British and Irish Lions lose 2025 tour opener as Argentina score three dazzling tries to clinch thrilling contest in Dublin; Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne score Lions tries in defeat;watch every game of 2025 Lions tour, including all three Tests vs Australia, live on Sky Sports
By Michael Cantillon at Aviva Stadium
Last Updated: 20/06/25 10:17pm
The British and Irish Lions suffered defeat to Argentina in Dublin on Friday in their opening tour fixture
The British and Irish Lions began their 2025 tour with defeat as Argentina stunned Andy Farrell’s side with a historic 28-24 win in Dublin.
Irish internationals Bundee Aki and Tadhg Beirne scored tries in what was the first Lions match played in Ireland, while the forward pack also forced a penalty try via a rolling maul.
But the Pumas refused to lie down in the contest, scoring three sensational tries through Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Cordero to confirm a first victory over the touring side at the eighth attempt.
British and Irish Lions 24-28 Argentina – Score summary
Lions – Tries: Aki (19), Penalty Try (46), Beirne (53). Cons: F Smith (20, 54). Pens: F Smith (10).
Argentina – Tries: Mendy (12), Albornoz (40+1), Cordero (59). Cons: Albornoz (42, 60). Pens: Albornoz (5, 26, 40).
Fly-half Albornoz also kicked 13 points with the boot as the Pumas dealt with being down a player for 10 minutes as loosehead Mayco Vivas was sin-binned for the penalty try incident.
Argentina punish wasteful Lions
A bright start from Argentina saw them take the lead inside five minutes via a close-range Albornoz penalty, only for the Lions to seemingly respond within moments.
Captain Maro Itoje won the ball back in the Argentina half, and though wing Duhan van Merwe made a powerful break and failed to play in Alex Mitchell for a try, hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie was awarded a score shortly after. That was until a TMO replay proved Cowan-Dickie had knocked the ball on attempting to ground over the try-line after a rolling maul.
Fin Smith levelled the contest off the tee in the 10th minute when Tom Curry forced a breakdown penalty, but Argentina were then first to register a try.
A set-piece strike-play saw the Pumas create space down the left for full-back Santiago Carreras to sprint into and find exciting wing Mendy, who finished superbly.
The Lions had a second early try ruled out when Sione Tuipulotu’s effort was pulled back for an earlier Alex Mitchell knock-on.
Argentina had knocked on in a tackle just prior, however, and from the scrum a monstrous Lions effort set the platform for a sensational sequence of quick hands through the backline which gave Aki space to display all his grunt and power to get over, giving the Lions their first lead.
However it wasn’t long before Argentina wrestled back ascendency in what was already an absorbing contest, two Albornoz penalties putting them back in front before the influential fly-half delivered a stunning final blow in the half.
With the Lions having forced a turnover in the final play seeking a try, Argentina instead won the ball back and counter-attacked for a lovely try finished by Albornoz, leaving them 11 points up at the break.
The Lions came out and dominated the start of the second half, with the pack forcing a penalty try on 46 minutes after a rampant rolling maul was cut down shy of the try-line – Pumas prop Vivas sin-binned for the act.
With Argentina down to 14, a monumental Ellis Genge carry then created the momentum for Beirne to score the Lions’ third try for the lead off a lovely Tomos Williams pass.
The score remained 24-21 to the Lions when Vivas returned from his yellow card, and the Pumas struck for a third wonderful try to regain the advantage once more via Cordero on turnover ball; going coast-to-coast in a score worthy of deciding such an occasion.
Albornoz converted well for a 28-24 lead, and the Lions then failed to make the most of several chances back in the Argentina 22; replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher overthrowing a five-metre lineout in the clearest chance, with Beirne then penalised for a neck-roll five metres out soon after.
What’s next: British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.
British and Irish Lions 2025 tour schedule
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 20 | Argentina | Dublin |
| Saturday, June 28 | Western Force | Perth |
| Wednesday, July 2 | Queensland Reds | Brisbane |
| Saturday, July 5 | NSW Waratahs | Sydney |
| Wednesday, July 9 | ACT Brumbies | Canberra |
| Saturday, July 12 | Invitational AU-NZ | Adelaide |
| Saturday, July 19 | AUSTRALIA (first Test) | Brisbane |
| Wednesday, July 22 | First Nations & Pasifika XV | Melbourne |
| Saturday, July 26 | AUSTRALIA (second Test) | Melbourne |
| Saturday, August 2 | AUSTRALIA (third Test) | Sydney |
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Pacers vs. Thunder live updates: 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 start time, picks and predictions
If the internet/social media had existed during this game, it would have broken into a million pieces. This game had a little bit of everything.By 1968, the Lakers had lost six times, once in Minneapolis and five times in Los Angeles, to the Celtics in the finals, and twice in seven games (1962 and 1966). The Lakers had enough.In July 1968, Los Angeles acquired the game’s greatest force — Wilt Chamberlain, who led the league in rebounds and assists the previous season — and combined him with Baylor and West: the NBA’s first superteam.After dispatching the Hawks and Warriors, the Lakers were in the finals again against an aging Celtics dynasty that had finished fourth in the Eastern Division.By this time, Russell was in his second season as player-coach, and in 1968, his first season at the helm, Russell’s Celtics […]
England’s Harry Brook and his uneasy relationship with India
Perhaps it should not have come as too much of a surprise to see Mohammed Siraj aiming a verbal barrage at Harry Brook during his helter-skelter performance on his home ground.The dark art of sledging — usually bowlers letting batters know exactly what they think of them— is less common than it once was in these days of cricketers from opposing countries becoming more and more familiar with each other in franchise competitions.AdvertisementBut England’s white-ball captain is something of a rarity in having an uneasy relationship with the most powerful country in cricket, which was evident in Siraj’s outburst and India’s joyous celebrations when they dismissed him one run short of a century in the first Test.This was an eventful first Test innings against India for England’s gifted 26-year-old. There were spectacular shots in front of an appreciative Headingley audience […]
Zápas proti Belgii mě bavil víc než s Portugalskem, říká Hanušová. Ve čtvrtfinále cítí šanci
„Chtěly jsme Belgičanky porazit, abychom měly lepší pozici pro čtvrtfinále a hrály proti Němkám, takto jdeme na Španělky. Kdyby nám víc vyšla třetí čtvrtina a padly trojky, tak jsme klidně mohly vyhrát,“ přesvědčovala zkušená pivotka Alena Hanušová, s devíti body druhá nejproduktivnější česká hráčka zápasu po Veronice Voráčkové.Čtyřiatřicetiletá opora Brandýsu nad Labem Hanušová se vrátila do reprezentace po čtyřleté pauze a dokázala, že se stále neztratí ani na nejvyšší mezinárodní úrovni.„Trošku mě rozčiluje, že každý řeší můj věk, jsem sice nejstarší hráčka v české reprezentaci, ale v jiných týmech jsou i starší holky. Kdybych na to neměla, tak tady nejsem,“ zdůraznila rodačka ze Sokolova. Proti Belgii odehrála zatím své nejpovedenější utkání na turnaji a taky dostala jasně nejvyšší porci takřka osmnácti minut.„Tento zápas mě bavil třeba víc než ten proti Portugalkám. Odehrála jsem větší porci minut než proti nim, protože ty hrají na menší pivotky, Belgičanky jsou vyšší, […]
Houston Rockets have second-best NBA title odds at sportsbooks after Kevin Durant trade
Before Game 7 of this year's NBA Finals tipped off, the NBA world was stunned by a Kevin Durant blockbuster deal, sending him to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in next week's 2025 NBA draft and five second-round picks.It also sent a shockwave through the odds board at sportsbooks, as the Rockets moved from the 12-1 range to around +750 to win the 2025-26 NBA championship. Those are the consensus second-best odds behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are well ahead of any other team at +230.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Good trade for Phoenix, adding Jalen Green and the 10th pick is the right direction," Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook told Yahoo Sports via text message. "We lowered Houston from 12-1 to +900 just based on perception. They should be […]
