Andy Farrell has named his squad for the upcoming clash with the Waratahs in Sydney this weekend
Andy Farrell has once again made wholesale changes to his British & Irish Lions squad for the upcoming clash with the Waratahs.
As he did for Wednesday’s 52-12 win over the Queensland Reds, Farrell has opted to make 14 changes for the clash in Sydney, with Hugo Keenan set to win his first Lions cap after being forced to pull out of the win in Brisbane due to illness. Similarly, Blair Kinghorn is set to make his first bow in the famous red shirt.
They are joined in the back three by Mack Hansen.
Elliot Daly, who was the late replacement for Keenan, was forced to withdraw himself just over an hour into the contest at the SunCorp Stadium after injuring his arm in a tackle, and he’s now set to miss the rest of the tour.
As expected, Owen Farrell has been called up in his place, and will join up with the rest of the squad on Friday.
Farrell said: “It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three tours. Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”
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This is Owen’s fourth Lions tour having made 18 appearances across the 2013, 2017 and 2021.
Lions tour manager Ieuan Evans added: “To be a three-times tourist like Elliot means you have to be a world-class player over an extended period of time. But not only is Elliot a world-class player, he is also a wonderful Lion who is much-loved by his team-mates and our fans. So we all feel for him right now. Both on and off the field, Elliot can be immensely proud of his contribution on this tour of Australia. He will be sorely missed and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
Meanwhile, Huw Jones, who produced a fine individual try in that victory over the Reds, is the only one to keep his place in the starting line-up with Tadhg Beirne set to captain the side in the absence of Maro Itoje.
Beirne will be joined in the second row by fellow Irishman James Ryan.
Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ireland tight-head Finlay Bealham make up the front row, with the backrow containing England’s Henry Pollock at six and Ireland’s Josh van der Flier at no.7. England’s Ben Earl slots in at No.8.
Northampton Saints team-mates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith are in at scrum-half and fly-half, with a Scottish partnership of Sione Tuipulotu and Jones in the centres.
Leinster and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan and Toulouse and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will make their Lions debuts and are joined in the back three by Connacht and Ireland’s Mack Hansen.
Jac Morgan, despite his man-of-the-match showing against the Red, starts from the bench.
Lions XV 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. Blair Kinghorn, 10. Fin Smith, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Pierre Schoeman 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Tadhg Beirne (c), 5. James Ryan 6. Henry Pollock, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Ben Earl
Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Joe McCarthy, 20. Scott Cummings, 21. Jac Morgan, 22. Ben White, 23. Marcus Smith
