The British & Irish Lions kicked off their 2025 summer tour with a dramatic and hard-fought exhibition match against Argentina at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Friday, June 20. In a thrilling encounter that saw the Lions narrowly lose 28-24, the Pumas celebrated their first-ever victory over the Lions in eight attempts, claiming the 1888 Cup and setting the tone for a compelling series ahead.
Andy Farrell made his debut as the Lions coach, guiding a 38-man squad assembled for the tour, aiming to secure only the Lions' second series victory this century. The match marked an important milestone for Farrell, who had named his first squad just two days earlier on June 18. The Lions fielded a team featuring nine Englishmen in the starting lineup, with Northampton Saints duo Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell commanding the half-back positions, and Marcus Smith preferred at fullback. Maro Itoje captained the side, supported in the second row by Ireland's Tadhg Beirne, while the back-row featured Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, and Ben Earl.
Notably absent from the match was Scotland's fly-half Finn Russell, who had been part of Bath's historic English Premiership title win just six days prior. Having only joined the Lions camp earlier in the week, Farrell opted to start players who had been in camp for the full two weeks. Also missing were club teammates Will Stuart and Leicester Tigers forward Ollie Chessum, along with most of the 12 Leinster players who had just secured the URC title, with the exception of hooker Ronan Kelleher, who played 24 minutes in that final and was named on the bench, alongside Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong, who was deemed fit to play after recovering from injury.
The game itself was a rollercoaster, played under unusually warm conditions in front of a sold-out crowd. Argentina's captain Julian Montoya led the Pumas with determination, while newcomers Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, and Simon Benitez Cruz made their international debuts. The Lions started strong, with Bundee Aki powering through to score the first try of the summer after early efforts by Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sione Tuipulotu were disallowed. Fin Smith contributed seven points with his kicking, and the Lions were also awarded a penalty try, keeping them competitive throughout.
Tadhg Beirne was the standout forward for the Lions, scoring a crucial try in the 53rd minute to put his team back in front, notably against 14 men after Mayco Vivas was sin-binned for Argentina. Despite Beirne’s impressive display, including his link play and mobility, the Lions struggled to maintain consistency, with several errors hampering their momentum. Marcus Smith, starting at fullback, endured a difficult night, receiving a rating of 5 for a scrappy performance that included a missed tackle and poor kick chase, while Duhan van der Merwe also had a mixed outing, struggling defensively but making metres after contact.
Ellis Genge showed solid work in the set-piece and made a snarling 20-metre carry, earning a rating of 6, while Luke Cowan-Dickie faced criticism for lineout errors, rated 5 after a costly fumble that contributed to the opposition's opening try. Finlay Bealham and Tom Curry were effective around the park, with Bealham scrummaging cleanly (6.5) and Curry providing physicality and defensive work (6.5). The Lions’ backline showed flashes of promise, with Alex Mitchell (7) offering tempo and distribution, and Elliot Daly (7.5), who came off the bench, adding balance and left-footed kicking options.
Argentina’s Tomas Albornoz was named man of the match after a commanding display that included 13 points, complemented by tries from Ignacio Mendy and the match-winning score by Santiago Cordero in the dying moments. The Pumas’ defensive resilience was notable, especially when defending the rolling maul late in the game, and they capitalized on Lions’ errors to secure the victory.
The closing stages were tense as the Lions pressed hard for a late breakthrough. Despite sustained pressure and tactical kicks into the Argentine 22, mistakes such as a poor overthrow from Ronan Kelleher and a high hit on Tadhg Furlong by Boris Wenger disrupted their rhythm. Furlong, who had just returned from injury, was forced off after sustaining a head injury assessment (HIA), and Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings were brought on to bolster the pack.
As the clock ticked down to the final whistle, the Lions pushed forward in search of a last-gasp try but were unable to break through Argentina’s defensive line. The Pumas’ victory, their first against the Lions in history, sent shockwaves through the rugby world and handed them the 1888 Cup, a symbolic prize marking their triumph. The Lions, meanwhile, were left to reflect on an error-strewn performance that highlighted areas for improvement before their upcoming tour matches in Australia.
Looking ahead, the Lions will travel to Perth for their first tour match against Super Rugby’s Western Force on Saturday, June 28. Farrell and his squad will undoubtedly use the lessons from this encounter as they prepare to face the challenges of the Australian leg of their tour. The match in Dublin served as a sobering reminder that despite the talent and potential within the Lions’ ranks, cohesion and precision will be vital if they are to achieve their goal of a series victory.
In Farrell’s own words before the game, "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." Indeed, the fans were treated to an exciting and unpredictable contest that set the stage for what promises to be an enthralling summer of rugby.
