The British and Irish Lions' dream of an unbeaten 2025 campaign is over even before they fly out to tour Australia after a jolting opening Test loss to Argentina in a thrilling Dublin curtain-raiser.
The party-pooping Pumas gleefully ignored all the hype surrounding the Lions as they ripped through the feelgood factor at Lansdowne Road on Friday night with a deserved 28-24 victory against Andy Farrell's predictably rusty but surprisingly outgunned outfit.
It was the first time for 54 years since their famous 1971 triumph in New Zealand with Barry John and co that the Lions have lost their opening match of any tour - and the setback left coach Farrell quickly reading the riot act.
