Lions 24-28 Argentina
Date:
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Attendance: 51,700
Lions v Argentina Match Reports
Argentina beat the Lions 28-24 in a fiercely-contested curtain-raiser to the 2025 tour at the Aviva Stadium. The Pumas had built a 21-10 first-half lead with tries from winger Ignacio Mendy and fly-half Tomás Albornoz, plus three penalty kicks. Bundee Aki scored a try for the Lions midway through the first half, but other chances were missed as the Lions failed to click. After the break, the Lions came out fighting and were awarded a penalty try when a rolling maul was dragged down near the line. Tadhg Beirne added a third try in the 53rd minute as the Lions briefly went into the lead. Argentina weren't done, though, as just before the hour mark Santiago Cordero won a foot race to touchdown and retake the lead for the Pumas. The Lions pushed hard for a winning score in the final quarter but the Pumas held firm to take victory and lift the 1888 Cup. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- Autumn Internationals: Lions suffer first ever defeat by Argentina in setback before Australia tour
- BBC: Lions beaten by Argentina in pre-tour Dublin game
- Guardian: Lions handed wake-up call as Argentina hang on to edge thrilling win in Dublin
- Daily Mail: Lions fall short at the Aviva Stadium in Andy Farrell's first game in charge before jetting off to Australia tour
- Sky Sports: Pumas stun Maro Itoje's side to claim historic victory at Aviva Stadium in Dublin
- ESPN: Pumas win 28-24 in Dublin
- Rugby.com.au: Argentina stun British & Irish Lions in Dublin for famous maiden win
Lions v Argentina - Match Highlights
Lions v Argentina - Match Stats
Lions (10) 24
Try: Aki (19'), Penalty Try (46'), Beirne (53')
Conversion: F Smith (20', 54')
Penalty: F Smith (10')
Argentina (21) 28
Try: Mendy (12'), Albornoz (40'+1), Cordero (59')
Conversion: Albornoz (40'+2, 60')
Penalty: Albornoz (5', 26', 40')
Man of the match: Tomás Albornoz (Argentina)
Lions v Argentina - Team Line-ups
Lions Team
Forwards
- 1 Ellis Genge
- 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
- 3 Finlay Bealham
- 4 Maro Itoje (Captain)
- 5 Tadhg Beirne
- 6 Tom Curry
- 7 Jac Morgan
- 8 Ben Earl
Backs
- 9 Alex Mitchell
- 10 Fin Smith
- 11 Duhan van der Merwe
- 12 Bundee Aki
- 13 Sione Tuipulotu
- 14 Tommy Freeman
- 15 Marcus Smith
Replacements
- 16 Ronan Kelleher
- 17 Pierre Schoeman
- 18 Tadhg Furlong
- 19 Scott Cummings
- 20 Henry Pollock
- 21 Tomos Williams
- 22 Elliot Daly
- 23 Mack Hansen
Argentina Team
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