Munster Rugby's Tadhg Beirne among the tries but British and Irish Lions lose to Pumas

THE British and Irish Lions first game on Irish soil in their 136-year history ended in a narrow 28-24 defeat to an impressive Argentina side in front of a sell-out attendance of 51,700 at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

Tries from Ignacio Mendy, the outstanding Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero spoil the Lions pre-tour party on a balmy summer evening in Dublin.

Andy Farrell's Lions side trailed by 11 points at half-time, 10-21. While the Lions hit back early in the second half through a penalty try and one from Munster Rugby captain Tadhg Beirne, Cordero displayed rapid pace on the counter to deliver the decisive score 22 minutes from time and see the fifth-ranked Pumas to a first win in eight meetings with the Lions.

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Having lost a tour opener for the first time since 1971, the Lions travel to Australia on Saturday before facing Western Force in Perth on Saturday, June 28, 11am Irish time. The Lions squad depart for Australia.

From an Irish point of view, 2021 Lions tourists Bundee Aki, a first half tryscorer, and Beirne were joined in the starting XV by Finlay Bealham, who made his first appearance in the famous red jersey, and replacements Rónan Kelleher and Mack Hansen made their debuts for the side off the bench.

Prop Tadhg Furlong, who was returning from a calf injury, featured for 20 minutes, ahead of the Lions’ departure for Perth on Saturday. 

In total, 14 players made their Lions debuts against the Pumas, while two-time tourists Aki, Beirne, Tom Curry, Marcus Smith, and Duhan van der Merwe all featured in South Africa in 2021.

Argentina retained nine players in the starting XV from last November’s narrow 22-19 defeat to Ireland at the same venue. One of them is captain Julian Montoya, who backs up just six days after Leicester Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership final loss to Bath.

On a most glorious evening for rugby, it was the visitors who made the better start and the Pumas' Benetton out-half Tomas Albornoz kicked them into a 3-0 lead in the fifth minute through a straight forward penalty goal.

The Lions, who had nine England internationals in their starting XV, thought they had hit back immediately. It looked like hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie was over for the opening try after a powerful maul towards the line. However, TV replays showed that as the Sale Sharks hooker tried to ground the ball back over his head, he lost it forward and the score was chalked off. Argentina cleared their lines with a goalline drop-out.

The Lions did manage to get points on the board in the 10th minute when out-half Fin Smith dissected the posts from a penalty attempt.

However, parity was short-lived. A silky set-piece move saw Argentina's Santiago Carreras drag in three men, before popping the ball out wide to winger Ignacio Mendy, who skipped inside Van der Merwe to touch down. Albornoz was off target with the conversion attempt but the Pumas led 8-3.

Both sides showed an admirable intent to play open, attacking, entertaining rugby, taking full advantage of the favourable conditions. 

The Lions, who conceded just three penalties over the 80 minutes, grabbed their first try of the 2025 tour mid-way through the opening half.

Another slick passage of play through the hands saw Marcus Smith, Van der Merwe and Fin Smith all get a touch on the ball before Bundee Aki caught Fin Smith's pass and showed power and strength to carry three Argentina players over the line.

Smith sent over the conversion and the Lions had the lead at 10-8.

The see-saw nature of the game continued in the 26th minute when the Pumas regained the lead after Tom Curry was pinged for holding on at the ruck and the Pumas out-half Albornoz duly dissected the uprights for 11-10.

Argentina then increased their advantage out to four points when Albornoz slotted a 39th minute penalty goal to leave the Pumas 14-10 to the good.

There was more to come from the Pumas before half-time however, when they crossed for a stunning second try of the contest to take a more than useful 21-10 advantage into the interval.

The half had looked to be petering out but an attacking opportunity presented itself to the Lions. However, the ball was coughed up inside the Pumas '22.

The visitors were quickest on the loose ball, picked up by Isgro, and some slick handling down the right touchline sent them clear, with play-maker Albornoz finishing off his own try with the conversion.

The Lions needed a quick start to the second half in order to haul themselves back into the contest and they achieved it. 

From a penalty award in the 45th minute on the opposing '22, the Lions opted for a kick to touch. From a short lineout, the Lions set up a powerful maul, and it looked like the Lions are about to score. Hooker Cowan-Dickie was brought down right on the line as the maul rolled forward - but it wasn't legal and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try.

Puma prop Mayco Vivas was also sent to the bin for his troubles.

The Lions, who bossed possession 61%-39% over the course of the game, took advantage of their numerical superiority, striking for their third try through Munster Rugby captain Tadhg Beirne.

England propl Ellis Genge created the opening with a powerful surge which took three Argentine players to halt. A perfectly-timed flat pass from Tomos Williams sent Munster second row Beirne through a gap and he dotted down.

Fin Smith slotted the conversion and the Lions regained the lead at 24-21.

However, the momentum swung once more soon after when the Pumas hit back with a terrific try. 

Isgro collected possession before off-loading intelligently to releases Albornoz.

The out-half broke through a weak tackle and Argentina were suddenly in open country with Moroni sending a beautifully-judged grubber kick into the Lions in-goal area.

Connacht's Santiago Cordero beat Marcus Smith in the foot race before dotting down for a top class score. The Lions will be frustrated to have missed 15 tackles over the course of the game.

Argentina now led 28-24 and it was a lead the visitors maintained until full-time to claim the 1888 Cup.

SCORERS: British and Irish Lions: Pen try, Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne try each, Fin Smith two pens, two cons, pen try con. 

Argentina: Tomas Albornoz try, three pens, two cons, Ignacio Mendy, Santiago Cordero try each. 

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England); Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland); Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/England), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England); Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/England), Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/Ireland); Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (Capt), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland); Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), Ben Earl (Saracens/England). Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) for Cowan-Dickie, Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby/Wales) for Mitchell, Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England) for Morgan (all 49 mins), Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) for Aki, Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) for Bealham, Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) for Genge (all 60 mins), Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) for  van der Merwe (61 mins), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) for Itoje (73 mins), Finley Bealham for Furlong (HIA 79 mins).

ARGENTINA: Santiago Carreras (Gloucester Rugby); Rodrigo Isgro (Harlequins), Lucio Cinti (Saracens), Justo Piccardo (Pampas XV), Ignacio Mendy (Benetton Rugby); Tomas Albornoz (Benetton Rugby), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre Parma); Mayco Vivas (Gloucester Rugby), Julian Montoya (Leicester Tigers) (capt), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle), Franco Molina (Exeter Chiefs), Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons), Pablo Matera (MIE Honda Heat), Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens), Joaquin Oviedo (USA Perpignan). Replacements: Santiago Cordero (Connacht Rugby) for Mendy (HIA, 45 mins), Francisco Coria Marchetti (CA Brive) for Sclavi (47 mins), Boris Wenger (Dogos XV) for Oviedo (49 mins-56 mins), Matias Moroni (CA Brive) for Cinti (56 mins), Santiago Grondona (Bristol Bears) for Molina (59 mins), Joaquin Moro (Pampas XV) for Moroni (60 mins), Lucio Cinti for Oviedo (65 mins mins), Boris Wenger (Dogos XV) for Vivas (67 mins), Simon Benitez Cruz for Garcia (72 mins), Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton Rugby) for Montoya (80 mins).

REFEREE: James Doleman (New Zealand)