Welcome, one and all, to the British & Irish Lions’ warm-up Test against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium!

Andy Farrell’s side begin the journey to Australia today in only the second ever Lions home game — the first being an infamous 25-25 draw with the same opposition 20 years ago.

You might have felt immune heading into this tour but if you’ve been knocking around Dublin this evening, I can officially diagnose you with Lions Fever.

Andrew Conan / INPHO Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO

There’s an infectious, party atmosphere all over the city, and a greater concentration of red than would be the case with green for an Ireland game.

As I strolled down Baggot Street, I came across a group of Argentinians chanting with a couple of lads wearing Limerick GAA and Munster jerseys.

So listen, let’s enjoy it!

It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you live updates from the game, which kicks off at 8pm.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The Aviva Stadium is sold out despite the extortionate ticket prices, which really were a disgrace to call a spade a spade.

The 2005 home game in Cardiff offset the cost of the New Zealand tour to the tune of over €14 million at the time, so you can imagine how much this fixture will be worth 20 years on.

At the same time, having enjoyed the atmosphere for a couple of hours, you’d kind of wonder why this is only the second time the Lions have done this: it’s a no-brainer from a business perspective!

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

There are loads of people over from Britain but as the team is read out here, the Irish lads are getting by far the biggest cheers.

Finlay Bealham got the biggest reception of the lot — until Bundee Aki!

Cian Ducrot performing now at halfway. Up Passage!

Here’s a reminder of your teams if you need it:

LIONS: 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 (captain), Tadhg Beirne; Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen.

ARGENTINA: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo García; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (captain), Joel Sclavi; Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martín Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo.

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquín Moro, Simón Benitez Cruz, Matías Moroni, Santiago Cordero.

Referee: James Doleman [New Zealand].

Ireland inside centre Bundee Aki, second row Tadhg Beirne, and tighthead prop Finlay Bealham are part of Andy Farrell’s starting XV.

Mack Hansen also makes his comeback from an ankle injury on the bench, while hooker Rónan Kelleher is among the replacements after featuring in Leinster’s URC final win over the Bulls last weekend.

Kelleher, who came off the bench for Leinster on Saturday, is the only player involved in the URC or Premiership finals last weekend who backs up for the Lions’ opening game under Farrell.

Mack Hansen also makes his comeback from an ankle injury on the bench, while hooker Rónan Kelleher is among the replacements after featuring in Leinster’s URC final win over the Bulls last weekend.

Kelleher, who came off the bench for Leinster on Saturday, is the only player involved in the URC or Premiership finals last weekend who backs up for the Lions’ opening game under Farrell.

Two-time tourist Maro Itoje captains the Lions for the first time, while Fin Smith gets the first shot in the number 10 shirt as he partners England and Northampton team-mate Alex Mitchell in the halfbacks.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Aki teams up with Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, while the back three is made up of Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, and fit-again Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe, who hasn’t played since March because of an ankle injury.

Bealham is joined in the front row by English duo Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie. Itoje and Beirne are the second row combination and there’s a punchy-looking Lions back row of Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, and Ben Earl.

A 5/3 Lions bench split includes 20-year-old English back row Henry Pollock, who’s had the unenviable task of carrying that stupid teddy around as the youngest member on tour.

Alright, BIL didn’t deserve that, but still…

1′ – LIO 0-0 ARG: Tomas Albornoz gets the action underway at the Aviva as the Lions chant rings around the ground.

Enjoy, folks!

4′ – LIO 0-0 ARG: Electrifying start by Los Pumas who come within inches of breaching the Lions’ line!

Huge holes in the middle of the Lions defence on their own 10′ and Argentina maraud down the left through Ignacio Mendy, who takes it to within five.

The pack try to pick and go from there and take it closer but the Lions infringe. There was a try-saver in there somewhere from Tom Curry.

Pumas take three through the boot of Albornoz, who opens the scoring in Dublin.

6′ – LIO 0-3 ARG: The Lions almost roar back as Duhan van der Merwe cuts a hole through the visitors on their 22′ but he fails to give the pass to either side which would have yielded a try.

Argentina eventually interecept an offload but are bounced into touch. Lions lineout on the Pumas’ 5′. Big chance!

7′ – LIO 0-3 ARG:Luke Cowan-Dickie burrows over after the lineout maul brought the Lions close. Try initially awarded but the English hooker clearly spilled forward as he reached for the line over his head.

Referee James Doleman chalks it off after being alerted by his TMO.

