Owen Farrell on bench as Lions forced into last-minute change for second Test against Australia

Telegraph

4 days ago

Lions head coach Andy Farrell has named his son, Owen, on the bench for the second Test against Australia in one of a number of changes that include Garry Ringrose dropping out at the 11th hour.
Ringrose, who missed the series opener with concussion, reported new symptoms following training on Thursday morning, forcing a last-minute change.
It means that Scotland's Huw Jones remains in the side and will play alongside Bundee Aki, who replaces Sione Tuipulotu (tight hamstring). There are two other changes in the starting XV as loosehead prop Andrew Porter swaps places with Ellis Genge and England's Ollie Chessum replaces Joe McCarthy, who has a foot injury, in the second row.
Farrell has also mixed up his replacements. Wales' Jac Morgan is poised to make his first appearance of the series while Ireland second row James Ryan and Scotland playmaker Blair Kinghorn are also named on the bench. All four players started in the 24-19 victory against a First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Owen Farrell captained the Lions against the FNP and would play in his fourth Test series if he comes off the bench despite coming into the tour with very little form and fitness.
In an echo of Warren Gatland's controversial selection of 10 Welsh players for the third Test in the 2013 series, Farrell has largely turned to his tried-and-trusted options from the Irish national team who boast a record nine players in the starting XV, including seven from Leinster.
The Lions are aiming to wrap up their first series since 2013 with victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against a Wallabies team who welcome back second row Will Skelton and back-rower Rob Valetini.
Genge's demotion is surprising after an effective display in the first Test, while Farrell has previously described him as the 'emotional driver' of the team. Porter forms an all-Irish front row alongside hooker Dan Sheehan and tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong. Chessum partners captain Maro Itoje in the second row. Jamison Gibson-Park continues at scrum-half while the back three of James Lowe, Tommy Freeman and full-back Hugo Keenan is unchanged. The English pair of Ben Earl and Marcus Smith, who were replacements in the first Test, drop out of the matchday squad.
Accusations of favouritism are bound to be levelled at Farrell who has kept faith in Ireland wing Lowe, despite a poor individual performance, and promoting Ryan, who has had a nondescript tour to date.
However, Farrell was vindicated by his selections of flankers Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne who delivered outstanding performances in the first Test despite quiet tours coming into the series. Winning, in Farrell's eyes, is all that matters.
'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,' Farrell said. 'Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week.
'The opportunity to play in front of 100,000 supporters at the MCG, one of the world's most iconic stadiums, is what makes Lions Tours unique and special. And we know our Lions supporters will get behind the team on Saturday and create a fantastic atmosphere.'
Lions team to face Australia
Lions XV: H Keenan (Ireland); T Freeman (England), H Jones (Scotland), B Aki (Ireland), J Lowe (Ireland); F Russell (Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Ireland); A Porter (Ireland), D Sheehan (Ireland), T Furlong (Ireland), M Itoje (England), O Chessum (England), T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Conan (Ireland).
Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland), E Genge (England), W Stuart (England), J Ryan (Ireland), J Morgan (Wales), A Mitchell (England), O Farrell (England), B Kinghorn (Scotland).