The British and Irish Lions will head into their tour of Australia on the again of a defeat, however what is going to they study from their loss to Argentina and may it assist them to a collection win Down Underneath?
Andy Farrell’s facet have been overwhelmed 28-24 by Argentina in entrance of a sold-out Aviva Stadium, the place they overturned a 11-point deficit early within the second half earlier than falling quick towards the Pumas.
A penalty attempt to Tadhg Beirne’s rating after the break created a path to victory for the Lions, however Argentina’s ruthless counter-attacking swept Santiago Cordero in for the match-winning attempt within the 59th minute.
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Argentina reclaimed the lead after an incredible step by Tomás Albornoz ended with Santiago Cordero beating Marcus Smith in a footrace for an incredible attempt
The hosts couldn’t break down their cussed opponents over the closing levels, securing the Pumas a well-known victory – their first in eight makes an attempt over the Lions – and seeing the Lions lose their tour opener for the primary time since 1971.
What did the Lions do nicely? The place can they enhance forward of dealing with Australia? Sky Sports activities pundits Owen Farrell, Sam Warburton, John Barclay and Will Greenwood break down a few of the key speaking factors from an exciting Check match…
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Lions 24-28 Argentina
‘Hell of lots to study for Lions’
Former Lions fly-half Farrell was not overly involved by the defeat, stressing how useful it was for his successors to get a aggressive sport underneath their belts so quickly into the tour.
“Numerous the sport was performed in the correct elements of the sphere,” Farrell advised Sky Sports activities. “Clearly, a whole lot of balls did not stick and there might be a whole lot of photographs that they’re going to look again and study from.
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British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje vowed his facet confirmed glimpses of what they can provide however simply lacked consistency towards Argentina
“Argentina did unbelievably nicely to counter-punch after they had the chance, whether or not that be a ball on the ground or a turnover, they appeared to show issues into factors rapidly.
“I am certain the Lions boys might be annoyed however the principle factor is that they’ve performed an ideal aggressive sport and have some photographs to go off to see what the usual is and what it isn’t.
“They will study a hell of lots, they will study a hell of lots about one another, they will study a hell of lots as a crew, and it will put them in good stead for subsequent week.”
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Lions head coach Andy Farrell branded his facet’s defeat to Argentina in Dublin as ‘unacceptable’
Warburton, whose two collection as Lions captain featured opening video games towards the Barbarians in 2013 and the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in 2017, was adamant the strict Argentina task would have advantages down the road.
“That sport is so a lot better – no disrespect to video games prior to now – than enjoying an invitational crew the place you win by 50 factors,” he stated.
“The Lions will study a lot extra from this sport. Sure, disappointing, as they needed to get the momentum early on, however what a Check. You possibly can dissect this now, study from it, and transfer on.”
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Sky Sports activities’ Eleanor Roper and former Lions captain Sam Warburton dissect the speaking factors from the British and Irish Lions’ opening tour match towards Argentina.
Argentina… the hardest Lions warm-up match ever?
Los Pumas greater than lived as much as their billing because the world’s fifth finest crew, exhibiting sensational attacking aptitude as they gave the Lions a radical evaluation.
“Within the final 12 months, apart from Eire, they’ve overwhelmed all of them and that is the calibre of this Argentina squad,” three-time Lion Greenwood stated. “Their again row have been excellent and all of them – to a person – have been excellent.”
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The British and Irish Lions got an enormous welcome from the Dublin crowd as they made their approach out into the stadium
Warburton added: “The Lions might be higher for it (shedding) however we’ve to firstly congratulate Argentina. They have been so good.
“Their defensive set on the finish of the sport – underneath excessive fatigue – was wonderful. They have been lacking seven or eight front-line gamers they usually nonetheless delivered a superb efficiency.”
The place do the Lions want to enhance?
The Lions confirmed loads of attacking intent however have been on events discovered responsible of overplaying, with possession being misplaced on a number of events from the line-out and one other space the place enchancment might be required.
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Lions moved again forward within the second half after a superb Ellis Genge line break leds to Tadhg Beirne scoring
“Line-outs are fixable,” former Scotland captain Barclay stated. “I believe it is arguably one of many hardest elements of the sport to place collectively. Everybody strikes barely in another way and a small misfunction ends in you not getting the ball. That is the place the frustration comes from within the line-out – not with the ability to apply stress by way of that.
“I believe the cohesion by way of forcing off-loads and, as Andy Farrell talked about, a few of them simply weren’t on. I believe it grew to become a little bit bit contagious as the sport went on the place they have been getting in behind and all the time wanting.
“You need to be a crew that understands when the ball is on and when it is off. I believe that can come on and the line-out will come and there are many good elements, however I believe Check rugby is about making use of stress.
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Argentina picked up a unfastened ball in their very own 22 and scored a breakaway attempt on the stroke of half time to increase their lead towards the Lions
“In case your line-out just isn’t functioning and also you’re getting overwhelmed within the aerial sport, you then’re forcing offloads and dropping the ball, it is very arduous to maintain making use of that stress.”
How will the Lions reply? ‘We have got to study fast’
The Lions head to Australia forward of their warm-up match towards Western Drive subsequent Saturday, stay on Sky Sports activities, with centre Bundee Aki – who scored the opening attempt towards Argentina – admitting they weren’t medical sufficient throughout their defeat.
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Bundee Aki powered over a number of Argentina defenders to attain the primary British and Irish Lions of the 2025 tour
“We’re not making any excuses; Argentina are a bloody good outfit,” Aki advised Sky Sports activities. “They punished us once we weren’t medical. Each turnover we made, they scored at each alternative.
“We bounced again within the second half, Andy Farrell reminded us at half-time when it meant to be a Lion – when it will get arduous, you have to push it to a different degree. In sure elements of the sport we did it, in others we did not. Argentina did.
“This reveals the place we’re as a bunch, we will solely get higher from right here. We all know the problem forward of us, not one of the 9 video games are going to be simple, so we have got to take the learnings out of this however we have got to study fast.”
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Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia completely stay on Sky Sports activities this summer time.
What’s subsequent for the Lions?
Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Checks towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely stay.
The Lions’ warm-up video games begin towards Western Drive in Perth on June 28 forward of additional matches towards Queensland Reds in Brisbane (July 2), the Waratahs in Sydney (July 5), the Brumbies in Canberra (July 9), an Invitational Australia & New Zealand facet in Adelaide (July 12) and the Rebels in Melbourne (July 22).
That sport will happen after the opening Check in Brisbane on July 19, with the second Check on the MCG in Melbourne on July 26 and the ultimate Check within the Accor Stadium in Sydney on August 2. Stream the British and Irish Lions with no contract
