British & Irish Lions vs Argentina Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

Friday night provides the opportunity for players to make a positive first impression on head coach Andy Farrell as the British & Irish Lions host Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

A run out against the Pumas before heading on their tour to Australia, skipper Maro Itoje will lead out a side brimming with talent and looking to put down an early marker ahead of the long flight Down Under.

British & Irish Lions vs Argentina Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Match Result	British & Irish Lions	1/10
Best Bet	British & Irish Lions -17.5 handicap	10/11
Bet Builder	Duhan Van der Merwe and Bundee Aki anytime tryscorers	5/1

Key Match Stats

• The British & Irish Lions and Argentina last met in 2005 in a game that ended 25-25 in Cardiff
• Argentina have lost three of their last four games
• 14 of the 23-man squad are representing the British & Irish Lions for the first time
• Argentina earned wins against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the 2024 Rugby Championship

British & Irish Lions vs Argentina Prediction

Best Bet: British & Irish Lions -17.5 handicap @ 10/11

While there might be some teething issues as this Lions squad adjusts to playing together, there is a key partnership in the halves that should guide them to a relatively comfortable win in Dublin.

Northampton Saints pairing of scrum-half Alex Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith guided their club side to the European Champions Cup final this season, while they both impressed for England in the last Six Nations.

Their familiarity in crucial positions can help the Lions play in the right areas of the field, as they look to implement Farrell’s plan.

Argentina will be looking to spoil the part in the Lions’ first-ever game in Dublin but the men in red have the pace and power to win and cover the handicap.

Alex Jack explains:

With Mitchell and Smith pulling the strings, a powerful pack, and dangers in the wide channels, look to the Lions to hit the ground running this summer with a comfortable victory in Dublin.

British & Irish Lions vs Argentina Bet Builder Tip

• Duhan Van der Merwe anytime tryscorer
• Bundee Aki anytime tryscorer
  
  Pays 5/1

This Bet Builder goes with both Scotland winger Duhan Van der Merwe and Ireland centre Bundee Aki both going over for the Lions on Friday night.

Aki has been a key figure for Farrell with Ireland and he forms an exciting partnership in the centres with Scotland skipper Soane Tuipulotu.

Argentina’s defence will have those two man mountains to deal with in the centres and trying to stop both running at full pace will be difficult.

Expect Aki to go over from a short ball on Friday, while Edinburgh try machine Van der Merwe can strike out in the wide channels.

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Alex Jack adds:

If Aki and Tuipulotu are bish and bash, then Van der Merwe is definitely bosh. All three players can cause this Argentine defence literal headaches and Aki and Van der Merwe are good value to tough down for the Lions in this Bet Builder.

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Tactics, Form and Team News

Ireland have a power game that has proven extremely effective in recent years and don’t expect Farrell to deviate too far from that when it comes to the Lions.

Mitchell and Smith will be key to the way the Lions go about their business on Friday, while Itjoe will lead a pack that must win the battle up front against a physical Argentina side.

British and Irish Lions XV: Smith; Freeman, Tuipulotu, Aki, Van der Merwe; Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham, Itoje (c), Beirne, Curry, Morgan, Earl.

Julian Montoya will captain Argentina just six days after losing the Premiership final with the Leicester Tigers against Bath.

Tomas Albornoz starts at fly-half, while speedster Santiago Carreras gets the nod at full-back. Argentina should challenge the Lions at the set-piece and try to stop the hosts’ danger men getting the ball out wide.

Argentina XV: Carreras; Isgro, Cinti, Piccardo, Mendy; Albornoz, Garcia; Vivas, Montoya (c), Sclavi, Molina, Rubiolo, Matera, Gonzalez, Oviedo.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.