Hansen set for Brumbies homecoming with B&I Lions
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell named his team to take on the Brumbies, with Connacht and Ireland’s Mack Hansen set to face his former team.
Saracens and England lock Maro Itoje reclaims the captain’s armband on Wednesday and is partnered by Leinster and Ireland’s Joe McCarthy in the second row.
The front row consists of Bristol Bears and England loosehead prop Ellis Genge and Leinster and Ireland duo Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong at hooker and tight head prop.
And their provincial and country teammate Jack Conan is named at No. 8 in Canberra, the capital of Australia, where a packed-out Bruce Stadium awaits the B&I Lions.
Sale Sharks and England openside flank Tom Curry and Leicester Tigers and England blindside flank Ollie Chessum combine in the back row.
Leinster and Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Bath and Scotland’s Finn Russell are partnered for the second time at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively.
Connacht and Ireland’s Bundee Aki and Leinster and Ireland’s Garry Ringrose form a familiar partnership in the centres.
In the back three Toulouse and Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn gets his second start, with Northampton Saints and England’s Tommy Freeman and Leinster and Ireland’s James Lowe on the wings.
Commenting about the upcoming game, Farrell, said: “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.
“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 Lions arrived in Canberra from Sydney on Monday, ahead of the fourth game of the tour.
Farrell’s squad will then head further south to Adelaide on Thursday morning for this Saturday’s game against an Invitational Australia & New Zealand XV.
British & Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Josh van der Flier, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Mack Hansen.
Date: Wednesday, July 9
Venue: Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 20.00 (11.00 BST; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
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