Andy Farrell turned to England’s double act of Smiths as he announced his Lions side for Friday’s pre-tour clash with Argentina in Dublin. Marcus Smith lines up at full-back, with Fin Smith at fly-half with the English supplying nine of the starting line-up and two replacements, including Northampton’s Henry Pollock.
And Farrell has been handed a massive boost with prop Tadhg Furlong, a Test Lion on the two previous tours, being passed fit to take his place on the bench after over a month off with calf trouble. Farrell has only picked one player involved in last weekend’s Premiership and URC finals with Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher a substitute in a team skippered by Maro Itoje.
All four Saints are involved with Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell the half-backs and Tommy Freeman starting on the wing to add to Pollock.
England front rowers prop Ellis Genge and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie are in from word go against a powerful Puma side led by Julian Montoya, who was in the Premiership final with Leicester.
The three-quarters are packed with power with Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe on the opposite wing to Freeman and Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu and Ireland’s Bundee Aki in the centre.
Tom Curry and No.8 Ben Earl are in the back row with Jac Morgan, one of only two Welshmen in the touring squad, starting.
All three of Saracens’ tourists, Earl, Itoje and replacement Elliot Day are in the match day 23 and will come up against club mates, Argentinean flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and centre Lucio Cinti.
Santi Carreras, formerly of Gloucester who will move to Bath next season, starts at full-back for the Pumas.
Lions vs Argentina, Friday, 8pm: 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: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mac Hansen
Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgro, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo García; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (capt), Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo
Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquín Moro, Simón Benitez Cruz, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero