In a host of firsts, this will be the first time the British & Irish Lions have ever played in Dublin, while Maro Itoje will make his debut as Lions captain.
This will be head coach Andy Farrell’s debut in the position for the Lions, although he will be in familiar surroundings after leading Ireland as head coach from late 2019 until taking a sabbatical from the role after the 2024 Six Nations to focus on this current role.
Farrell has named nine Englishmen in the starting XV for Friday’s clash with Marcus Smith at full back alongside Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith at half-backs. Of the matchday squad, 14 are set to make their Lions debuts with eight on the field from the first whistle.
Argentina, who will not be in Dublin just to make up the numbers and to wish the Lions a safe trip down-under, narrowly lost at the Aviva Stadium 22-19 to Ireland last November and Felipe Contepomi has selected nine starters from that game as the Pumas look for a famous victory.
Why the Lions can win
While picking nine England players to start the game on Friday is no guarantee of success, it should provide Farrell’s side with a good deal of continuity in a squad which currently has plenty of injuries.
Most of those are expected to clear up over the coming week and Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong, who missed the United Rugby Championship final win for Leinster last weekend with a calf injury, will get an opportunity from the bench.
Domestic team-mate Ronan Kelleher, who did play last Saturday, has also been named among the replacements but overall Farrell has chosen most of his XV from the group who travelled to Portugal for a training camp last week.
Although the Lions drew with Argentina ahead of their 2005 tour of New Zealand, they triumphed 28-10 over Japan before heading off for their last tour in 2021.
Why Argentina can win
This will be the Pumas first fixture since November 2024 when they finished off the year with a 37-23 defeat against France in Paris.
Although the loss made it three defeats from their last four games, Argentina had beaten Australia 67-27 and South Africa 29-28 in September and also ran Ireland very close at the Aviva the game before the defeat to France.
With results like that, it is no surprise to see Felipe Contepomi’s side ranked fifth in the world ahead of England, Scotland and Wales who will provide 13 of the host’s starting XV.
Contepomi has been in his role since March 2024 and although the squad has only been together for little more than a week after a seven month absence, they have achieved plenty previously and will fancy their chances of going one better than their 2005 counterparts.
Venue and conditions
Although tickets are still available, it is likely to be very close to a full house as the Aviva Stadium experiences Lions rugby for the first time. Home victories became the norm across Ireland’s 19-game winning streak in Dublin but the last visitors to the venue, France in March, emerged with a 42-17 triumph!
Although the UK is enjoying something of a heatwave at present, Dublin will only get a slight taste of the same with the temperature in the low twenties on Friday evening and no chance of rain.
Match stats
• Argentina have failed to score more than 19 points in their last four visits to the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
• Duhan van der Merwe scored a try in the Lions’ game prior to departure in 2021 and has scored 23 international tries since, including three vs Argentina.
• Fourteen of Argentina’s 19 points at the Aviva Stadium in November 2024 came from the boot of Tomas Albornoz.
• Argentina have lost five of their last eight matches, losing at half-time in four of them.
• Tommy Freeman scored a try in all five rounds of the 2025 Six Nations including at the Aviva Stadium in February.