‘This is once in your life’ – Carreras eyes Lions upset

Argentina vs. the British and Irish Lions

Dublin’s Aviva Stadium Date: Friday, June 20 Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Twenty years in the making of Santiago Carreras, he is getting ready for a match.

The scarcity value of Friday’s fixture in Dublin is astronomical for Argentina, who are not a member of the touring lineup for the British and Irish Lions.

The 27-year-old tells BBC Sport, “You might only play this game once in your life; it is so special.”

“Everyone on the team is anticipating it,” said the captain.

The Lions and Pumas’ final big-cat tearup occurred in 2005, when a stunning Jonny Wilkinson penalty saved the visitors from defeat and kept the score at 25-25.

Forget about color television; the other two teams’ briefings were before color photography was even a thing.

Argentina has never, however, had such a strong chance of winning.

Pumas currently represent the fifth-largest population 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 have avoided a recent defeat against Argentina, were forced to travel all the way.

And the Lions are still assembling their squad, with a number of them participating in last weekend’s domestic finals, most noticeably the 12-strong Leinster contingent.

Carreras claims that Felipe Contepomi, who led the 2005 Argentina team to that draw in Cardiff and replaced Michael Cheika as head coach following a run to the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finals, will lead the way.

Carreras remarked, “I believe we are still developing our culture and game.”

Over the past year, we displayed a really good face on the field.

The mindset to win and play is what Cheika and Contepomi are most similar to.

We want to play and carry out our goals.

Carreras and other members of the 32-man Argentina squad preparing for the Lions have improved their skills this year in England’s Premiership.

At the conclusion of his five-season with Leicester, Captain Julian Montoya will travel to Pau this summer.

Rodrigo Isgro is in Harlequins while Flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and center Lucio Cinti are in Saracens.

Next season in Bristol, second row Pedro Rubiolo will join full-back Benjamin Elizalde and back-row brothers Benjamin and Santiago Grondona.

“We are in contact, week by week,” Carreras asserts.

They “act like our second family here.” Because we are so far away from home, I have a very close relationship with the Bristol men, and we all try to stay together. We spend a lot of time together.

The weather makes barbecue challenging, they say! I don’t want to say that Argentina’s food is better, but it is! The weather and the food are both so different.

The most crucial aspect of living here is “but the people here are really nice.” The best part of the club is when you interact with people who make me feel like I’m at home.

Carreras remarking on his move, “It is tough. I really feel like a part of Gloucester and I adore everyone there and the club, and I never want to leave.

“Glover will be sad to leave, but life is good.” I’m really looking forward to taking on a new challenge at Bath, and I think it’s about time.

Everyone at Bath plays for themselves, and the forward pack is almost international, so I have to work hard to be a part of that group and continue to push my own limits.

Last weekend, his new club team-mates won Bath’s first domestic title in 29 years, making Twickenham memories.

Carreras already has one.

In Argentina’s 30-29 victory over England at the tail-end of the Eddie Jones era, his second victory at home of English rugby, was scored in November 2022.

As head coach Steve Borthwick replaces the team without their British and Irish Lions stars on a two-test tour of the nation, the Pumas will aim for a first series victory over England this summer.

Carreras predicts that playing England will be a good challenge.

It’s a really special memory to play against them in November. A special day was had.

Argentina is making a home in England, just like their players, who regularly hold training camps at London’s Lensbury facility.

On October 4, the Allianz Stadium will host the final match of their rugby championship campaign, which includes a meeting with world champions South Africa.

“We’re not used to playing games against South Africa and Argentina, but we’re hoping it’ll give us a good chance to win the game and the championship,” Carreras says.