The British & Irish Lions Tour gets underway in Dublin

Published on 20th June 2025 | Leave a response

The much-anticipated 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour gets underway when the British & Irish Lions take on Los Pumas at the Aviva Stadium on Friday! And it is Super Rugby’s final and Top 14’s semi-finals. Here’s your weekend preview.

British & Irish Lions vs Argentina

There are no dress rehearsals for the British & Irish Lions. Just one game — and it’s a bruiser. Andy Farrell’s men take on Argentina in Dublin on Friday night, and they’ll know by halftime if this team is ready to tour.

Farrell has picked a side with flash but little familiarity. Marcus Smith starts at fullback, Fin Smith runs at 10, and Maro Itoje captains the Lions — the first Englishman to do so since Martin Johnson. Argentina, meanwhile, arrive ranked fifth in the world and loaded with intent. This isn’t a hit-out. It’s a hit job if the Lions aren’t ready.

📍 Match Details

Date: Friday, 20 June 2025

Kick-off: 21:00 (BST)

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Watch: Sky Sports (UK), Sky Go (UK), RugbyPass TV (US)

🦁 British & 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 8. Ben Earl 7. Jac Morgan 6. Tom Curry 5. Tadhg Beirne 4. Maro Itoje (captain) 3. Finlay Bealham 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie 1. Ellis Genge

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 García 8. Joaquín Oviedo 7. Juan Martín González 6. Pablo Matera 5. Pedro Rubiolo 4. Franco Molina 3. Joel Sclavi 2. Julián Montoya (captain) 1. Mayco Vivas

Replacements: 16. Bautista Bernasconi 17. Boris Wenger 18. Francisco Coria Marchetti 19. Santiago Grondona 20. Joaquín Moro 21. Simón Benítez Cruz 22. Matías Moroni 23. Santiago Cordero

Super Rugby

The Crusaders don’t lose finals at home. That’s the law. But the Chiefs head to Christchurch on Saturday with the form, the confidence, and the psychological edge of having done the double over the red machine already this season.

It’s a blockbuster Super Rugby Pacific Final at Apollo Projects Stadium — and it’s not just about history, it’s about hunger.

Scott Barrett’s Crusaders weren’t supposed to be here after their early-season stumbles. But when the Chiefs slipped a fortnight ago, the Crusaders pounced, and now they host the decider in a fortress they’ve never lost a final in.

Tamaiti Williams returns to bolster the front row, while Macca Springer steps in for the concussed Chay Fihaki. All Blacks Codie Taylor, Ethan Blackadder, and David Havili — who captains from inside centre — form the spine of a team that knows exactly how to close out big games.

But the Chiefs are unshaken. Their XV is unchanged from the semi-final and dripping with intent. Luke Jacobson leads a hard-hitting pack, while Damian McKenzie — the most electric flyhalf in the comp this year — remains the game-breaker in chief. His duel with Will Jordan may not be a direct match-up, but it will define the final. McKenzie scored 22 in the semi. Jordan bagged a brace. Both thrive under lights.

Quinn Tupaea and Emoni Narawa offer power out wide, and with the Chiefs chasing a maiden title under this format, motivation won’t be in short supply. But they’re also staring down the barrel of a brutal stat: lose this, and they join the Lions as the only team to drop three straight finals.

🏆 Match Details

🗓️ Saturday, 21 June 2025

🕔 Kick-off: 5:05pm AEST

🏟️ Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

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Key Match-Up: Will Jordan vs Damian McKenzie

They won’t mark each other — but they’ll shape everything. Jordan’s attacking instinct is unmatched, McKenzie’s boot and vision are lethal. One will steal the final.

🟥 Crusaders

15. Will Jordan 14. Sevu Reece 13. Braydon Ennor 12. David Havili (captain) 11. Macca Springer 10. Rivez Reihana 9. Noah Hotham 8. Christian Lio-Willie 7. Tom Christie 6. Ethan Blackadder 5. Antonio Shalfoon 4. Scott Barrett 3. Fletcher Newell 2. Codie Taylor 1. Tamaiti Williams

Replacements: 16. George Bell 17. George Bower 18. Seb Calder 19. Jamie Hannah 20. Cullen Grace 21. Kyle Preston 22. James O’Connor 23. Dallas McLeod

🟡 Chiefs

15. Shaun Stevenson 14. Emoni Narawa 13. Daniel Rona 12. Quinn Tupaea 11. Leroy Carter 10. Damian McKenzie 9. Cortez Ratima 8. Wallace Sititi 7. Luke Jacobson (captain) 6. Samipeni Finau 5. Tupou Vaa’i 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 3. George Dyer 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho 1. Ollie Norris

Replacements: 16. Brodie McAlister 17. Aidan Ross 18. Reuben O’Neill 19. Jimmy Tupou 20. Kalyum Boshier 21. Xavier Roe 22. Josh Jacomb 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo