"It'll be their World Cup Final" - Lions lock Tadhg Beirne expects Argentina to go all guns blazing in tour warm-up match

The sharp-shooting heroics of Jonny Wilkinson saved the Lions from an embarrassing defeat, from when the two sides last met some two decades ago. Cardiff's Principality Stadium was the selected venue for the official send-off in 2005, with Ireland's Aviva Stadium the backdrop for tonight's warm-up Test before the Lions head 'down under' for the next eight weeks.

Lions lock Tadhg Beirne has been named to start in the engine room for tonight's Test, that is billed as a 'warm-up' for the upcoming tour of Australia. However, Beirne understands that this match will by no means lack the intensity of the upcoming tour, as Argentina will leave it all on the line in their biggest match of the last 20 years. Beirne expressed how this will feel like the Rugby World Cup Final for Los Pumas, with the Lions expecting a firery Argentine attack from the opening whistle.

"We played them back in November with Ireland and they really put it to us. We just got over the line in the end and it'll be no different come Friday. It'll be their World Cup final on Friday and that's the way we're going to treat it as well.

"Every game you get to play for the Lions is the most important game. This Friday for us is a huge opportunity for us to set the tone for the tour. They have incredible athletes and they've come on unbelievably well as a team over the last number of months. We're expecting a very dangerous Argentina and we'll have to be ready for that."

The Munster lock revealed how he has no doubts that the Lions are set for a real challenge from the South American side, when the Pumas and Lions lock claws under the lights of the Aviva Stadium. However, the world famous touring side will be more focused upon themselves as they iron out the creases ahead of their trip to Australia. Beirne laid down a marker of intent, with the Lions baying for blood as they hunt down any signs of weakness in the Pumas.

"I've no doubt it will be a hard game. We're looking at this as it being about us and how we play. Whatever the opposition, we want to play our best game possible. It's about learning how best to do that together as well. How we can be cohesive.

"Our focus is really on ourselves. No matter what kind of opposition is put in front of us, it's about playing to the best of our ability. If a team isn't putting out their best performance, we'll be expecting to put a good score on them and be the best versions of ourselves."

Turning his attention away from the opposition, Beirne cast a focus upon his locker room leader for the Lions tour. Maro Itoje was unveiled to skipper the side throughout their expedition across Australia, as Andy Farrell and Ieuan Evans named the selected squad at London's 02 Arena.

Itoje has since led the Lions training through their Portugal and Dublin training camps, before the squad jets out to the land down under on tomorrow afternoon's long haul. Whilst the tour is yet to officially commence, Beirne has been taken aback by how effortlessly the England and Saracens captain has stepped up to the Lions mantle.

“He’s been leading the team very well. He doesn’t curse, I have noticed, because when you get riled up you tend to curse a lot. He is very well-spoken and he has led the team really well so far.”

“I roomed with him the first couple of nights, which was great, and then obviously on the last tour as well [South Africa, 2021]. We are quite familiar with each other at this stage. We have played against each other quite a bit and then we played together on the last tour. I actually can’t remember if I ended up playing in the row that much. I’ve enjoyed locking down with him so far, so looking forward to Friday.”