Andy Farrell insists Lions have ‘massive responsibility' to finish off Australia as he eyes whitewash after Series win
The tourists have talked about going Champagne Supernova by claiming a
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Andy Farrell urged the Lions to finish the job against Australia
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
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The Lions have already won the series
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
And boss Farrell hopes to celebrate a famous clean sweep by taking in
Farrell will be at
And the head coach backed the likes of Henry Pollock going public about his dream of a Supersonic tour triumph.
The fuming hosts have labelled the Lions arrogant.
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But Farrell hit back: 'You should never shy away from
shooting
for the stars — because you might end up on the moon.
'That's pretty good as well. That's the quality we're chasing.
'I don't think you should shy away from challenging each other and if you don't get there, then hopefully it's somewhere near.
'It sets the mentality in my mind of what delivering means and you've always got a level to aim at.
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'What's really to be shy at? Players, coaches, staff and Lions supporters, everyone — they all want to win every game.
'You can't be frightened of that. So, what does it matter? We came here to
Australia
and wanted to win a series.
Katie Taylor shares inspirational message to British & Irish Lions
'We've achieved that but have a massive responsibility to make sure we finish this off with something we promised ourselves.
'It's a big ask but it's something we're determined to do.
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'I'm definitely going to watch Oasis and that's why I'm going home — I'll be in the mix like everyone else.'
'SPORTING NATION'
The Lions were rocking on the early part of this tour, rolling over Super
Rugby
sides, then the Aussies in the First Test in Brisbane before Saturday's last-gasp 29-26 win at the MCG.
That led to calls for
future
tours Down Under to be changed — or even scrapped — but Farrell reckons that is nonsense.
He added: 'Australia, the sporting nation they are, are always going to come back. It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast on this trip.
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'It's just insulting to talk about it in that kind of way.'
Farrell has stuck to his guns about always picking the best available side and not giving away cheap caps just because the series is wrapped up.
Blair Kinghorn comes in at wing for
England's Ben Earl is promoted to the bench as Farrell switches to a 6-2 split, with Alex Mitchell and
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That means boss Farrell has only picked 27 players for the three Tests — while the likes of
Josh
van der Flier, Pollock and Fin Smith have not been capped.
BACKLASH
Australia boss Joe Schmidt has left out flanker Carlo Tizzano amid an online backlash following the diving storm at the end of the MCG classic.
Tizzano appeared to make the most of Jac Morgan's clear-out when the Welshman blasted him off the ball in the lead-up to Hugo Keenan's dramatic winner and has faced
Schmidt explained: 'He has copped a lot of abuse and had a rough week.
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'The only thing I'd say in defence of Carlo is just over 54G of direct force went through his neck.
'It's just better that he sits this one out.'
Ex-Ireland chief and Kiwi Schmidt has rung the changes by bringing in Taniela Tupou — dubbed 'the Tongan Thor' — at tighthead and starting flanker Tom Hooper.
AUSTRALIA
: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch; Lynagh, White; Slipper, Porecki, Tupou; Frost, Skelton; Hooper, McReight, Wilson. Reps: Pollard, Bell, Nonggorr,
Williams
, Glesson, McDermott, Donaldson, Kelleway.
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LIONS
: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Kinghorn; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Itoje, Ryan; Beirne, Curry, Conan. Reps: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Chessum, Morgan, Earl, Mitchell, Farrell.
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