Andy Farrell: British and Irish Lions head coach gives scathing evaluation after ‘unacceptable’ defeat to Argentina | Rugby Union Information

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell branded his aspect’s efficiency in defeat to Argentina “not acceptable” in a scathing evaluation to Sky Sports activities. 

The Lions started their 2025 tour with a 28-24 defeat to the Pumas in Dublin on Friday, as Felipe Contepomi’s aspect made historical past in beating the vacationers for the primary time.

The Lions got here from 11 factors down to steer within the second half, however Argentina refused to lie down and got here out on prime in a contest wherein they scored three sensational tries.

Quite a lot of Lions knock-ons, errors and ill-advised offloads incensed Farrell, who issued a scathing evaluation of his aspect’s first outing forward of their Australia tour.

“It wasn’t precisely a present from us, it was a present from Argentina. At the beginning, congratulations to them, they totally deserve their win,” Farrell stated.

“They capitalised on all of the errors we made. However so far as we’re involved, there’s a lot to do. You can not win any Check match with that error fee.

“We misplaced sufficient ball there for a full tour, not to mention a match towards a very good aspect like Argentina. We threw passes that had been by no means on.

“It wasn’t simply that, it was the aerial battle and the scraps on the ground. They had been hungrier than us, that’s simply not acceptable. The lineout and breakdown work was off a bit at instances.

“I am disillusioned. We should be sincere with ourselves, take the educational and enhance, then a minimum of it’s going to stand for one thing.”

Requested whether or not he felt any of the brand new Lions mixtures labored nicely within the contest, Farrell stated he would not be drawn on names and minimize a annoyed determine with the defeat.

“There was good and unhealthy all through, I would not single out people or mixtures,” he stated.

“We had been only a bit tentative and clearly I take duty for that. Once we got here out with a little bit of combat initially of the second half it was extra prefer it, however we simply suppressed ourselves with the error depend that carried on late into the second half.

“You do not win Check matches when issues like that occur.

“The place we’re at will definitely focus the minds. We’ll be sincere with ourselves, we get on the airplane to Australia [on Saturday].”

What’s subsequent: British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities

Sky Sports activities will solely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Assessments towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven solely reside.