Itoje to captain Lions in Dublin as team revealed for Argentina clash
Andy Farrell names Maro Itoje captain for the Lions clash against Argentina
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British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed his squad for the much-anticipated warm-up fixture against Argentina at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium this Friday.
Leading the side will be Maro Itoje, who has been named captain for the first time on tour, marking a significant milestone in the Saracens lock’s decorated career.
“Congratulations to Maro Itoje ahead of leading out the Lions for the first time … Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week,” Farrell said.
Strong English presence
The starting XV features nine players from England, with several familiar combinations across key positions.
Fin Smith has been given the nod at fly-half, linking up with Alex Mitchell at scrum-half — a dynamic pairing that has flourished at Northampton and in national duty.
In the midfield, Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu bring a mix of physicality and creative flair.
The back three features Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings, while Marcus Smith starts at full-back, offering attacking spark and positional flexibility.
Dominant back-row and key bench names
The loose forward trio of Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, and Ben Earl provides a high-energy, breakdown-savvy unit expected to contest every ball. Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong, recently recovering from a calf issue, is named on the bench and deemed fit to feature.
This fixture, although not a full test match, is critical in setting the tone for the Lions’ tour of Australia.
Speaking ahead of the game, Farrell emphasized the importance of the Lions’ identity on and off the pitch.
“It’s about showing what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team.”
British & Irish Lions XV: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge
Reserves: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Elliot Daly, 23 Mack Hansen
