ANDY FARRELL has warned his Lions against being lie-ins and make hay while the sun shines.
Farrell yesterday named his team to face Argentina tomorrow in the representative side’s first game on Irish soil, prior to their departure for Australia.
With just three starters, and three more on the bench, it is likely to be the smallest Irish contingent of any of the 10 games on tour.
Ireland supply no fewer than 16 of the 38 players but all but two – Tadhg Furlong, who is on his way back from injury, and Rónan Kelleher – are not involved tonight.
There was an upbeat update on the fitness of Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan with the remainder given extra time off because of their involvement in the URC final on Saturday.
The three players involved in the Premiership final are absent for the same reason.
And Farrell reckons they are already playing catch-up and will have even more yards to make up if the players who take the field against the Pumas hit the ground running.
Farrell said: “It’s tough for them coming in, because these lads are fully up to speed and bonded and these lads have subtly worked their way in.
“And so the more they can come out of themselves or be themselves as soon as possible, the quicker they are going to learn.
“If you want to be a good Lions player, you have to hit your straps straight from the off. We want to see these players compete.
“We want cohesion, connection and an ability to attack the game from the off and be the best version of themselves individually and collectively.
“You can give yourself any excuse in terms of time together. But we’ve had good preparation.
“The exciting thing about Friday night is that these guys get to show their team-mates what they’re all about and draw a line in the sand.
“Because ultimately what happens on these tours is that all these guys are after is earning the respect of one another.
“I’m sure world rugby will be watching this to see how Argentina and ourselves perform.
“But all our guys are trying to do is impress each other first and foremost.
“They should put the other lads under as much pressure as they possibly can, and they should want that from each other.
“They should want this team on the weekend to put everyone who’s in the stands under pressure as that’s what the shirt should do.
“It should bring the best out of everyone, and everyone has to rise to that challenge.”
TEST TEAM
Farrell admitted he toys with what team he might pick for the first Test against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies on July 12 before quickly realising it could be a waste of time.
He said: “I’ve been doing it in my bedroom for the past 10 days or so, and it changes all the time, actually from day to day, if someone got a niggle do you manage him? Does he need to play?
“That’s why I keep saying ‘best laid plans’. But there’s no excuses in any of that.
“That’s the nature of touring. We don’t know what we’re going to have. Touchwood we have a fully fit side on Saturday morning flying to Perth, but we’ve got to be ready for whatever is thrown at us.”
But that does not translate into a message to avoid injuries. He said: “That’s the furthest thing from my mind.
“This is just the nature of sport in general, never mind the contact sport that we love to watch and play.”
For once the Irish weather is more predictable with no adjustment needed for those who had been in Quinta do Lago.
He said: “It’s great, especially with all the sun around Costa Del Dublin.
“We’ve come back from Portugal and we’re keeping the tan going. I’ve seen the buzz around the place over the last 18 months.
“The whole country is unbelievably excited, as are all the other countries. Dublin is going to be the place to be this weekend.”
Lions: M Smith (England), Freeman (England), Tuipulotu (Scotland), Aki (Ireland), van der Merwe (Scotland), F Smith (England), Mitchell (England), Genge (England), Cowan-Dickie (England), Bealham (Ireland), Itoje (England), Beirne (Ireland), Curry (England), Morgan (Wales), Earl (England).
Replacements: Kelleher (Ireland), Schoeman (Scotland), Furlong (Ireland), Cummings (Scotland), Pollock (England), Williams (Wales), Daly (England), Hansen (Ireland).