The Lions play the Brumbies in the final midweek match and have picked a strong team
The Lions have named their team to face the Brumbies in their final midweek fixture before the Test series against the Wallabies, with Wales captain Jac Morgan not involved in Canberra as Andy Farrell tries out a new openside
The Lions take on the Brumbies in Gio Stadium on Wednesday, before facing an Invitational Australia & New Zealand XV in Adelaide on Saturday – one week out from the first Test against Australia in Brisbane. Having been player of the match in last week’s clash with Queensland Reds, Morgan then featured off the bench against the Waratahs on Saturday.
So far, Morgan and Ireland openside Josh van der Flier have shared the seven jersey on tour – making two starts each in the position.
However, England’s Tom Curry – who has only started at six so far on tour – is given the opportunity to pull on the jersey, packing down alongside compatriot Ollie Chessum and Ireland’s Jack Conan in the back-row.
Elsewhere, tour captain Maro Itoje reclaims the armband for Wednesday’s clash, partnering Ireland’s Joe McCarthy in the second-row.
In the front-row, England loosehead Ellie Genge joins Irish duo Dan Sheean and Tadhg Furlong, with all three likely Test starters.
Expected Test half-back pairing Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell get another run-out together – with the Irish scrum-half and Scottish fly-half having been partnered together once on tour before.
In midfield, Irish duo Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose form a familiar pairing, while Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn starts at full-back for the first time – with England’s Tommy Freeman and Ireland’s James Lowe either side of him on the wings.
On the bench, there’s no second-row cover – given Chessum is starting – with van der Flier and Henry Pollock, who pulled out of the last match, both covering the back-row.
The game kicks off at 11.00am BST/ IST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
“In 2013 the Brumbies beat The British & Irish Lions in Canberra and this year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby – so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us,” said Farrell.
“It will also be a special occasion for Mack Hansen as he returns to his hometown and gets the opportunity to play for and represent the Lions against some of his old teammates.”
The match kicks off at 11am UK time on Wednesday and will be broadcast on Sky Sports
Lions team to face Brumbies: Blair Kinghorn; Tommy Freeman, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen.
