has been a revelation for both Connacht and Ireland. Having joined Connacht in 2015, he was part of the team that won the Pro12 in 2016 and has since become a pivotal figure in Irish rugby. In 2023, he was nominated as World Player of the Year, underlining his world-class credentials. Off the pitch, Aki's family life in Galway remains a cornerstone of his support system. Married to Kayla since 2018, the couple have four children with a fifth on the way. Their close-knit family has been a source of strength throughout his career, with Aki proudly embracing Irish citizenship since 2024, a decision he described as "no better feeling than to be able to get that chance to be able to say, I can now embrace the Irish culture."
The Lions' midfield partnership in this match was particularly noteworthy. Sione Tuipulotu, primarily an inside centre, was selected to play outside centre for the game, partnering with Aki. This decision by Andy Farrell, in the absence of Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones, was a calculated risk that showcased Farrell’s willingness to think outside the box. Tuipulotu, 28, had previously played outside centre during the URC semi-final against Leinster, where he demonstrated his versatility despite the team's defeat.
Tuipulotu’s debut for the Lions was marked by exciting carries and solid link-up play, earning him a player rating of 7. His try was unfortunately disallowed due to a knock-on, but his presence added a fresh dynamic to the Lions' backline. Farrell’s gamble on this midfield combo could pay dividends as the tour progresses, especially with Tuipulotu’s leadership experience as Scotland captain and his aggressive, skillful style of play.
Other notable performances included Marcus Smith, who earned his first Lions cap at fullback and was rated 6. Despite some positional questions, Smith contributed with key kicks and defensive efforts. Tommy Freeman, making his Lions debut on the wing, showed promise with his tackling and attacking runs, earning a 6.5 rating. Fin Smith, also debuting at fly-half, displayed command and composure, finishing with a 7 rating despite some early penalties.
The Lions’ tries came from Bundee Aki (19th minute), a penalty try awarded in the 46th minute, and Tadhg Beirne (53rd minute), with conversions and penalties successfully kicked by Marcus Smith. Argentina’s scoring efforts were spearheaded by Ignacio Mendy (12th minute), Tomas Albornoz (41st minute try and multiple penalties), and Santiago Cordero (59th minute), with Albornoz converting his own try and penalties.
Despite the loss, the Lions showed glimpses of their potential. Maro Itoje summed it up aptly: "When we were on it, we looked good. We just need to do it more consistently." The team now faces the task of learning from this experience and sharpening their skills ahead of the crucial Test matches against Australia.
Argentina’s victory was a significant achievement, especially considering their limited preparation time and missing several frontline players. Their defensive resilience, particularly in the closing stages under fatigue, earned praise from pundits including Sky Sports’ Sam Warburton, who noted, "They were so good. Their defensive set then at the end of the game - under extreme fatigue - was excellent."
As the Lions regroup, the focus will be on reducing errors, improving cohesion, and building on the promising performances of players like Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu. While the opening defeat is a setback, the journey is just beginning, and the Lions are determined to rise to the challenge.
