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Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
The Lions are in a no-lose position against Argentina, provided they don't actually lose
British & Irish Lions v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Friday, 8pm – Live on TG4 & Sky Sports Action A bad dress rehearsal doesn't necessarily begat a bad performance, much less a good one, and the grim British & Irish Lions expedition to New Zealand 20 years ago cannot be attributed to the soporific 25-all draw between the Lions and Argentina in Cardiff. But it sure as hell proved to be an ominous portent of things to come. Jonny Wilkinson's sixth penalty of the night in the eighth minute of injury-time salvaged a modicum of pride for the Lions, whose head coach Clive Woodward rested captain Brian O'Driscoll and others, with Lawrence Dallaglio on the bench. Still, to put that draw in context, Los Pumas were missing 25 players through club commitments and their inexperienced side, captained by current head coach Felipe Contepomi , were given little or no hope of causing a famous upset. Two decades on, the Lions play a match in Ireland for the first time ever in what is, again, primarily a moneymaking venture which is understood to be generating around €4 million for the brand, with the last of the remaining tickets (priced from €148) selling out on Thursday. Ultimately, Friday evening's non-capped international, though historic, will be a footnote in history. READ MORE So, once more, the Lions are in something of a no-lose position – well, provided they don't actually lose – for this is again a scratch side missing 15 of its squad due to club commitments and injuries, including 10 from bulk suppliers Leinster. Even so, the presence of Maro Itoje as captain adds to the desire for these Lions to set a stronger benchmark than was the case in 2005, not least as his partnership with Tadhg Beirne could be a Test partnership in the making, as well as roommates. There's plenty of power and ball-carrying ballast in the front and back rows, the Northampton/England halfback pairing of Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith will have fond memories of their last visit here seven weeks ago, and ditto their Saints team-mates Tommy Freeman, who looks a likely Test starter, and Henry Pollock, for whom an impact role could well be a pointer to the Test series. Lions captain Maro Itoje during Thursday's session at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph:Any backline with Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu doubling up in midfield shouldn't be lacking in oomph. The general expectation is that they will ultimately duel for the Test 12 jersey, although if they become a combination you'd wonder who'd fill that role in the midweek games. Either way, this looks liken being a searching examination for the 23-year-old Pampas centre Justo Piccardo – who made his Test debut at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland last November off the bench – wearing the 12 jersey donned by Contepomi in Cardiff 20 years ago. Two decades on, one of the greatest overseas players to ever decorate Irish provincial rugby is back in familiar terrain, Contepomi having assembled a makeshift Pumas squad for their first game and first week's training in seven months, whereas this Lions team were training in Portugal last week. The brilliant Toulouse utility back Juan Cruz Mallia and Bordeaux Bègles lock Guido Petti are among those Pumas involved in the Top 14 playoffs this weekend, while props Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gomez Kodela are also missing. Contepomi's starting team retains nine of the starting XV which lost 22-19 to Ireland last November and 13 of both that matchday squad and the one against France the following week in their most recent outing. That core were also part of the Rugby Championship sides that secured wins over all three southern hemisphere rivals in the same campaign for the first time ever, helping them rise to fifth in the world rankings. It's a measure of this game's importance to Los Pumas and Contepomi that he has assembled a relatively experienced side sprinkled with hardened Test match players in the captain and hooker Julian Montoya, La Rochelle tighthead Joel Sclavi, flanker Pablo Matera and fullback Santiago Carreras. Los Pumas are invariably playing for a cause. Back in 2005, they were seeking entry into the 2005 Tri Nations but generally, as here, playing for Argentina is sufficient motivation, especially as the Lions have only granted them three meetings since their sole tour of the country in 1927. Tadhg Furlong during Thursday's Captain's Run. Photograph:However, this week also marks the 60th anniversary of a famous 11-6 victory over the Junior Springboks in Ellis Park on June 19th, 1965, a landmark win which effectively gave birth to Los Pumas. Furthermore, one of the heroes of that day, Arturo Rodríguez Jurado, aka El Trompa (The Trumpet) passed away last Sunday at the age of 81. The UAR (Union Argentina de Rugby) described him as one of the country's most outstanding players. 