Athletic Club condemn fans as Nico Williams mural painted over amid Barcelona interest
Athletic Club have criticised individuals who painted over Nico Williams on a team mural amid transfer interest from Barcelona.Williams’ image on the mural on the outskirts of Bilbao, which also features his older brother Inaki Williams and the club’s former player Iker Muniain lifting the Copa del Rey, appeared to be painted over in red, accompanied by the words: “Leave or stay, you’ve lost respect”.AdvertisementThe Athletic reported on June 19 Barcelona had reached a verbal agreement with Williams over personal terms, with the Spanish champions not viewing the forward’s €60million (£50m, $62m) release clause as an obstacle to a deal this summer.Athletic said they had contacted street artist Carlos Lopez over restoring the mural and said those who defaced it had disrespected the club.The club released a statement titled “Supporting Athletic means acting with respect”, which read: “Respect is one of […]
Flávio Prado descarta brasileiros no Mundial de Clubes e aponta favoritos: “PSG, Real Madrid ou Manchester City”
Flavio Prado, em discurso no Canelada, da Jovem Pan (Reprodução) Comentarista da rádio Jovem Pan se mantém firme com opinião de que Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense e Botafogo não serão campeões do torneio A Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa chega neste final de semana ao final da segunda rodada e os times brasileiros Flamengo, Palmeiras, Botafogo e Fluminense são líderes de seus respectivos grupos surpreendendo a todos os analistas mais pessimistas. para o jornalista Flávio Prado, no entanto, nenhum deles têm chance de brigar pelo título da competição. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Em participação no programa “Canelada”, da rádio Jovem Pan, neste domingo (22), o comentarista esportivo descartou qualquer possibilidade dos quatro representantes do Brasil disputarem o título, apesar das surpreendentes boas atuações e ótimas campanhas em seus respectivos grupos na disputa do Mundial de Clubes. “Estou muito surpreso com o […]
Related
Pacers vs. Thunder live updates: 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 start time, picks and predictions
If the internet/social media had existed during this game, it would have broken into a million pieces. This game had a little bit of everything.By 1968, the Lakers had lost six times, once in Minneapolis and five times in Los Angeles, to the Celtics in the finals, and twice in seven games (1962 and 1966). The Lakers had enough.In July 1968, Los Angeles acquired the game’s greatest force — Wilt Chamberlain, who led the league in rebounds and assists the previous season — and combined him with Baylor and West: the NBA’s first superteam.After dispatching the Hawks and Warriors, the Lakers were in the finals again against an aging Celtics dynasty that had finished fourth in the Eastern Division.By this time, Russell was in his second season as player-coach, and in 1968, his first season at the helm, Russell’s Celtics […]
England’s Harry Brook and his uneasy relationship with India
Perhaps it should not have come as too much of a surprise to see Mohammed Siraj aiming a verbal barrage at Harry Brook during his helter-skelter performance on his home ground.The dark art of sledging — usually bowlers letting batters know exactly what they think of them— is less common than it once was in these days of cricketers from opposing countries becoming more and more familiar with each other in franchise competitions.AdvertisementBut England’s white-ball captain is something of a rarity in having an uneasy relationship with the most powerful country in cricket, which was evident in Siraj’s outburst and India’s joyous celebrations when they dismissed him one run short of a century in the first Test.This was an eventful first Test innings against India for England’s gifted 26-year-old. There were spectacular shots in front of an appreciative Headingley audience […]
