All you need to know about Lions v Argentina

On Friday, the British and Irish Lions travel to Dublin to begin their 2025 campaign against Argentina.

The Lions’ first game will be against Ireland, and it will be their first warm-up game before their three-match Test against Australia.

The Lions will travel to Perth on June 28 to face Western Force after their game against the Pumas, and on July 19 will Brisbane host their first Test of their own.

The BBC Sport website and app allow viewers to watch live text commentary beginning at 19:00 BST. Additionally, there will be a lot of analysis and reaction.

Follow BBC Sport’s dedicated British and Irish Lions page.

Argentina won three of their six matches in the Rugby Championship last year, placing them fifth in the world.

In the last twelve months, they have defeated three of the four opponents.

In their most recent appearance at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in November, Ireland, the only higher-ranked team to escape a recent defeat against Argentina, won 22-19.

In their most recent game, which also took place in November, Argentina were defeated by France by a score of 37-23.

The Lions’ center partnership will be Sione Tuipulotu from Scotland and Bundee Aki from Ireland.

Tuipulotu, a Glasgow international who injured himself during the Six Nations, will play his first international rugby match since Scotland beat Australia in November, despite the fact that both players appear to be more natural inside centers.

With Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher, who was named on the bench, the only player to feature for their club side who will be on display at the Aviva, head coach Andy Farrell is still without the majority of the players who participated in domestic finals last week.

For the first time in a long time, Maro Itoje, the Lions’ tour captain, will lead the side, and 14 members of the 23-man squad will also make their debut.

Six days after losing in the Premiership final to Leicester, hooker Julian Montoya will lead Argentina.

Tomas Albornoz and Santiago Carreras play fly-half while Tomas Albornoz and Carreras will move to Bath from Gloucester this summer.

Juan Martin Gonzalez, the experienced Perpignan number eight, and the experienced Pablo Matera complete a back row with Juan Martin Gonzalez.

With Bordeaux-Beiges second row Guido Petti and Toulouse’s versatile back Juan Cruz Mallia both playing in the Top 14 play-offs, the Pumas are without several of their French-based players.

Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen as replacements.

Santiago Carreras, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (c), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo,

It’s great to see, but it’s best to put your best foot forward and watch the performance on Friday night because that’s how we’re all going to be judged, and we want to do the shirt proud and properly represent the group.

Felipe Contepomi, Argentina’s head coach, said: “We haven’t been together for seven months, and now getting together with a lot of new faces. But the guys have been fantastic.

We are pleased with how they adapted because they are training with a lot of intensity.

Lions vs. Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, June 20.

Perth Lions vs. Western Force on Saturday, June 28 (Optus Stadium).

Lions vs. Queensland Reds game at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 2 (Suncorp Stadium)

Sydney Lions vs. NSW Waratahs on July 5 (Allianz Stadium)

Lions vs. ACT Brumbies game on Wednesday, July 9 at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

Lions vs. Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Saturday, 12 July.

First Test of the Lions vs. Australia match takes place on Saturday, July 19 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Lions vs. First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) on July 22.

Second Test between the Lions and Australia at Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG) on Saturday, July 26.

Third Test match between the Lions and Australia at Sydney (Accor Stadium) on Saturday, August 2.