'They're a well-drilled, well organised team that's been playing some fantastic rugby, certainly over the last 18 months,' acknowledged Andy Farrell. 'Fifth in the world and beating everyone in their path shows where they're at. We realise as well just how special this is for them and what a privilege it is to be here at the Aviva with the Lions playing their first game in Ireland. It's a special occasion and it's great they're coming to the party.' Despite the extortionate ticket pricing and hotel gouging, the plentiful sightings of Lions tops around town on Thursday was a reminder how much the team means to rugby fans and despite the novelty of this fixture, the 'home' support should be significant. The Pumas also has a relatively callow-looking bench, with 23-year-old loosehead Bautista Bernasconi, hooker Boris Wenger (22) and scrumhalf Simon Benítez Cruz (25) are all wearing the distinctive blue and white hooped Pumas jersey for the first time. By contrast, as well as being out to make an early statement ahead of the Oz odyssey, Pierre Schoeman, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong bring way more international experience, and what Pollock lacks in that he makes up for in his electric energy. All in all, it will be a surprise and even a slight disappointment if the Lions don't board Saturday's long-haul flight to Perth with something of a statement win under their belts. LIONS: Marcus Smith (England); Tommy Freeman (England), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland); Fin Smith (England), Alex Mitchell (England); Ellis Genge (England), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Finlay Bealham (Ireland); Maro Itoje (England, capt), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Ben Earl (England). Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Ireland), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Henry Pollock (England), Tomos Williams (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Mack Hansen (Ireland). ARGENTINA: Santiago Carreras (Gloucester); Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins), Lucio Cinti (Saracens), Justo Piccardo (Pampas), Ignacio Mendy (Benetton); Tomás Albornoz (Benetton), Gonzalo García (Zebre Parma); Mayco Vivas (Gloucester), Julian Montoya (Leicester, capt), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle); Franco Molina (Exeter Chiefs), Pedro Rubiolo (Bristol Bears); Pablo Matera (Honda Heat), Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens), Joaquin Oviedo (Perpignan). Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton), Boris Wenger (Dogos XV), Francisco Coria Marchetti (Brive), Santiago Grondona (Bristol Bears), Joaquin Moro (Pampas), Simón Benitez Cruz (Tarucas), Matias Moroni (Brive), Santiago Cordero (Connacht). Referee: James Doleman (NZR). Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) Head-to-head: 1910 – Argentina 3 Lions 28. 1927 – Argentina 3 Lions 37; Argentina 0 Lions 46; Argentina 3 Lions 34; Argentina 0 Lions 43. 1936 – Argentina 0 Lions 23. 2005: Lions 25 Argentina 25. Betting: 1-10 Lions, 30-1 Draw, 13-2 Argentina. Handicap odds (Argentina +15pts) 10/11 Lions, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Argentina. Forecast: Lions to win and cover the handicap.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'He's got such an aura' - Farrell's rise to Lions top job
British and Irish Lions v ArgentinaVenue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Friday, 20 June Kick-off: 20:00 BSTCoverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app For British and Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell, building connections has always been as crucial to fostering a winning environment as tactics and systems. When he speaks to the media, he regularly outlines his desire to see players become the "best versions of themselves". Not the best tacklers, or goal-kickers or scrummagers, but the best "versions". Ask the players about Farrell and they will gush. Johnny Sexton knows him better than most. He was Ireland captain under him and is now part of his British and Irish Lions backroom team."It's been amazing to see already," Sexton said of watching Farrell in Lions camp. "We're only in week one and the standard of training, the atmosphere, the environment that he's created already in terms of getting people to share ideas, whether you're a coach or player, making it really inclusive, everyone has a voice and a say."The last thing Andy wants is fast forward four or five weeks' time when you've won or lost the series, he doesn't want people saying 'we should have done this, we should have done that'. "He wants you to speak now. That's the greatest part about the environment, it's a pretty special place to be at the moment and I'm sure it'll get better over the next couple of months."Farrell's ability to give clarity and confidence to those who come into his orbit extended to the British and Irish Lions decision-makers, who unanimously backed him as the man to lead this summer's tour to he was announced as head coach in January 2024, it surprised no-one. Now, nearly 18 months on, the 50-year-old is finally ready to tackle one of rugby's most daunting coaching challenges when he leads the Lions into Friday's pre-tour game against Argentina in Dublin. It is the start of an important new chapter for the Englishman. But everything up to this point shows he never shirks a challenge, and he usually finds success. Farrell's leadership skills were evident from a young age - and in a different in rugby league, he made his debut for Wigan Warriors at just 16, became the youngest Challenge Cup winner a year later in 1993 and captained Great Britain when he was 21. It wasn't all good in the 13-man discipline. Twenty of his 34 Great Britain appearances ended in defeat and he was captain for the 1996 tour which yielded three Test losses to New Zealand. The goal-kicking loose forward dreamed of testing himself in Australia's National Rugby League, which he considered the pinnacle of the sport. But after a move down under failed to materialise, he opted for arguably an even greater challenge: a switch to rugby union with Saracens in 2005. Injuries hampered his bid to become a cross-code phenomenon. He won eight caps for England, and while his 2007 World Cup was cut short by a calf problem, his enthusiasm to become a coaching powerhouse remained undimmed. His first opportunity came at Saracens - initially as Mark McCall's assistant - before he joined Stuart Lancaster's England ticket as defence coach in time for the 2012 Six Nations. "You could tell he was a leader as a player and as a head coach, you need a strong second voice in the changing room, that person who can take the weight off your shoulders a bit. Andy fulfilled that role for me," Lancaster told the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast last also described Farrell as a "great orator" and that much became clear in 2013 when he delivered his now-famous "hurt arena" speech to the British and Irish Lions squad before the deciding third Test against Lions emerged from Sydney with their first tour win in 16 years (it also remains their most recent), while Farrell's star continued to rise when he returned as one of Gatland's assistants in the drawn 2017 series against New Zealand. His burgeoning status prompted the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to swoop at the earliest possible opportunity, appointing him Ireland defence coach under Joe Schmidt within a month of his England exit, which came in the aftermath of the 2015 World Farrell served a three-year apprenticeship under Schmidt, it soon became clear after taking the top job in 2019 that his coaching style differed greatly from the New Zealander's. He emphasised the importance of marking landmarks like debuts or 50th or 100th caps with presentation ceremonies that often involved the players' families - an approach that would seem well-suited to a Lions environment where a lot of the players don't know each other."There's a different mentality around the place - a different relationship between players and coaches and a different relationship between players and players, going over stuff together," Ireland lock Iain Henderson said during the early stages of Farrell's reign."Before, the guys might have been a wee bit tentative about who they went and asked questions to. For fear of people thinking they don't know their detail, didn't know stuff."Five years on, Sexton's comments echo Henderson's words. It shows that creating a collaborative space in training and giving the players the confidence to express themselves has been the bedrock of Farrell's success with Ireland. Of course, he found the going tough initially, with mixed results during his first two years in charge leading Sexton to jump to his though, Farrell presided over one of the greatest periods in Irish rugby history, with talk of him as a future Lions boss intensifying after he led Ireland to a historic series success in New Zealand in 2022. And even though the All Blacks ended his side's World Cup campaign at the quarter-final stage in 2023, Farrell's 2022-23 run, that included a Six Nations Grand Slam and a 17-match unbeaten streak, effectively sealed his Lions appointment. 'When he speaks, you tune in' Since officially starting his Lions duties, Farrell has stuck to what he knows, plucking four coaches - Sexton, Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty - from the IRFU and flooding his squad with 16 Ireland players, several of whom will be absent on also took the squad on a pre-tour training camp in Quinta do Lago in Portugal, which has served as Ireland's warm-weather base before the Six Nations and World Cup in recent is still early days, but Farrell has clearly made an impression on those coming into contact with him for the first time. "He's got such an aura around the place," said Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams, "Everyone turns their head when he speaks. He's been class, the level of detail and clarity he gives you is class."I think anyone would if you've got two caps or 100 caps. A person of his calibre, when he speaks, you just instantly tune in."