Zápas proti Belgii mě bavil víc než s Portugalskem, říká Hanušová. Ve čtvrtfinále cítí šanci
„Chtěly jsme Belgičanky porazit, abychom měly lepší pozici pro čtvrtfinále a hrály proti Němkám, takto jdeme na Španělky. Kdyby nám víc vyšla třetí čtvrtina a padly trojky, tak jsme klidně mohly vyhrát,“ přesvědčovala zkušená pivotka Alena Hanušová, s devíti body druhá nejproduktivnější česká hráčka zápasu po Veronice Voráčkové.Čtyřiatřicetiletá opora Brandýsu nad Labem Hanušová se vrátila do reprezentace po čtyřleté pauze a dokázala, že se stále neztratí ani na nejvyšší mezinárodní úrovni.„Trošku mě rozčiluje, že každý řeší můj věk, jsem sice nejstarší hráčka v české reprezentaci, ale v jiných týmech jsou i starší holky. Kdybych na to neměla, tak tady nejsem,“ zdůraznila rodačka ze Sokolova. Proti Belgii odehrála zatím své nejpovedenější utkání na turnaji a taky dostala jasně nejvyšší porci takřka osmnácti minut.„Tento zápas mě bavil třeba víc než ten proti Portugalkám. Odehrála jsem větší porci minut než proti nim, protože ty hrají na menší pivotky, Belgičanky jsou vyšší, […]
Houston Rockets have second-best NBA title odds at sportsbooks after Kevin Durant trade
Before Game 7 of this year's NBA Finals tipped off, the NBA world was stunned by a Kevin Durant blockbuster deal, sending him to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in next week's 2025 NBA draft and five second-round picks.It also sent a shockwave through the odds board at sportsbooks, as the Rockets moved from the 12-1 range to around +750 to win the 2025-26 NBA championship. Those are the consensus second-best odds behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are well ahead of any other team at +230.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Good trade for Phoenix, adding Jalen Green and the 10th pick is the right direction," Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook told Yahoo Sports via text message. "We lowered Houston from 12-1 to +900 just based on perception. They should be […]
Athletic Club condemn fans as Nico Williams mural painted over amid Barcelona interest
Athletic Club have criticised individuals who painted over Nico Williams on a team mural amid transfer interest from Barcelona.Williams’ image on the mural on the outskirts of Bilbao, which also features his older brother Inaki Williams and the club’s former player Iker Muniain lifting the Copa del Rey, appeared to be painted over in red, accompanied by the words: “Leave or stay, you’ve lost respect”.AdvertisementThe Athletic reported on June 19 Barcelona had reached a verbal agreement with Williams over personal terms, with the Spanish champions not viewing the forward’s €60million (£50m, $62m) release clause as an obstacle to a deal this summer.Athletic said they had contacted street artist Carlos Lopez over restoring the mural and said those who defaced it had disrespected the club.The club released a statement titled “Supporting Athletic means acting with respect”, which read: “Respect is one of […]
Flávio Prado descarta brasileiros no Mundial de Clubes e aponta favoritos: “PSG, Real Madrid ou Manchester City”
Flavio Prado, em discurso no Canelada, da Jovem Pan (Reprodução) Comentarista da rádio Jovem Pan se mantém firme com opinião de que Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense e Botafogo não serão campeões do torneio A Copa do Mundo de Clubes da Fifa chega neste final de semana ao final da segunda rodada e os times brasileiros Flamengo, Palmeiras, Botafogo e Fluminense são líderes de seus respectivos grupos surpreendendo a todos os analistas mais pessimistas. para o jornalista Flávio Prado, no entanto, nenhum deles têm chance de brigar pelo título da competição. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Em participação no programa “Canelada”, da rádio Jovem Pan, neste domingo (22), o comentarista esportivo descartou qualquer possibilidade dos quatro representantes do Brasil disputarem o título, apesar das surpreendentes boas atuações e ótimas campanhas em seus respectivos grupos na disputa do Mundial de Clubes. “Estou muito surpreso com o […]
Be the first to leave a comment