Owen Farrell has been appointed to start the British and Irish Lions and in their last midweek tour match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Farrell, son of Lions-head coach Andy, starts with Inside Centre and has been a late call to the Tour after a forearm injury to Elliot Daly who forced the last to return home after the second tour match in Australia against Queensland Reds.
The team for Tuesday contains a total of 10 late call -ups while the Lions try to protect their team prior to the second test on Saturday against the Wallabies at the MCG.
Scrum half Ben White, Hooker Jamie George, Prop Finlay Bealham, Wing Darcy Graham and Center Jamie Osborne start next to Farrell, while Hooker Ewan Ashman, Loshead Rory Sutherland, Tight Thomas Clarkson and Lock Gregor Brown take on the bank.
Seven of those 10 were originally brought into the team as cover for the lions in George, Graham, Osborne, Ashman, Sutherland, Clarkson and Brown, but they are all involved.
Elsewhere in the side, full-back Blair Kinghorn (knee) has recovered from an injury to start next to Duhan van der Merwe and Graham in the back three. Center Garry Ringrose returns to the bank that has overcome concussion.
Fly-Half Fin Smith starts half back next to White, while loose prop pierre schoeman forms a front row with George and Bealham.
James Ryan and Scott Cummings start together in the second row, while a very strong rear row of Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock completes the starting team.
Back-Row Ben Earl, Scrum half Alex Mitchell and Fly-Half Marcus Smith double from Saturday’s first test on the couch.
“This fixture offers players another chance to set up their hand for selection for the last two tests,” said head coach Andy Farrell.
Blair Kinghorn has recovered from his knee injury to start with full-back
“The spirits of the coaches are open when it comes to selection, they must be with so many players who perform and insist on places and we want that for the remaining two tests.
“This group knows the performance level that we need against a First Nations & Pasifika team that is full of talent and strength.”
British and Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Owen Farrell (C), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Jamie George, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jac Morgan 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose.
British and Irish Lions tour through Australia on Sky Sports
Use Chrome -Browser for a more accessible video player
This summer only view the tour of the British and Irish Lions through Australia on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will only show the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour by Australia, with all three tests against the Wallabies and seven touring matches that are only shown live.
Howden Insurance-Throtte head partner and front-of-shirt sponsor of the British and Irish Lions. Read more here.
#British #Irish #Lions #Owen #Farrell #Captain #Side #Tuesday #Clash #Nations #Pasifika #Melbourne