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu centre partnership shows Andy Farrell's not afraid to shake things up
First impressions matter, in life, in sport, in team selection and when stripped to its simplest form they can represent an opportunity to confirm or confound opinion. For the 23 Lions players in the matchday squad for Friday night's game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 8pm), they have been given first dibs on the iconic red jersey. The opinion that holds sway most in the direct context of the match is that of head coach Andy Farrell , with the remainder of his coaching team, a short head behind. The backstory regarding jersey allocation is of less import or relevance than the performance DNA that they leave behind at the final whistle. It's not about who's missing, more a case of who takes or misses the chance. Players have been forewarned. Lions captain Maro Itoje revealed as much when reiterating a point that Farrell had made earlier in a press conference. 'This is our first opportunity to set the standard that we want to be, set the kind of team that we want to be, and give our first account of ourselves.' Occasionally opportunity comes wrapped in a different garb, a statement that Sione Tuipulotu will appreciate. Ostensibly an inside centre he will play one position further out in the backline for the Lions against the Pumas in forming a midfield partnership with Bundee Aki . READ MORE In the absence of Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones, Farrell could just as easily have opted to play Elliot Daly at 13, a position he's previously played with England. Instead, the Lions head coach took a chance to give a chance, so to speak, and in doing so reminded the players that their head coach will not be linear in his thinking. Tuipulotu has played outside centre before, as recently as the first half of the URC semi-final defeat to Leinster , although Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith canned that experiment halfway through the match, restoring the player to his preferred role. Leinster's Jamie Osborne had curtailed Tuipulotu's influence very effectively in the 13 channel. It wasn't until two minutes from time that the Australian-born, Scotland international reminded onlookers of the threat he poses, even in the most cluttered corridors, when slaloming his way past Scott Penny, Max Deegan and Luke McGrath for a brilliant try, one that seemed improbable from where he received the ball initially. Ireland's Bundee Aki is tackled by Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu and Jack Dempsey. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho At that point Smith had long since reshuffled his backline, with Tom Jordan moved from inside centre to outhalf, while Stafford McDowall took up station on the other side of Tuipulotu. As a body of evidence, Tuipulotu's run at 13 would not have compelled Farrell to double down but the Lions head coach is not risk averse. He's happy to back his own instincts and judgment as Ireland supporters have come to learn and take a punt on what to others might consider an unlikely midfield combination. And one that if it flourishes in the Aviva Stadium might earn the right to further miles in Australia, depending on circumstances. Aki has started seven of Ireland's last nine Tests in the 12 jersey, and in the last three seasons has started only once, against Italy in 2023, in the 13 jersey. That proved to be an uncomfortable experience for the Connacht man in an unfamiliar role. He's abrasive and direct in his carrying, a pulverising tackler, a good distributor and possesses an excellent rugby brain. Before missing the Six Nations through injury, Tuipulotu was an unbackable favourite to wear the Lions 12 jersey in the Test series against Australia. Consistently excellent for Glasgow and Scotland, he imposed his talent on high-profile games, while showing leadership qualities that persuaded Scottish head coach Gregor Townsend to make him captain last November. The injury put a kibosh on that momentum but since returning any fears have been allayed as the 28-year-old has demonstrated familiar traits. Brilliant footwork, strength in and through the tackle, offloading, vision, and the ability to find defensive seams and unpick them. He also possesses speed and aggression in the defensive line, all of which render him a nightmarish prospect for opponents. Tuipulotu and Aki will have their respective personal wishlists going into the game against Argentina but are shrewd enough to realise that being able to play as a partnership has the potential to be more valuable than a box-ticking exercise. The Scottish captain can't adopt the mindset that he's just filling in, in the 13 jersey. The likelihood is that the roles will be interchangeable and fluid. Tuipulotu has the tougher assignment of the two on paper simply because he's the one that's being asked to take on a different remit. Farrell is measuring the capacity of players to step up and stand irrespective of circumstance, ultimately a challenge to his players' versatility. It has equal purchase in discussions about secondrow, backrow and back three. For Farrell, coaches and players, second chances will be index-linked to first impressions.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Lions centres a 'southern hemisphere' pairing
