Argentina stun British & Irish Lions in Dublin
Santiago Cordero of Argentina scores the match winning try against the British & Irish Lions in Dublin.
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The Lions started their campaign with a rare home game against the Pumas of Argentina, before their highly anticipated tour of Australia in a fortnight.
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1News
12 hours ago
- 1News
British and Irish Lions lose their Australia tour warmup to Argentina
First, the good news for the British and Irish Lions: They didn't appear to suffer any tour-ending injuries against Argentina on Saturday. The bad news: They lost to Argentina 28-24 in the warmup to their nine-game tour of Australia. The result, humbling for now, will be regarded as a minor setback, maybe even an inspiration, if the Lions go on and win the three-test series against the Wallabies. The Lions led the Pumas for only 12 minutes in the entire match and had two prime attacking chances in the last four minutes. But their lineout maul was stopped in its tracks, then a Lions penalty in front of the posts was overturned due to a neck roll by Tadhg Beirne. "We weren't as consistent as we would have liked to be. We only showed glimmers of what we can do," Lions captain Maro Itoje told broadcaster Sky Sports. ADVERTISEMENT "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." Despite a training camp in Portugal that was meant to help cement combinations, and nine English starters, the Lions still looked less cohesive and determined than Argentina, which was missing a dozen front-liners and had only two proper training runs. The Pumas beat the Lions for the first time in a history between them that goes back to 1910. They also warmed up the 2005 Lions in Cardiff, and suffered heartbreak when Jonny Wilkinson landed a penalty in the 87th minute for a 25-25 draw. No draw this time. The Pumas were ruthless with their chances and matched the Lions with three tries. Two tries from inside their own 22 were the game's highlights. Argentina's Tomas Albornoz, left and teammate Argentina's Simon Benitez Cruz celebrate after winning the Rugby Union international match between the British and Irish Lions and Argentina, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Friday, June 20, 2025. (Source: Associated Press) The Lions enjoyed majority possession, had the better scrum, and gave away only five penalties but they forced too many passes and the Pumas defence was outstanding. "You can't win a test with that error rate," Lions coach Andy Farrell said. "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. ADVERTISEMENT "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 Lions were nowhere near their test side. Few players from last weekend's finals of the English Premiership and United Rugby Championship were involved, and only six of the 16 Irish players. But the Pumas were understrength, too, for a match outside the test window. Argentina scored the first points, a Tomas Albornoz penalty, and the first try, finished by wing Ignacio Mendy from an Albornoz miss-out pass to fullback Santiago Carreras in a gap. Meanwhile, the Lions had two tries in the first quarter ruled out for knock-ons but Bundee Aki finally got their first touchdown when he busted through three defenders. Lions' Bundee Aki drives forward as he runs on to score a try during the Rugby Union international match between the British and Irish Lions and Argentina, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Friday, June 20, 2025. (Peter Morrison/AP) The second quarter was all Argentina. Albornoz kicked two more penalties and converted his own injury-time try for 21-10. The Lions didn't protect ruck ball in the Argentina 22 and Rodrigo Isgro and Carreras set Albornoz away in an 80m counterattack. ADVERTISEMENT The Lions rubbed out the deficit thanks to the forwards. A penalty try from a lineout maul also sent Pumas prop Mayco Vivas to the sin-bin, and the Lions used the man advantage to give Beirne a converted try. But moments later, an Isgro aerial catch started a sweeping counterattack involving Albornoz, No. 8 Joaquin Oviedo, debut starter Justo Piccardo and Matias Moroni that was finished by a swan dive from Santiago Cordero. Even with 22 minutes left, the Lions could not find a reply The first game in Australia is against the Western Force in Perth in eight days.
