Lions beaten 28-24 by Argentina in Dublin upset

British and Irish Lions 24-28 Argentina, Aviva Stadium

In a stirring and, for some, shocking encounter at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Argentina delivered a ruthless wake-up call to the British & Irish Lions with a 28-24 victory in their historic first-ever match on Irish soil against the composite side.

The game exploded into life almost immediately, with Argentina asserting dominance early through fly-half Tomás Albornoz.

He opened the scoring with a confidently taken penalty, and within minutes, the Pumas capitalized further on Lions’ mistakes.

An aerial blunder from Duhan van der Merwe gifted Ignacio Mendy a clear path to the try-line, and Albornoz then added a try of his own, converting both scores to put Argentina into a 17-3 lead.

The Lions responded with a well-worked try from Bundee Aki, narrowing the gap to 17-10 after Fin Smith's conversion. However, a late penalty by Albornoz ensured the Pumas held a solid 21-10 lead at halftime.

Argentina control the tempo

Argentina's strategy was both smart and efficient. Their kicking game controlled territory, their defense remained composed under pressure, and their breakdown work forced repeated errors from the Lions.

Tomás Albornoz, named player of the match, finished with 18 points, and both he and Mendy demonstrated Argentina’s ability to punish even the slightest lapse.

The Pumas' ability to absorb pressure and then counter-attack proved critical. Their final try came when Santiago Cordero slashed through the Lions’ line in the closing stages, capitalizing on loose defending and sealing the match at 28-24 with Albornoz again converting.

Lions struggle to impose authority

Despite flashes of power from the forward pack and moments of backline promise, the Lions were hampered by inconsistency.

A penalty try was awarded when Argentina illegally collapsed a Lions maul, and shortly after, Tadhg Beirne bulldozed over for another, with Fin Smith’s conversion briefly giving the Lions a 24-21 lead.

But this momentum faded as unforced errors and poor tactical kicking haunted them throughout the final quarter.

Alex Mitchell’s box-kicking lacked control, giving the Pumas ample possession to dictate tempo. Fin Smith, though impressive in phases, did not always bring the backline to life.

The midfield pairing of Aki and Ollie Lawrence lacked cohesion, and the back three were repeatedly exposed by Argentina’s precision kicking.

Coaches call for calm

Post-match, Lions head coach Andy Farrell acknowledged the missed opportunities and lack of discipline. He described the performance as “patchy” and urged improvement across core areas.

Captain Maro Itoje noted that while there were encouraging signs, the team must “cut out the errors” if they hope to compete with Australia.

On the Pumas’ side, there was jubilation. This 28-24 win not only marked a significant morale boost ahead of their own season but also served as a reminder that Tier One rugby is now far more competitive than in years past.

For the Lions, this 28-24 defeat in Dublin isn’t disastrous, but it does serve as a red flag. With the Australia tour on the horizon, selection clarity and tactical polish will be essential.

For Argentina, the win is a deserved reward for sharp execution, clever tactics, and unrelenting pressure. The Pumas showed that even in what was billed as a “friendly,” they came to compete—and ultimately, to conquer.