Argentina escape!

10′ – LIO 0-3 ARG: Tom Curry has had a stormer so far — he rips the ball back on the jackal after Argentina attempted to break from their own half. Lions eventually win a penalty in a central position and level the scoring through Fin Smith.

An initial Lions attack was stifled by Mendy, who plucked the ball superbly from an attempted crossfield kick by Fin Smith and broke towards halfway.

But Curry intervened and Argentina were then pinged for going off their feet about 35 metres from goal, from where Smith chipped over.

13′ – TRY FOR ARGENTINA! IT’S THAT MAN MENDY!

Los Pumas carve the Lions apart down their left, with Mendy cutting inside a flailing Van der Merwe on his opposite wing to apply the finishing touch.

That was far too easy for Felipe Contepomi’s side.

Albornoz’s conversion from the left-hand touchline drifts wide, but Argentina lead in Dublin!

18′ – LIO 3-8 ARG: Lions win a scrum pen on the Pumas’ 22′ and opt to kick to the corner. Lineout just over five metres out, now…

18′ – LIO 3-8 ARG: The Lions have another try chalked off the board, albeit this one wasn’t initially awarded by Doleman.

Nice link-up play between Aki and Mitchell on the switch, with the English scrum-half adjudged to have knocked the ball forward into an Argentinian before feeding the rampaging Sione Tuipulotu for the score under the posts.

That’s twice the hosts have come close.

19′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! THIS ONE COUNTS! BUNDEE AKI!

A superb team score finished off powerfully, unstoppably, by the Ireland 12, who rode three tackles over the line and did well to dot down.

Fin Smith converts from centre-right, and the Lions lead at the Aviva!

25′ – LIO 10-11 ARG: Big jackal pen win by Pablo Matera, about halfway between the Lions’ 22′ and 10′.

Albornoz takes the three points with a shot that started off wonky but corrected itself through the sticks.

Really enjoyable game, this! Argentina back into the lead.

29′ – LIO 10-11 ARG: Big Finlay Bealham wins a scrum penalty off Mayco Vivas and the Lions have an attacking lineout in the Argentinian 22′!

But their ensuing attack breaks down almost immediately as Tuipulotu spills an offload from Freeman in traffic.

Scrum Argentina — but they’ve been put under fierce pressure by Bealham and especially Genge so far.

Big Bundee.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

32′ – LIO 10-11 ARG: Pumas carve a hole for big number eight Joaquin Oviedo who barges up the middle — superb tackle from behind by Fin Smith to stop what might have been an Argentinian try.

Jac Morgan then makes an unreal jackal turnover, winning the pen inside his own half.

A first rendition of Fields of Athenry rings around the Aviva moments later.

36′ – LIO 10-11 ARG: Argentina attack of a fortuitous 50-22′ down the line and it’s again beautiful to watch, with a huge sweeping pass by Albornoz setting free one of the centres, I think — I didn’t see who, sorry.

His grubber through is gathered well by the scrambling Marcus Smith but the Lions fullback is bundled over his own line under immediate pressure.

Five-metre scrum for Argentina!

38′ – LIO 10-14 ARG: The Lions thwart Argentina on their own line again but from an ensuing phase, Itoje is pinged for offside.

The South Americans take the three from directly in front of the posts, stretching their lead to four!

40′ – TRY FOR ARGENTINA! FROM DOWNTOWN! ALBORNOZ! RIGHT ON THE STROKE OF HALF-TIME!

Van der Merwe loses control of the ball at the base of a ruck deep inside the Argentinians’ 22′. The visitors spring to life, with Santiago Carreras bursting down the right wing and flicking a beautiful, no-look, inside pass to Albornoz, who takes it to the house at speed.

The out-half converts his own score from under the posts and Argentina, from nothing, lead by 11 at the break!

41′ – LIO 10-21 ARG: Fin Smith gets the action back underway at the Aviva.

Big half ahead: the Lions are in a hole, and Argentina smell a legendary victory!

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

45′ – LIO 10-21 ARG: Duhan van der Merwe makes a nice half-break and pops inside to Aki on the visitors’ 22.

The Lions’ attack eventually breaks down, but they win a pen just outside that 22′ and Smith kicks to the corner.

Big chance for Andy Farrell’s side to take a chunk out of the deficit here!

46′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! Referee Doleman heads under the posts as Argentina collapse the maul, and Argentina loosehead Mayco Vivas gets 10 minutes for his troubles.

