British and Irish Lions 24 Argentina 28: Lions stunned by Pumas to lose opening match for first time in 54 years
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LION TAMERS British and Irish Lions 24 Argentina 28: Lions stunned by Pumas to lose opening match for first time in 54 years
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MARO ITOJE's Lions failed to roar as they were mauled by the Pumas to start their summer with a flop.
Itoje's side will fly to Australia with a massive hangover from this reverse and only days to sort themselves out down under.
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Argentina edged out the British and Irish Lions
Credit: PA
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It is the first time the Lions have lost their first game in over 50 years
Credit: Getty
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Itoje was taken off with nine minutes to go
Credit: Getty
Itoje himself was replaced with nine minutes left and although his side chucked everything at it in the final 10 the Pumas held out.
The Lions had fought back from 11 points down at half-time thanks to a penalty try and a score from Tadhg Beirne made by Tomos Williams' pass.
Most of the team on show have only had 10 days together and it showed with dropped passes and some wonky line outs before they hit their stride in the second half.
In 2021, the Lions beat Japan 28-10 in Edinburgh in a warm-up and seven of the starters made into the run-on team in the first Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
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So this was an audition which England wing Tommy Freeman passed with flying colours but Duhan van der Merwe fluffed his lines.
The Argentinians beat all of the southern hemisphere big dogs in the Rugby Championship last year and are no mugs and are ranked fifth in the world, three places above Australia and ahead of England, Scotland and Wales.
And the best of British were 21-10 down at the break as their defence was ripped open too often for comfort.
The Pumas were quickly 8-3 up thanks to a score from wing Ignacio Mendy who cut inside a back tracking Duhan van der Merwe to touch down.
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Then Itoje's side had tries for Luke Cowan-Dickie and centre Sione Tuipulotu chalked off by the TMO.
Cowan-Dickie dropped the ball over the line and Alex Mitchell knocked on in the build-up to Tuipulotu's effort.
The Lions scrum held up well and their attacking finally got some change out of the visitors when Bundee Aki went route one to bulldoze over on 18 minutes.
But Puma fly-half Tomas Albornoz added a try from his own half to his three first-half penalties just before half-time.
But Farrell must have had some harsh words at the break as the Lions came out firing and were soon over for the penalty try and Beirne's score put them into a 24-21 lead but Santiago Cordero's score grabbed it back and the Pumas stayed in front.
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