Julian Montoya will lead Argentina against the British and Irish Lions on Friday just six days after starting the Gallagher Premiership final.
Montoya captained Leicester in their 23-21 defeat by Bath at Allianz Stadium but is immediately back in action as the Pumas look to inflict defeat on Andy Farrell’s men in the curtain-raiser to their summer tour of Australia.
Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, and Simon Benitez Cruz will make their first appearances for the Pumas if they step off the bench for the non-cap international in Dublin.
Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and Gloucester’s Bath-bound full-back Santiago Carreras are among a strong Premiership contingent.
Argentina were also the warm-up opponents in 2005 when they held Sir Clive Woodward’s Lions to a 25-25 draw in Cardiff.
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) June 18, 2025
Argentina team to play the Lions
Forwards: 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julián Montoya (Captain), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martín González, 8 Joaquín Oviedo
Backs: 9 Gonzalo García, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 12 Justo Piccardo, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 15 Santiago Carreras
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquín Moro, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Matías Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero