England forced into late change for Argentina clash after forward gets Lions call-up

The England hooker, 32, looks set to miss the upcoming Test in Brisbane after suffering the head injury during Saturday’s victory over the AUNZ Invitational XV.

Cowan-Dickie was stretchered off the field with his head secured in a supportive brace after sustaining the injury while tackling Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. Although he was able to walk off shortly after, Lions head coach Andy Farrell confirmed the seriousness of the situation.

“He got up straight away as he got off the stretcher and he's back to being his normal self,” said Farrell. “It's unfortunate for him, so we'll see what has to happen on the back of that.”

In Cowan-Dickie’s absence, Jamie George will now link up with the Lions squad in Brisbane next week. George, a two-time Lions tourist, had been in Argentina with the England squad and was set to co-captain the team in their second Test against the Pumas.

He also trained with the Lions in Dublin before their departure to Australia, putting him in a strong position to integrate quickly.

With George departing for Lions duty, Theo Dan will start at hooker in today’s Test match against Argentina. Curtis Langdon has been drafted into the match-day squad to take a place on the replacements bench.

The Lions’ hooker reshuffle marks yet another example of the unpredictable nature of elite rugby tours, with depth and adaptability proving crucial as the series intensifies.

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Schoeman impressed in open play with strong carries and physicality but struggled at the scrum, conceding multiple free kicks for poor technique. His inconsistency at set-piece remains a key issue as test selection nears.

FloRugby 4/10: "Got busy in the loose as he got on the ball for some big rumbles. His shaky work at scrum time is what is holding him back, as he conceded a few free kicks for not driving straight. Schoeman offered solid carries and physicality in open play, but his inconsistency at the set-piece remains a concern as test selection draws nearer."

Cowan-Dickie combined aggressive breakdown work with costly technical flaws, including an early line-out overthrow and an injury from a reckless low tackle. His physical presence was notable, but errors undermined his impact with him now ruled out of next week's series opener.

FloRugby 4/10: "Line-out overthrow in minute four dented a decent start. Exceptionally physical around the breakdown, notably clearing out two defenders to allow Ben White's try. His injury in the 36th minute was the result of his notorious low-tackling technique, raising concerns again. A mixed bag, combining aggression with costly technical flaws."

Smith showed resilience under pressure but lacked influence overall. He missed key opportunities, including a kick and defensive lapse, and didn’t do enough to secure a bench role ahead of the First Test.

BALLS 6/10: "Overcooked an early garryowen into the AUNZ 22. Opposition were finding him on their carries, but he never backed down. Missed Tuipulotu on a strong carry. Did not do enough to rubber-stamp a bench spot for the First Test."

RUCK 5/10: "So often a reliable option at fly-half, Northampton’s Smith had an off night in Adelaide. A couple of simple missed kicks and a lack of real effect in this game mean Andy Farrell could look at his more versatile options – Marcus Smith or Owen Farrell – to back up Finn Russell in Brisbane."

Stuart’s scrummaging issues continued, drawing multiple penalties and leading to an early substitution. While his defensive effort was solid, limited impact in attack and persistent technical faults are hurting his test prospects.

FloRugby 3/10: "Similar to Schoeman, the Bath tighthead is trailing in the test pecking order due to inconsistent scrummaging. Penalised several times for collapsing or instability. Showed effort in open play, but his early substitution tells the story. Needs a statement performance to regain footing in selection talks."

BALLS 5/10: "Scrum was steady enough, without having a clear edge. Conceded a penalty for offside. Stuck 10 tackles but only made one carry, for little change."

Introduction:
Think you know your Lions legends? ?
Test your rugby knowledge by naming the players who have scored the most points for the British & Irish Lions in test matches. These are the top scorers from historic tours—can you remember them all?

You have 5 minutes.
Good luck!