Argies clash a Lions trial
Farrell says his players must dala for a starting spot v Wallabies
New British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell reacts as he is unveiled to members of the media during a press conference, in central London, on Thursday SPOILED FOR CHOICE: Lions coach Andy Farrell
Image: AFP
BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has insisted selection for the Test series with Australia remains wide open after naming his side for tonight’s pre-departure warm-up game with Argentina in Dublin at 9pm.
Maro Itoje, already named tour captain, will lead the Lions for the first time at the Aviva Stadium, with several of the England skipper’s international team-mates in the starting line-up.
Of finalising his team for the series against the Wallabies, Farrell said: “I did an exercise a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve done it about five times since, of choosing what the Test side could be.
“You actually can’t even go there because there’s such good competition and that’s how it should be.
“The exciting thing about Friday night is these guys get to show the team-mates who are sat in the stand what they're all about.”
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, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Joaquin Oviedo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pablo Matera, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (captain), Mayco Vivas. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Franciso Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.