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt described Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu as a "southern hemisphere centre partnership" when running the rule over Andy Farrell's first British and Irish Lions Lions take on Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night in what is their only fixture before a nine-game game tour of Aki and Scotland's Tuipulotu, born in New Zealand and Australia respectively, will be the Lions' midfield pairing against the Pumas despite both players more usually starting at inside centre. Schmidt gave Aki his Ireland debut after the 35-year-old Connacht man qualified on residency in 2017, while Tuipulotu has been able to captain Gregor Townsend's side thanks to a grandmother born in Greenock."A southern hemisphere centre partnership that will be pretty formidable," said Schmidt at the media conference to confirm his squad for next month's game against Fiji. Schmidt added: "I coached Bundee for several years and know him really well and respect him massively as a player. He's a great contributor to the team environment."I've only had glancing conversations with Sione but again, by all accounts a champion bloke. You don't get to be captain of a national team without being a great bloke and really professional in those high-performance environments."That eight of Andy Farrell's 38-man squad were born overseas has been a talking point before the side make the trip down assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth was later asked about Schmidt's comments and said every player involved in the tour has "earned the right" to represent the side."I don't know if they are questioning their commitment. Everyone has earned the right to pull on the Lions jersey," said the former England scrum-half."They are, to a man, incredibly proud to be here. "It is not your background or how you have got here, it's what sort of player you are and what sort of man you are. We have got great men and great players."
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Lions ready to roar in Dublin but Los Pumas shouldn't be dismissed
British & Irish Lions v Argentina, Aviva Stadium, Friday, 8pm – Live on TG4 & Sky Sports Action A bad dress rehearsal doesn't necessarily begat a bad performance, much less a good one, and the grim British & Irish Lions expedition to New Zealand 20 years ago cannot be attributed to the soporific 25-all draw between the Lions and Argentina in Cardiff. But it sure as hell proved to be an ominous portent of things to come. Jonny Wilkinson's sixth penalty of the night in the eighth minute of injury-time salvaged a modicum of pride for the Lions, whose head coach Clive Woodward rested captain Brian O'Driscoll and others, with Lawrence Dallaglio on the bench. Still, to put that draw in context, Los Pumas were missing 25 players through club commitments and their inexperienced side, captained by current head coach Felipe Contepomi , were given little or no hope of causing a famous upset. Two decades on, the Lions play a match in Ireland for the first time ever in what is, again, primarily a moneymaking venture which is understood to be generating around €4 million for the brand, with the last of the remaining tickets (priced from €148) selling out on Thursday. Ultimately, Friday evening's non-capped international, though historic, will be a footnote in history. READ MORE So, once more, the Lions are in something of a no-lose position – well, provided they don't actually lose – for this is again a scratch side missing 15 of its squad due to club commitments and injuries, including 10 from bulk suppliers Leinster. Even so, the presence of Maro Itoje as captain adds to the desire for these Lions to set a stronger benchmark than was the case in 2005, not least as his partnership with Tadhg Beirne could be a Test partnership in the making, as well as roommates. There's plenty of power and ball-carrying ballast in the front and back rows, the Northampton/England halfback pairing of Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith will have fond memories of their last visit here seven weeks ago, and ditto their Saints team-mates Tommy Freeman, who looks a likely Test starter, and Henry Pollock, for whom an impact role could well be a pointer to the Test series. Lions captain Maro Itoje during Thursday's session at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph:Any backline with Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu doubling up in midfield shouldn't be lacking in oomph. The general expectation is that they will ultimately duel for the Test 12 jersey, although if they become a combination you'd wonder who'd fill that role in the midweek games. Either way, this looks liken being a searching examination for the 23-year-old Pampas centre Justo Piccardo – who made his Test debut at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland last November off the bench – wearing the 12 jersey donned by Contepomi in Cardiff 20 years ago. Two decades on, one of the greatest overseas players to ever decorate Irish provincial rugby is back in familiar terrain, Contepomi having assembled a makeshift Pumas squad for their first game and first week's training in seven months, whereas this Lions team were training in Portugal last week. The brilliant Toulouse utility back Juan Cruz Mallia and Bordeaux Bègles lock Guido Petti are among those Pumas involved in the Top 14 playoffs this weekend, while props Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gomez Kodela are also missing. Contepomi's starting team retains nine of the starting XV which lost 22-19 to Ireland last November and 13 of both that matchday squad and the one against France the following week in their most recent outing. That core were also part of the Rugby Championship sides that secured wins over all three southern hemisphere rivals in the same campaign for the first time ever, helping them rise to fifth in the world rankings. It's a measure of this game's importance to Los Pumas and Contepomi that he has assembled a relatively experienced side sprinkled with hardened Test match players in the captain and hooker Julian Montoya, La Rochelle tighthead Joel Sclavi, flanker Pablo Matera and fullback Santiago Carreras. Los Pumas are invariably playing for a cause. Back in 2005, they were seeking entry into the 2005 Tri Nations but generally, as here, playing for Argentina is sufficient motivation, especially as the Lions have only granted them three meetings since their sole tour of the country in 1927. Tadhg Furlong during Thursday's Captain's Run. Photograph:However, this week also marks the 60th anniversary of a famous 11-6 victory over the Junior Springboks in Ellis Park on June 19th, 1965, a landmark win which effectively gave birth to Los Pumas. Furthermore, one of the heroes of that day, Arturo Rodríguez Jurado, aka El Trompa (The Trumpet) passed away last Sunday at the age of 81. The UAR (Union Argentina de Rugby) described him as one of the country's most outstanding players. 'They're a well-drilled, well organised team that's been playing some fantastic rugby, certainly over the last 18 months,' acknowledged Andy Farrell. 'Fifth in the world and beating everyone in their path shows where they're at. We realise as well just how special this is for them and what a privilege it is to be here at the Aviva with the Lions playing their first game in Ireland. It's a special occasion and it's great they're coming to the party.' Despite the extortionate ticket pricing and hotel gouging, the plentiful sightings of Lions tops around town on Thursday was a reminder how much the team means to rugby fans and despite the novelty of this fixture, the 'home' support should be significant. The Pumas also has a relatively callow-looking bench, with 23-year-old loosehead Bautista Bernasconi, hooker Boris Wenger (22) and scrumhalf Simon Benítez Cruz (25) are all wearing the distinctive blue and white hooped Pumas jersey for the first time. By contrast, as well as being out to make an early statement ahead of the Oz odyssey, Pierre Schoeman, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong bring way more international experience, and what Pollock lacks in that he makes up for in his electric energy. All in all, it will be a surprise and even a slight disappointment if the Lions don't board Saturday's long-haul flight to Perth with something of a statement win under their belts. LIONS: Marcus Smith (England); Tommy Freeman (England), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland); Fin Smith (England), Alex Mitchell (England); Ellis Genge (England), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Finlay Bealham (Ireland); Maro Itoje (England, capt), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Ben Earl (England). Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Ireland), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Henry Pollock (England), Tomos Williams (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Mack Hansen (Ireland). ARGENTINA: Santiago Carreras (Gloucester); Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins), Lucio Cinti (Saracens), Justo Piccardo (Pampas), Ignacio Mendy (Benetton); Tomás Albornoz (Benetton), Gonzalo García (Zebre Parma); Mayco Vivas (Gloucester), Julian Montoya (Leicester, capt), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle); Franco Molina (Exeter Chiefs), Pedro Rubiolo (Bristol Bears); Pablo Matera (Honda Heat), Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens), Joaquin Oviedo (Perpignan). Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton), Boris Wenger (Dogos XV), Francisco Coria Marchetti (Brive), Santiago Grondona (Bristol Bears), Joaquin Moro (Pampas), Simón Benitez Cruz (Tarucas), Matias Moroni (Brive), Santiago Cordero (Connacht). Referee: James Doleman (NZR). Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR) Head-to-head: 1910 – Argentina 3 Lions 28. 1927 – Argentina 3 Lions 37; Argentina 0 Lions 46; Argentina 3 Lions 34; Argentina 0 Lions 43. 1936 – Argentina 0 Lions 23. 2005: Lions 25 Argentina 25. Betting: 1-10 Lions, 30-1 Draw, 13-2 Argentina. Handicap odds (Argentina +15pts) 10/11 Lions, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Argentina. Forecast: Lions to win and cover the handicap.
