logo
Owen Farrell to captain Lions against First Nations and Pasifika XV

Owen Farrell to captain Lions against First Nations and Pasifika XV

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Owen Farrell will lead the British and Irish Lions in their last midweek game of the Australian tour on Tuesday against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne.
It will be the 20th time Farrell has played for the Lions and his first starting appearance since being drafted into the 2025 squad late as injury cover by his father Andy Farrell, the head coach.
The Lions are 6-0 so far on the tour Down Under, including a 27-19 victory over the Wallabies in the first test at Brisbane on Saturday night.
Leading into the test series, the Lions beat Super Rugby franchises Western Force,
Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and an Australia-New Zealand invitational XV.
After the First Nations and Pasifika XV game, the Lions will turn their attention back to trying to clinch the test series in Melbourne on Saturday night. The third test is in Sydney on Aug. 2.
Owen Farrell will play at inside center in a midfield partnership with Jamie Osborne of Ireland.
Scotland scrumhalf Ben White will combine with England flyhalf Fin Smith in the halves.
Blair Kinghorn will return from injury to play fullback in an all-Scotland back three with Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.
Jac Morgan, the only Welshman left in the 44-man squad, will start on the blindside flank in the tour game in a backrow that also includes young England No. 8 Henry Pollock.
Three days after being involved in the 23-man squad for the first test, backrower Ben Earl and inside backs Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith will sit on the bench for the tour game. Garry Ringrose is returning from injury to take a spot on the replacements bench.
Andy Farrell said the match gave all Lions players 'another opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the final two tests.'
'The coaches' minds are open when it comes to selection, they have to be with so many players performing and pushing for places.'
__
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Braves activate third baseman Austin Riley from injured list
Braves activate third baseman Austin Riley from injured list

Winnipeg Free Press

time27 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Braves activate third baseman Austin Riley from injured list

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Atlanta Braves activated third baseman Austin Riley from the injured list on Friday ahead of a weekend series at Texas. Riley hadn't played since straining an abdominal muscle while making a throw on July 11 against St. Louis. The 28-year-old was hitting .274 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs at the time of the injury. The two-time All-Star's return comes with Atlanta fading as the trade deadline approaches. The Braves entered Friday 10 games out of the last wild-card spot in the National League and were 3-5 during Riley's absence. To make room for Riley on the 26-man roster, Atlanta optioned infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Triple-A Gwinnett. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:

Barry Odom aiming to resurrect Purdue football the same way he made UNLV a winning program
Barry Odom aiming to resurrect Purdue football the same way he made UNLV a winning program

Toronto Star

timean hour ago

  • Toronto Star

Barry Odom aiming to resurrect Purdue football the same way he made UNLV a winning program

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Purdue coach Barry Odom isn't concerned that the Boilermakers won just one game last season, or that they were in the 2022 Big Ten championship. He certainly isn't bothered that they've been picked to finish last in the 18-team league this season. 'We'll be defined by what we do,' Odom said Thursday, the last of three Big Ten media days. 'If we take the approach from the day that we got the job, every single day our approach is you get up and make Purdue football better and you find a way to consistently instill those habits in everyone around in the organization. Then by the time that the season rolls around, we'll be ready to be the best versions of ourselves.'

Padraig Harrington plays bogey-free at Sunningdale and builds 1-shot lead in Senior British Open
Padraig Harrington plays bogey-free at Sunningdale and builds 1-shot lead in Senior British Open

Winnipeg Free Press

timean hour ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Padraig Harrington plays bogey-free at Sunningdale and builds 1-shot lead in Senior British Open

BERKSHIRE, England (AP) — Padraig Harrington birdied his last hole Friday for a 5-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead in the Senior British Open as he goes for his second senior major title of the year. Defending champion K.J. Choi had the lead late in the second round on the Old Course at Sunningdale until he took bogeys on the 16 and 17th. Choi had to settle for a 67 and was one shot behind along with Thomas Bjorn, who had a 63. Harrington is trying to become the fifth player to win the British Open and the Senior British Open. 'Where I should make a score I scored, and then I got in trouble on plenty of other holes,' Harrington said. 'Hit some recovery shots and managed my game, but I never showed much confidence out there at all in my swing at all. I obviously like these 72-hole ones, and the bigger golf courses suit me.' The Senior British Open is the fifth major on the PGA Tour Champions. The regular tournaments are 54 holes. Harrington won the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado. Bjorn was an angry Dane on Friday and it worked in his favor. He was furious with himself for ruining a good start in the opening round with three bogeys over the last four holes. He channeled that frustration into four birdies in five holes at the start. He made eagle on the 320-yard 11th. And after dropping shots on the 16th and 17th holes, he finished with a birdie. 'Just got out here in that mode of I know I played well yesterday and I was hitting the ball well. I knew I was playing well, but I was just angry,' Bjorn said. 'Wanted to get off to a start and hit a great shot on 2, which it's not like a given birdie, and then I hit some good shots from there. 'The first 12 holes was just an absolute joy.' Among those two shots behind were Ernie Els and Justin Leonard, who made the cut in the British Open last week at Royal Portrush. ___ AP golf:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store