Ringrose blow for B&I Lions as Farrell gets his shot against Wallabies
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Owen Farrell was named on the British and Irish Lions’ bench for the second Test against Australia, one of seven changes to the matchday 23 as the tourists look to clinch the series in Melbourne.
Lock Ollie Chessum, prop Andrew Porter and centre Bundee Aki all come into the starting side in place of Ellis Genge, who drops to the bench, Sione Tuipulotu and Joe McCarthy.
McCarthy is unfit after limping off with a foot injury in the Lions’ 27-19 win in Brisbane last Saturday, while Tuipulotu misses out with a hamstring strain.
Farrell was overlooked for the opening Test, but captained the side against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.
He delivered an influential performance in his first full 80-minute game since April.
Farrell replaces Marcus Smith, who was available for selection having passed a concussion test after suffering a head knock as a substitute against Pasifika.
Ireland’s Hugo Keenan retained his spot at fullback, with Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn named as a replacement having proved his fitness against Pasifika.
Wing Mack Hansen was touted as a strong contender for the bench, but has a foot injury.
Head coach Andy Farrell revealed that Garry Ringrose had been originally selected in an all-Irish midfield with Aki, but withdrew after Thursday’s training session with Scotland’s Huw Jones coming back in.
“It’s head related again,” Farrell said of Ringrose. “There was no incident. He was feeling good.
“Players are getting very good at telling the truth of how they feel, so it was a no-brainer to make the change straight away.”
Two tries on debut for Jamie Osborne ⭐️⭐️
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After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, the Lions have won all seven games since arriving in Australia.
Farrell’s side can clinch a first Lions series win in 12 years with a game to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where a crowd of 90,000 is expected.
The Lions are coming off a bruising 24-19 win over the Pasifika side and are bracing for another physical contest with wet weather forecast.
“We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team,” said coach Farrell.
“Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week.
“We’re the privileged ones that get the opportunity to do something special and hopefully create a bit of history.”
British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Tadgh Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Date: Saturday, July 26
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Kick-off: 20.00 (11.00 UK & Ireland time; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
