After this, the Lions MUST tour Argentina

AS somebody who fretted and occasionally yawned his way through proceedings at the Millennium Stadium 20 years ago when these two sides last met, let me tell you this encounter was a proper warm up Test and in fact a narrow defeat was the perfect result for the Lions after a ferocious and vivid game chock full of compelling action and, of course, a few fledgling mistakes.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

They came up against an inspired Pumas side, the most bloody awkward team imaginable, because every time 15 players pull on that jersey and sing their gloriously operatic anthem, they play as if it's the last game of rugby they will contest. The Pumas were superb, even a significantly understrength Pumas, but we really shouldn't be surprised. I even had the audacity to predict victory on X ten days ago.

More on the Pumas anon but for now can I reit-erate that there is no other event in the rugby world that I want to see more than a full Lions tour of Argentina, perhaps with a game in Montevideo en route and possibly a mid-week raid into Chile for the dirt-trackers.

The suits and the blazers turn a deaf ear and a Nelsonian eye, knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. Think long term not short. The Pumas are touched with romance; they and their fans would make any Lions series into a thundering blockbusting epic.