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
O'Connor out as Schmidt opts for youth
James O'Connor's dreams of earning a recall for Australia's hosting of the British and Irish Lions appear over after the veteran playmaker was overlooked for the Wallabies squad to face Fiji in three weeks. Coach Joe Schmidt yesterday named a 36-strong squad to assemble on Sunday in Sydney for the Wallabies' season-opening international in Newcastle on July 6. The squad comprises 20 forwards and 16 backs, with Western Force back rower Nick Champion de Crespigny and Brumbies winger Corey Toole the only two uncapped players selected. But there was no room for O'Connor despite Schmidt last month saying the Wallabies could use the 34-year-old's experience following his impressive run of form in helping the Crusaders reach tomorrow's Super Rugby Pacific final against the Chiefs. Schmidt has instead pinned his faith in youth, with Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh the three No10 options selected. O'Connor's omission leaves prop James Slipper, Australia's most-capped player, as the sole survivor from the squad that lost the 2013 series to the Lions 2-1. In-form Brumbies No 9 Ryan Lonergan and injured Queensland forwards Seru Uru and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto are other notable absentees but could yet force their way into a larger squad to be named for the Lions series on July 11. Waratahs hooker David Porecki has been named in the national set-up for the first time since captaining the team during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, while another former leader, giant lock Will Skelton, is the only overseas based-player in the squad. Western Force stars de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White have been picked but will remain on the west coast to prepare for the clash with the Lions in Perth tomorrow week. Wallabies squad.— Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson. Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Pumas snare first win over Lions
Argentina beat a stuttering British and Irish Lions for the first time on Friday with a 28-24 warm-up game victory at the Aviva Stadium that left coach Andy Farrell with plenty to do as his squad get ready to leave for Australia. While Farrell barely had enough bodies to make up a matchday squad after deciding to give the majority who played in English Premiership and URC finals last Saturday the evening off, he had hoped the others would grasp the opportunity. Few did and just as Argentina did when the sides' last met in a 25-25 draw before the 2005 tour, the Pumas had the Lions on the ropes early thanks to tries from Ignacio Mendy and Tomas Albornoz either side of a Bundee Aki effort that gave them a deserved 21-10 halftime lead. While the Lions were a different animal early in the second half and regained the lead after a penalty try and another home crowd score, this time for Tadhg Beirne, Santiago Cordero put Argentina back in front with another great team try and the error-strewn Lions could not reply again. "We talked in the week about this amazing opportunity, We wanted to come here and do a good job. It's amazing," player of the match Albornoz said in a pitchside interview. Argentina, who were also missing some key players still involved in the French Top 14 playoffs, showed they were here to play with a couple of early warning shots before a brilliant set piece try after the sides had traded early penalties. Quick ball and quick hands carved the Lions' defence open for fullback Santiago Carreras to throw a deft dummy and find Mendy, whose step inside left Duhan van der Merwe on his backside. The Lions also showed some early attacking intent and after two tries were chalked off for knock-ons either side of Mendy's effort, one of the few available Irishmen Aki brought a huge cheer from the sea of red by bulldozing over on 20 minutes. But it was very scrappy for Farrell's men after that, with the rust of their early days together showing up in yet more knock ons, a misfiring lineout and missing almost twice as many tackles as their opponents by halftime. After two more Albornoz penalties edged Argentina in front, the flyhalf benefited from some more untidy Lions play, this time deep in Puma territory, to dive under the posts and into a sea of nearby Argentine replacements right on halftime. "TEETHING ISSUES" The second half started off a lot looser and the Lions were much more awake to it. The game looked like it might swing just a few minutes in when their forward pressure forced the penalty try and a yellow card for Argentina prop Mayco Vivas. Another try looked inevitable before Vivas returned as the Lions began to empty what on paper was a far more loaded bench. Beirne obliged shortly after a huge carry from Ellis Genge. But the mistakes began to creep in again and multiply as Argentina showed all they needed was a sniff, breaking from their own half before replacement Matias Moroni kicked in behind for fellow sub Cordero to beat Marcus Smith to a footrace. Some Argentine players were in tears when the final whistle sounded as they secured their first win in eight attempts, six of which were in tours of South America almost a century ago. For the Lions they have five more games in Australia and plenty more time together to set things right before the first test against the Wallabies on July 19. "There's a few teething issues," said Lions captain Maro Itoje. "We're building a team. I think we showed glimmers of what we can do. We'll learn and we'll definitely get better."
