British and Irish Lions: David Campese’s five talking points for Los Pumas Test as Andy Farrell style ’emerges’ while club combinations trusted
Andy Farrell (front left) with an inset of David Campese (right)
With the British and Irish Lions facing their first match of their 2025 Tour, when they take on Argentina in Dublin, here are David Campese’s five talking points ahead of the Test.
Caps
I am disappointed that the Lions and Pumas aren’t awarding test caps for this match. It’s a sold-out crowd featuring the fifth-ranked side in the world, and I feel that Argentina have earned the right to have the respect of full Test status.
It costs nothing to do this, but it sends out a message of inclusion and value to Los Pumas, which is key in a time when rugby growth is all. Maybe one of the drivers is fear from the Lions that they might be in for more of a battle than they bargained for, and if I were Julian Montoya, I know that I’d be using the status as a motivating factor in my pre-match!
Yes, I know technically it falls out of the Test window, and yes, there’s contradictory precdent- 2005 saw caps v Los Pumas, 2021 saw no caps v Japan – but for those fans unable to travel down under for job, personal or cost reasons, it would have been great to have been able to say ‘we saw a Lions Test’ and this daft exclusion prevents that.
Banana Skin
Argentina are a team that, in the last twelve months, have beaten South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, while also running France close in Paris.
Yes, they’re missing a few. Marcos Kremer is a big loss for any team, and the same applies to Guido Petti and Juan Cruz Mallia, both playing in the Top 14 play-offs, but this is a proper Test-quality side, and they will push the Lions, literally a scratch side, right down to the wire in this game.
I’m a big fan of Tomos Albornoz at ten; he was arguably the best fly-half in the Rugby Championship last season, and when he clicked, Los Pumas shone. He’s got fantastic footwork and gas, a big left boot with all the soccer skills you expect from an Argentinian, and he knows how to get his big runners working off his passing skills.
The big question is, can Argentina match the Lions up front for 80 minutes? There’s definitely an advantage for Farrell’s men in bench quality, and Los Pumas are missing regulars like Thomas Gallo and Thomas Lavannini, guys that offer real steel in their pack. But, when you have the gas of Carreras and Isgro in the backline, there’s always going to be opportunities provided you win your own collisions.
It’s a Test match in all but name, and I expect high intensity from both sides.
Back-row battle
If I had to pick one match-up that really excites me, it’s the back-row battle and the contrast in style we’re likely to see.
First up, I really like the Lions trio. There’s pace galore there from Ben Earl, the grit of Tom Curry and the intellect of the superb Jac Morgan. Do I think that that’s an ‘Andy Farrell’ style back-row? Not in a million years. I reckon he’s exploring if the Lions can use the 3 x 7 formation that served Steve Borthwick so well, while also making use of the best players currently available, without the Leinster guys.
Nevertheless, it’ll allow the Lions to play wide and fast, and I expect Earl to be a key man in terms of primary carrying direct into the Pumas 10/12 channel.
Argentina are physically bigger and far more abrasive. Pablo Matera is a world-class cap centurion, but no flanker has impressed me more than Juan Martin Gonzalez in the Prem this season. He’s got all the skills, quick, great handling and a proper unit at some 6’4” and 115kgs. Joaquin Oviedo started half of the RC tests last year and offers real pace off the back and again, like Gonzalez, is a proper test unit.
I understand the temperature will be well into the 30s in Dublin today – that might just see the lighter Lions trio come into the match, but there’s no doubt whatsoever that the backrow that gains ascendancy will go a long way to winning the match for their team.
Style emerges
I’ll be interested to see what style of game emerges under Farrell. He’s a pretty prescriptive coach; he relies upon a rehearsed kicking and handling game, yet he’s had little time to get players from outside Ireland up to speed in his systems.
He’s gone for a club and country combination at half-back, with the Northampton Saints combination of Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell. Now, I understand that there are question marks over the fitness of Jamison Gibson-Park right now, but in Mitchell and Tomos Williams, the Lions have two absolutely world-class nines to run their backline. However, if JGP fails to pull through, I’ll be intrigued to see who Farrell would go for. My choice would be Bath’s Ben Spencer, not only for his form and confidence, but his club relationship with Finn Russell.
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The selection of two huge units in the centre, both predominantly inside centres, tells you that Farrell wants to go direct at opponents, winning the collision and playing phases off the breakdown as numbers are committed. But the Lions have real depth- they can change the midfield dynamic with Marcus Smith moving to flyhalf or Elliot Daly, a man in fantastic form, slotting in at 13.
I think he’ll be interested himself to see what style emerges from the combinations he picks- for me, there’s a contradiction between the pace focus of the loose forwards and the power focus of the centres, and I find it intriguing to see how the attacking plays come together.
Final thoughts
The biggest focus for the Lions in Dublin is to leave Ireland with the 23 fit and intact.
Cast your mind back to Japan 2021, where the Lions lost Justin Tipuric and saw Alun Wyn Jones injured all within the first 30 minutes of the match. That would be a disaster if it happened again, despite the depth at Farrell’s disposal.
Lions tours see the introduction of between five and six replacement players on average over the professional era. And it’s interesting to cast your mind back to those who came late to the tour, but became test Lions.
Martin Corry was outstanding in the 2001 tests, but arrived as a replacement. Same for Tom Croft in 2009 in South Africa when Alan Quinlan was suspended. Rory Best replaced Dylan Hartley in 2013, and the superb Alex Corbisiero, a factor in the Lions’ Test win in the same series, arrived when Cian Healy stuffed his ankle.
Continuity is all when you’re fast-tracking 40 players into a Test unit. Above all, the key leaders – Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Sione Tuipuloto – those guys drip with test leadership credentials and are vital to Farrell’s tour.
But, the key men for me are the two tighthead props, Finlay Bealham and Tadhg Furlong. The Lions are already threadbare there and have chosen to rest the likely test starter Will Stuart after the Prem Final, but should one of those go down, I’m not even sure who would come in. Perhaps Dan Cole might yet make his third Lions tour? Stranger things have happened!
