Ireland will have three representatives in the opening British and Irish Lions team of the 2025 campaign, while Tadhg Furlong is set to make his return from injury off the bench in Friday's game against Argentina at Aviva Stadium.
The tighthead prop, who is now on his third Lions tour, hasn't played since Leinster’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints in early May, but has recovered from a calf injury to take his place among the replacements.
Munster’s Tadhg Beirne and Connacht pair Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham start against Los Pumas, who named their matchday squad earlier this afternoon.
Leinster’s Rónan Kelleher is the only member of the matchday squad who featured in last weekend’s URC and Premiership finals. The hooker is named on the bench, as is Connacht back Mack Hansen.
Tour captain Maro Itoje starts alongside Beirne in the second row, and will lead the Lions out at the Aviva on Friday night (8pm).
Itoje is among nine English players in the starting XV, with Northampton Saints pair Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell teaming up in the half-backs.
Farrell has gone for power in the centre, with Aki (below) joined by Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, who is one of eight players in the starting team making their first appearances in a Lions shirt.
Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe are named on the right and left wing respectively, while England’s Marcus Smith starts at full-back.
In the front row, Bealham is joined by England pair Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ellis Genge, while Kelleher, Furlong and Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman will cover on the bench.
Ben Earl starts at number 8, flanked by Tom Curry and Jac Morgan, with Scott Cummings and Henry Pollock the other forward replacements.
Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly join Hansen as the three backline replacements.
British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham; Maro Itoje (capt), Tadhg Beirne; Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen
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