British and Irish Lions: Classes to study as Argentina condemn Andy Farrell’s squad to defeat in tour opener

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 might it assist them to a collection win Down Below?

Andy Farrell’s facet had been crushed 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.

The hosts couldn’t break down their cussed opponents over the closing phases, 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 going through Australia? Sky Sports activities pundits Owen Farrell, Sam Warburton, John Barclay and Will Greenwood break down among the key speaking factors from an exciting Check match…

‘Hell of lots to study for Lions’

Former Lions fly-half Farrell was not overly involved by the defeat, stressing how helpful it was for his successors to get a aggressive recreation underneath their belts so quickly into the tour.

“Quite a lot of the sport was performed in the suitable components of the sphere,” Farrell informed Sky Sports activities. “Clearly, plenty of balls did not stick and there might be plenty of photos that they’re going to look again and study from.

“Argentina did unbelievably nicely to counter-punch once 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 pissed off however the primary factor is that they’ve performed an incredible aggressive recreation and have some photos to go off to see what the usual is and what it isn’t.

“They will study a hell of lots, they’re going to study a hell of lots about one another, they’re going to study a hell of lots as a workforce, and it could put them in good stead for subsequent week.”

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 recreation is so significantly better – no disrespect to video games up to now – than taking part in an invitational workforce the place you win by 50 factors,” he mentioned.

“The Lions will study a lot extra from this recreation. Sure, disappointing, as they wished to get the momentum early on, however what a Check. You may dissect this now, study from it, and transfer on.”

Argentina… the hardest Lions warm-up match ever?

Los Pumas greater than lived as much as their billing because the world’s fifth finest workforce, exhibiting sensational attacking aptitude as they gave the Lions an intensive evaluation.

“Within the final 12 months, aside from Eire, they’ve crushed all of them and that is the calibre of this Argentina squad,” three-time Lion Greenwood mentioned. “Their again row had been excellent and all of them – to a person – had been excellent.”

Warburton added: “The Lions might be higher for it [losing] however we have now to firstly congratulate Argentina. They had been so good.

“Their defensive set on the finish of the sport – underneath excessive fatigue – was glorious. They had been lacking seven or eight front-line gamers they usually nonetheless delivered an excellent efficiency.”

The place do the Lions want to enhance?

The Lions confirmed loads of attacking intent however had 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.

“Line-outs are fixable,” former Scotland captain Barclay mentioned. “I believe it is arguably one of many hardest components of the sport to place collectively. Everybody strikes barely otherwise and a small misfunction leads to you not getting the ball. That is the place the frustration comes from within the line-out – not with the ability to apply strain via that.

“I believe the cohesion via forcing off-loads and, as Andy Farrell talked about, a few of them simply weren’t on. I believe it turned somewhat bit contagious as the sport went on the place they had been getting in behind and at all times trying.

“You wish to be a workforce that understands when the ball is on and when it is off. I believe that may come on and the line-out will come and there are many good components, however I believe Check rugby is about making use of strain.

“In case your line-out just isn’t functioning and also you’re getting crushed within the aerial recreation, you then’re forcing offloads and dropping the ball, it is very exhausting to maintain making use of that strain.”

How will the Lions reply? ‘We have got to study fast’

The Lions head to Australia forward of their warm-up match towards Western Power subsequent Saturday, dwell on Sky Sports activities, with centre Bundee Aki – who scored the opening attempt towards Argentina – admitting they weren’t medical sufficient throughout their defeat.

“We’re not making any excuses; Argentina are a bloody good outfit,” Aki informed 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 exhausting, you have to push it to a different degree. In sure components of the sport we did it, in others we did not. Argentina did.

“This exhibits 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 straightforward, so we have got to take the learnings out of this however we have got to study fast.”

What’s subsequent for the Lions?

Sky Sports activities will solely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Exams towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven solely dwell.

The Lions’ warm-up video games begin towards Western Power 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 recreation 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