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Stay up to date with the latest British and Irish Lions news, reports and reaction on BBC Sport's dedicated page for the tour of Australia this summer.

Given the debate over whether players who aren't born in Britain or Ireland should or should not be selected for the Lions, we want to know your thoughts.

Does it matter if a player was born in the southern hemisphere but plays for one of the home nations? You can give a thumbs up for yes, or a thumbs down for no.

You can also send us your thoughts using #bbcrugby on social media.

Lions assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth was later asked about Schmidt's comments and said every player involved in the tour has "earned the right" to represent the side.

"I don't know if they are questioning their commitment. Everyone has earned the right to pull on the Lions jersey," said the former England scrum-half.

"They are, to a man, incredibly proud to be here.

"It is not your background or how you have got here, it's what sort of player you are and what sort of man you are. We have got great men and great players."

That eight of Andy Farrell's 38-man squad were born overseas has been a talking point before the side make the trip down under.

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt described Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu as a "southern hemisphere centre partnership" when running the rule over Andy Farrell's first British and Irish Lions selection.

The Lions take on Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night in what is their only fixture before a nine-game game tour of Australia.

Ireland's Aki and Scotland's Tuipulotu, born in New Zealand and Australia respectively, will be the Lions' midfield pairing against the Pumas.

Schmidt gave Aki his Ireland debut after the 35-year-old Connacht man qualified on residency in 2017, while Tuipulotu has been able to captain Gregor Townsend's side thanks to a grandmother born in Greenock.

"A southern hemisphere centre partnership that will be pretty formidable," said Schmidt at the media conference to confirm his squad for next month's game against Fiji.

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Luke Fitzgerald
Former British and Irish Lions wing on BBC Rugby Union Weekly

Physicality is gong to be a big thing for this Lions team in Australia and I think they will have an edge there with the personnel they have.

It’s the key area for them so you want those guys getting into the correct shape.

I also love that combination between Fin Smith and Marcus Smith at the back. They can move this team around the pitch the right way and implement the coach’s plan.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at the Aviva Stadium

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We spent the morning at University College Dublin, where some of the Lions not involved tonight were taking a training session with a group of schoolkids.

Josh van der Flier is one of the Leinster contingent who only arrived in camp this week, and while he would love to be playing in front of his home crowd, he will be raring to go when he gets a chance in Australia.

"We were a week late coming in, but I am excited to go along to the game and see the lads doing the business," he told BBC Sport.

"Any opportunity I get to play I would obviously be keen, but I have to wait another week. From chatting to lads from Lions tours gone by, you have to always be ready at all times to play any games.

"I will be doing the warm-up this evening. So the mindset is trying to catch up as quick as possible with all the detail and the way the coaches want us to play the game. And just enjoy the whole experience.

"It is absolutely incredible. Playing against [players from other nations], you build up a [mindset] they are the enemy, then you meet them and they are the loveliest lads you've ever met.

"I am actually rooming with Tom Curry, and it's good to spend some time with them outside the competitive environment."

Luke Fitzgerald
Former British and Irish Lions wing on BBC Rugby Union Weekly

I’m really looking forward to it, it’s a nice way to start the tour. It’s a one-off fixture and Argentina have put together a strong team, they are dangerous and it’s a good opportunity for the Lions players to catch the coaches' eye early and get into those Test spots.

British and Irish Lions

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Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu and Ireland's Bundee Aki will form the centre partnership for the British and Irish Lions against Argentina tonight.

Glasgow's Tuipulotu, who missed the Six Nations through injury, will be playing his first international rugby since Scotland's win over Australia in November and will pair up with Aki - despite both players appearing to be more natural inside centres.

Head coach Andy Farrell is still without the majority of those who featured in domestic finals - with Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher, who is named on the bench, the only player to feature for their club side last week who will be on show at the Aviva Stadium.

Tour captain Maro Itoje will lead the side for the first time.

British and Irish 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, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl.

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

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Argentina have named a strong team to face the Lions, with hooker Julian Montoya captaining the Pumas, six days after losing the Premiership final with Leicester.

Santiago Carreras, who will move to Bath from Gloucester this summer, is at full-back with Tomas Albornoz at fly-half.

Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez is part of a back row completed by the experienced Pablo Matera and Perpignan number eight Joaquin Oviedo.

The Pumas are without several of their France-based players with Toulouse's versatile back Juan Cruz Mallia and Bordeaux-Begles second row Guido Petti involved in the Top 14 play-offs.

Prop Thomas Gallo is also absent.

Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (c), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquin Moro, Simon Benitez Cruz, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero

It's a busy old summer for Andy Farrell and his players. Here's what they have ahead of them.

After tonight's game, the Lions' remaining fixtures kick-off at 11:00 BST - including the three crucial Tests with the Wallabies.

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Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at the Aviva Stadium

I'm told over half of the tickets for tonight have been sold to people from outside Ireland, with fans from England, Wales and Scotland flocking across the Irish Sea to see the Lions in action.

Ballsbridge has been awash with red shirts for the last 24 hours, with former Lions such as the great Welshman Alun Wyn Jones among those spotted out and about in town earlier today.

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Tonight's venue is looking fine. It won't be long until it's buzzing with 51,700 avid rugby fans.

It's been a scorching day.

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Luke Fitzgerald
Former British and Irish Lions wing on BBC Rugby Union Weekly

There are a few lucky Irish guys who will get to pull on the Lions jersey on home turf, but for the supporters too, usually it’s a massive commitment to go and watch the Lions in person.

When they are on your own doorstep at a sold out stadium it’s a special opportunity to enjoy it. The fans will be noisy.

Ugo Monye
Former British and Irish Lions winger on BBC Rugby Union Weekly

Argentina are all familiar with one another and are playing in a system that won't have changed a huge amount.

Yes, they are short of a few of their Top 14 players but they are a serious outfit. Argentina and Australia are the two most improved sides in the past 12 months.

They will cause the Lions some massive problems but I do believe and expect the Lions to do a job.

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Dublin is traditionally awash with green for big rugby fixtures, but tonight it will be red.

The British and Irish Lions kick off a big summer against Argentina, who will be a stern test, in the Irish capital.

After that, all eyes will move to Australia as the Lions get ready to take on the Wallabies, but there's a big 80 minutes ahead tonight.

We'll have live updates right here and you can have your say on the game using #bbcrugby.

Thanks for joining us.