British and Irish Lions: Fin Smith and Marcus Smith begin vs Argentina in Dublin as Maro Itoje captains for first time

England’s Fin Smith will begin the British and Irish Lions’ first sport of the 2025 tour at fly-half in opposition to Argentina in Dublin on Friday, reside on Sky Sports activities, with Marcus Smith named at full-back. 

Maro Itoje will captain the facet for the primary time as Andy Farrell’s costs face the Pumas within the Irish capital – the primary match the Lions have performed in Eire – forward of travelling to Australia for the remainder of their summer season tour.

Fin and Marcus Smith and Itoje are three of 9 English gamers named within the beginning XV, with three Irish, two Scottish and one Welshman – Jac Morgan – included.

Northampton Saints flanker Henry Pollock options among the many replacements, whereas Leinster and Eire hooker Ronan Kelleher, who can be on the bench, is the one participant concerned who performed in final weekend’s home finals.

Tommy Freeman and Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe will mix with Marcus Smith within the back-three, whereas impactful centres Sione Tuipulotu of Scotland and Bundee Aki of Eire are surprisingly paired from the beginning – each ordinarily inside-centre choices – as Huw Jones misses out on the squad.

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell companions Northampton and Take a look at colleague Fin Smith at half-back, with English duo Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie combining with Eire’s Finlay Bealham to kind the front-row.

Tadhg Beirne companions Itoje within the second-row, whereas the beginning back-row consists of Tom Curry at blindside flanker, Morgan at openside and Ben Earl at No 8.

Tadhg Furlong has shaken off a calf criticism to start among the many replacements, with Elliot Daly and Mack Hansen offering backline cowl.

“Congratulations to Maro Itoje ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time – it is a truly special moment and one that very few players ever get to experience,” head coach Farrell stated.

“Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. This is also our first opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team.

“We all know that Argentina will problem us up entrance and out extensive – so Friday evening shall be a troublesome contest, but in addition an awesome event for all of the followers.”

British and Irish Lions squad to face Argentina in Dublin on Friday – live on Sky Sports

British and Irish Lions: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan Dickie, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Elliot Daly, 23 Mack Hansen.

Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo

Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero

British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities

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