Freeman wants Lions to go for Pumas' jugular

TOMMY Freeman insists the British and Irish Lions' heavyweight three-quarters are ready to give the Australia tour lift-off by leaving a lasting impression on Argentina in Dublin.

- By DUNCAN BECH

Andy Farrell is fielding the biggest centres and wings he has available in his squad with England try machine Freeman joined by Duhan van der Merwe, Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu.

All four weigh over 100kg and the muscular midfield partnership of Aki and Tuipulotu, in particular, is generating excitement ahead of tonight’s curtain-raiser to the expedition Down Under.

Freeman is keen for them to make a statement by going for the jugular against a dangerous Pumas side that is ranked fifth in the world.

“Without giving away too much, hopefully there will be a lot of tries and instinctive playing. It's going to be a lot of fun - and dangerous,” he said. “We're not going to be there to set stuff up and go through phases for the sake of going through phases. We want to score off the back of anything we can.

“There are threats that players have to offer and we have ball players who can put us into space.”