British and Irish Lions ‘whopper’: Rob Kearney explains why Argentina will ‘really fancy themselves’
Rob Kearney goes on a run with the 2009 British and Irish Lions
Former British and Irish Lions full-back Rob Kearney believes Argentina are primed to upset Andy Farrell’s team next Friday night in Dublin. The Pumas have been chosen to take on the 2025 Lions squad in their farewell fixture before flying to Australia.
When the teams last clashed, the South Americans grabbed a draw in Cardiff in 2005 before the Lions flew out for a tour to New Zealand that ended in a 0-3 Test series defeat to the All Blacks.
Ex-Ireland Kearney international Kearney toured with the Lions on their 2009 trip to South Africa and their visit to Australia four years later. The tourists had no warm-up match 16 years ago, but they took on the Barbarians in Hong Kong on their way to Australia in 2013.
There was no Lions warm-up in 2017, but they took on Japan in Edinburgh before departing for South Africa in 2021 and they now face Argentina in Dublin before flying to Perth for their first match in Australia, the June 28 meeting with Western Force.
Looking ahead to the pre-departure match at Aviva Stadium, Kearney has given Argentina more than a fighting chance. Asked on Ireland AM by Tommy Bowe, his former Lions and Ireland teammate, if he felt the Pumas were a “banana skin” opposition for Farrell’s Lions squad, Kearney said: “I do.
“They will be relishing this experience…”
“You’ll know this Tommy from the first few weeks of Lions getting together, it takes time for the team to gel, to bring all the relationships together and understand all the different players you are playing alongside.
“Argentina know each other very well, they will come with a huge amount of passion. They will be relishing this experience of playing the Lions for the first time ever in Ireland. It’s going to be a great occasion, huge event, the atmosphere is going to be whopper, and Argentina will really fancy themselves.”
“It’s amazing, unbelievable, the first time the Lions have ever played in Dublin, and it’s in the same year the IRFU celebrates 150 years. It’s exciting… I’m sure Andy Farrell will pick loads of different combinations, try and get people knowing each other on the pitch as quickly as possible.”
Felipe Contepomi shows his hand for Argentina’s eagerly anticipated clash with British & Irish Lions
Switching to last weekend’s United Rugby Championship title success for Leinster, Kearney, who was on Irish breakfast TV to promote The Big Ride charity challenge, said: “Huge win and one in truth that they probably needed to win after a disappointing exit in Europe, coming under increasing pressure of the quality of team they have, the resources.
“It will keep a few people off their back, I’m sure, and it was deserved. Played very well on the day. Amazing to see it played in Croke Park with the history attached to that. It means they can enjoy their summer a little bit more than had they not got any silverware.
“In truth, the team themselves probably judge on Europe as whether the season has been a failure or a success. With the South African teams in it [the URC] now, it is a more difficult league to win.
“In the past, we would not have belittled winning, but it might not have been the same prestige attached to it. There is definitely more of that there now, but Europe is still the big one and it’s the one that the players and the coaches themselves will hold themselves accountable to.”
