Farrell gets shot off the bench with last chance B&I Lions Test hopefuls
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has named the team that will play against an AUNZ Invitational XV side in Adelaide on Saturday.
Munster and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne captains the side for the second time on tour as Maro Itoje is given the match off.
Beirne lines out in the second row alongside countryman and Leinster’s James Ryan.
The front row pairs Scotland and Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman with England duo Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart, of Sale Sharks and Bath, respectively.
Northampton Saints and England back row Henry Pollock is named on the blindside flank with Ospreys and Wales captain Jac Morgan at openside and Saracens and England’s Ben Earl at No.8.
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Scotland and Toulon’s Ben White gets his first start on Tour and is partnered in the halfbacks by England and Northampton’s Fin Smith.
Scottish duo and Glasgow Warriors teammates Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones get another opportunity to impress in midfield.
While Leinster and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan is set to make his second appearance of the tour.
Connacht and Ireland’s Mack Hansen and Edinburgh and Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe complete the back three.
Saracens and England’s Owen Farrell is named amongst the replacements and is set to make his 19th appearance for the British & Irish Lions.
“We are in a great position just over a week out from the first Test,” Owen’s father and B&I Lions coach Andy Farrell said.
“The players now have another chance to put in a strong team performance and put a hand up for selection for the Test matches against the Wallabies.
“Les Kiss has assembled a strong squad with lots of international experience and we know that he will have them well organised and they will bring a lot of physicality to the contest.”
British & Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 James Ryan, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen Farrell.
Date: Saturday, July 12
Venue: Adelaide Oval
Kick-off: 19.30 (11.00 UK time; 22.00 NZ time; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