Excellent start to the second half for the hosts. The gap is down to four.

50′ – LIO 17-21 ARG: Luke Cowan-Dickie replaced by Rónan Kelleher. Alex Mitchell replaced by Tomos Williams. Jac Morgan replaced by Henry Pollock, who was geeing up his fellow subs on the touchline and gets a huge reception.

53′ – TRY FOR THE LIONS! TADHG BEIRNE!

A HUGE carry through the middle by the excellent Genge. The Lions swing left and Tuipulotu feeds Marcus Smith, who inexplicably cuts back inside when he had Duhan van der Merwe to his outside.

But from the resulting breakdown, Tomos Williams fires a dart of a skip pass inside to Beirne, who waltzes home.

The Aviva erupts and Smith converts!

56′ – LIO 24-21 ARG: Crowd goes nuts again as Mack Hansen takes off his big on the big screen. Tommy Freeman was down injured but as he returns to his feet, Hansen returns to his seat. The crowd consequently boos.

57′ – LIO 24-21 ARG: Mayco Vivas’ sin-bin period is over — he returns to the field and Los Pumas are back to full complement.

Lions scored 14 points while Vivas was off.

59′ – TRY FOR ARGENTINA! AH, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL!

Albornoz steps Curry and hands off Pollock. He bursts through, passes inside, and Santi Cordero wins the race to dot down a chip into the in-goal area!

Unreal.

Albornoz converts from the left-hand touchline — Argentina lead by four!

61′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Hansen and Furlong among the Lions replacements to come on there while I was writing about the try. Daly too. Aki off.

65′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Lions making inroads but just forcing that final offload at the moment, Furlong the latest culprit of many.

Argentina concede a cheap pen in their own half and Fin Smith gives the hosts a lineout just beyond the Puma 10′.

66′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Argentina steal the lineout and then win a penalty of their own. Carreras line-kicks them to just inside the Lions 10′.

They’re less than quarter of an hour away from a historic upset, here.

The game has just become a bit disjointed on account of the multitude of changes on either side.

70′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Lions legend Ian McGeechan, who is battling prostate cancer, pops up on screen and gets a nice reception from the crowd.

71′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Lions pen outside the Pumas’ 22′ after some nice work by Hansen yields no real advantage.

Fin Smith drills them to within about seven of the Argentinian line — but Kelleher’s lineout is overthrown.

Freeman then drops a stinker from an exit, having been so good for most of this second half.

Ugh…

73′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Time just beginning to tick away here on the Lions… A couple of scrum resets and Argentina soak up a few phases before exiting from deep — but they knock on as they attempt to regather.

As the Fields rings around the Aviva once more, the Lions have a scrum on the Pumas’ 10′.

76′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Lions put pressure on the scrum and an Argentinian — I didn’t catch the number — is pinged for playing Williams at the back.

Fin Smith bangs the Lions to within about eight metres once more.

Four minutes to go! This is huge!

77′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Argentina sack the maul legally but infringe again as the Lions pick and go from there.

Huge moment, however, as Doleman is alerted by the TMO to a neckroll by Beirne! He reverses the pen! Argentina escape with just under three minutes to play!

79′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Suddenly, you can hear a few Argentinian chants popping up through the din!

Lions have the ball on halfway. One minute to play. It’s all on this — for today, anyway!

80′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: With the clock red, the Lions are brought back for a penalty just inside the Argentinian half.

Argentina had fumbled a legit interception attempt but the Lions had an advantage.

Fin Smith drives the Lions to touch on the Argentinian 22′.

The tension is brilliant. What a game. What a finish.

81′ – LIO 24-28 ARG: Beirne wins the lineout under savage pressure. Lions attacking now just outside the 22′, but Argentina defending stoutly. Up go their chants again. Ball still very much in play, but Lions going from side to side at the moment.

ARGENTINA HAVE DONE IT! THE BALL GOES OUT! LOS PUMAS’ ARMS GO UP! A LEGENDARY WIN FOR FELIPE CONTEPOMI’S MEN!

And a disappointing, if not totally disastrous, evening for Andy Farrell’s Lions in Dublin.

I’m off to record a podcast with Murray Kinsella — which will be available for free on our The 42 Rugby Weekly feed. Then, it’s onto the pressers.

Keep an eye on The 42 for reaction, analysis, and Murray’s full match report.

Thanks for joining me for this one. Catch you next time!