British Irish Lions Lose 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin Opener

The British & Irish Lions began their 2025 tour with a surprising 28-24 defeat to Argentina in Dublin, marking their first opening loss since 1971. Head coach Andy Farrell was candid in his assessment, describing the team's error-prone performance as "unacceptable" and emphasizing the need for quick improvement before their upcoming series in Australia. Despite scoring three tries, the Lions were undone by a combination of unforced errors, poor lineouts, and a lack of hunger compared to Argentina, who capitalized effectively on mistakes. Farrell acknowledged the team's disconnection and said honesty and learning from the defeat are essential to moving forward. The Lions now face a demanding schedule in Australia, including three Tests against an improved Wallabies side, with Farrell hopeful that the tough start will concentrate their focus. While the loss was a blow, the squad has time to regroup and adjust ahead of their next match against Western Force in Perth.