Marcus Smith keeps Owen Farrell out of Lions squad for first Test in Australia
The team's main source of creativity will be provided by an all-Scotland midfield trio of Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones with the hard-running Bundee Aki having to settle for a replacement role.
Beautiful Brisbane is open for Lions business 🦁🙌
The countdown to the 1st Test is ON ⏳#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/8a4H9HrkwG
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 16, 2025
Blair Kinghorn's knee injury means Hugo Keenan is picked at full-back, with Smith providing cover at 15 and fly-half.
The bench options narrowed when Mack Hansen was ruled out by a foot injury, but Smith's presence still represents a personal triumph given his Test prospects looked bleak at the start of the tour and appeared to recede further when Owen Farrell was called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly.
Andy Farrell's son was expected to be given a supporting role at Suncorp Stadium but he misses out on the 23 entirely, as does the rising star of English rugby Pollock, who loses out to Ben Earl as back row cover.
Ireland dominate the starting XV with an eight-strong contingent, while England provide four players and Scotland three.
For the first time since 1899 there is no Welshman in the matchday squad. Jac Morgan is their only representative in the 44-man touring party, but he has lost out to Curry in the race for the number seven jersey.
Curry has yet to find his stride Down Under but the Lions coaching team view his physicality, work rate and big game experience as too valuable to leave out.
Beirne was locked in a selection duel with Ollie Chessum and he has won on this occasion, with his English rival present as a high-quality reinforcement off the bench.
There are no surprises in a front row consisting of Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, while captain Maro Itoje is joined by Joe McCarthy in the engine room and wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman are present as expected.
'We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,' Andy Farrell said.
'We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.
'It s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.'
Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England) (C), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).
Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
26 minutes ago
- Metro
Lionel Messi reaction to MLS suspension revealed
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas has revealed that Lionel Messi is 'extremely upset' over his Major League Soccer suspension for missing the 2025 MLS All-Star Game. Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were both voted into the All-Star Game but did not take part in any of the events in Austin, Texas this week. The former Barcelona duo did not show for the All-Star skills challenge on Tuesday evening and were missing from the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday where they would have played against an equivalent select squad from Mexico's LigaMX. MLS rules state that players who miss the All-Star Game without approval from the league are subject to a suspension. On Friday, MLS confirmed that Messi and Alba will serve a one-game ban and are 'unavailable' for Inter Miami's league match against Cincinnati on Saturday night. 'The reaction was as expected, obviously it was not a positive reaction, they want to compete, they want to play games, that's what they're here for – to play and win,' Mas said on Friday. 'They understand the magnitude of tomorrow night's game, so the reaction was exactly as expected out of two competitive players who don't understand the decision, who don't understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension, the rule is what it is, they don't understand it. 'I don't agree with the rule, I have made my thoughts know to the commissioner very plainly. I think it is going to change but that's neither here nor there, but their reaction was as I expected, they were extremely upset both of them. Asked if the decision could impact Messi's future at Inter Miami, Mas replied: 'He's very upset, he's extremely upset, as expected. I'm hopeful it doesn't have an impact long term. More Trending 'Will it have an impact initially in the player's perception on how the league rules work? Absolutely, no doubt.' MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement: 'I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don't think there's a player – or anyone – who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. 'I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision. 'Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision. That said, we're going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Ruben Amroim warns Chelsea over Alejandro Garnacho transfer MORE: Cole Palmer tipped for sensational transfer to Man Utd from Chelsea by former coach MORE: Chelsea agree deal for Crystal Palace star after beating eight clubs in transfer race
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump is here for more than a friendly round of golf... he wants to see The Open back at Turnberry
After touching down at Prestwick Airport last night, Donald Trump disembarked from Air Force One, took some questions and then headed south to his luxurious resort at Turnberry. Among some rather more serious issues, he was also asked about his golf course in Ayrshire hosting The Open. And he was unequivocal... he wants the Championship back there. After spending some time at Turnberry, he will head north to officially open a new golf course at his other resort near Aberdeen, before meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to hold talks over trade deals. Trump arrives to a very mixed backdrop of protests, petitions and political unrest, as well as enjoying support in some quarters. His golf course at Turnberry has been back in the headlines after the idea of hosting the Open Championship was raised again. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon stated that talks remain ongoing with the Trump family, and said of Turnberry: 'We love the golf course but we have some big logistical issues there.' Here, Mail Sport's Calum Crowe puts Turnberry under the microscope and assesses the likelihood of it hosting The Open once again, as well as looking at some of the changes Trump has made. What is Turnberry's history with The Open and how did we get to this point? With its stunning scenery and spectacular layout, the Ailsa Course has hosted The Open on four occasions. Its first staging of the championship in 1977 saw the famous Duel in the Sun between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Greg Norman then won his first major at the venue in 1986, before Nick Price prevailed in 1994. In 2009, we nearly witnessed the greatest sports story ever told when Watson, aged 59, came agonisingly close to what would have been a sixth Claret Jug, losing in a play-off to Stewart Cink. Turnberry hasn't hosted the tournament since then, with Trump buying the resort for around £40million in 2014. Peter Dawson, who was the outgoing chief executive of the R&A at the time, had initially been positive about Trump's involvement and the plans to invest £200m in upgrading the golf course and wider facilities on the 800-acre site. But, by the time Trump had been elected as President for the first time in 2017, relations had soured. He was viewed as politically toxic and the R&A wanted nothing to do with him. Although Turnberry has never officially been taken off the rota, it was widely accepted that The Open would never return there while it was under Trump's ownership. Martin Slumbers, who replaced Dawson as R&A chief executive, said last year: 'The position at the moment, in respect of Turnberry, is that we will not be taking events there until we're comfortable that the whole dialogue will be about golf.' Slumbers has since moved on and been replaced by Darbon. How does Turnberry compare to other Open venues in terms of logistics and transport? It's often said that Turnberry lacks the infrastructure and travel network to host an event like The Open. There's certainly an element of truth in that. For instance, for anyone travelling south from Ayr or Glasgow, there are only really two roads. There is the A77, which is essentially the main road and would be the most popular route for anyone travelling by car. There is now a new bypass which means you no longer have to drive through the tight and twisty streets of Maybole. That is undoubtedly a huge help, with the other road being the coastal route which takes you past Maidens and Culzean Castle. But the closest train stations to Turnberry are Girvan and Maybole, both of which would then require a shuttle bus to reach the golf course. It's not ideal, but St Andrews suffers from similar problems. The road network around the wider area near St Andrews is awful and regularly gridlocked during The Open. The closest train station is Leuchars which, like Girvan and Maybole, is a few miles away from the main venue and requires shuttle buses. Royal St George's is another course on the current rota where the roads and travel network are far from ideal. So, while Turnberry certainly faces its challenges in terms of travel, it's really not any worse than certain other courses. What improvements has Trump made to the golf course and the property as a whole? When he bought the resort in 2014, Trump pledged to pump around £200m into the renovation of both the course and the hotel facilities to make it among the best of its kind anywhere in the world. On that front, it's been a resounding success. Already a top-class course even prior to his involvement, the Ailsa has been redeveloped to brilliant effect. The initial changes began in 2015, and all 18 holes were revamped to some degree or another. The biggest changes were from coastal holes 4 through to 11, with many of the greens and tees being redesigned. The famous lighthouse was also redesigned into a halfway house which now features catering and hospitality facilities. Further enhancements were completed earlier this year, led by renowned architect Martin Ebert. The biggest change saw the green at the par-five 7th moved more towards the cliff edge for more dramatic effect. The changes to the hotel and facilities have also been well received. All 204 guest rooms have been fully refurbished, as well as all bars and restaurant spaces. Nine new cottage suites have been built, at a cost of around £1.6m each. They are more geared towards family breaks and are dog-friendly. Turnberry is also now an increasingly popular wedding venue. What would all of this cost to the average member of the public? On the face of it, the current green fee for a round on the Ailsa Course is pretty eye-watering. If you are not staying at the hotel and want to book a tee time in peak season (May-September) before 1pm, it'll cost you £1,000. That makes it one of the most expensive in Europe. Teeing off after 1pm, it'll be £545. There is a huge difference, though, if you are staying at the hotel as a guest. If so, you will pay £425 during peak times, and £315 during off-peak season. For context, a round at Royal Troon just a little further up the road will cost you £365. If you're staying at Turnberry, a standard double room will cost £674 per night during peak season. The suites, named after the golfers who won The Open at Turnberry, start at just under £2,500 per night. The hotel sells bottles of whisky in excess of £60,000 a pop. There are 352 chandeliers in total, with the eight in the main ballroom costing £250,000 each. If you want to get married at Turnberry, the average wedding at the luxury five-star venue is believed to cost between £25,000-£30,000. If you were to go for the top-end package and hire the Donald J Trump Ballroom, you would be well in excess of £50,000. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, but only if you happen to have a spare 50 grand lying around... What are the key reasons behind the R&A's reluctance to go back to Turnberry? Is it really all about Trump? It all boils down to two key reasons: Trump and money. The R&A viewed him as politically toxic when he was elected as President first time around. Above and beyond the logistical challenges of going back to Turnberry, it was that toxicity which became the main issue. In 2015, when Turnberry hosted the Women's Open during his election campaign, Trump arrived in a helicopter on the front lawn outside the hotel. Immediately holding a press conference, he declared: 'The world has asked me to be here.' The golf tournament was relegated to a footnote. At the recent FIFA Club World Cup in America, he was front and centre for Chelsea's trophy celebrations. The R&A shudder to think how he would behave if the Claret Jug was to be presented to the Champion Golfer of the Year at Turnberry. The financial implications of going back to Turnberry have also grown to a level where it is now money — rather than Trump — that is blocking a return. The Open Championship has grown exponentially from the last time Turnberry played host in 2009. Attendances over the week are now regularly in excess of 250,000. At Royal Portrush last week, the final figure was 278,000. At St Andrews in 2022, it was a record 290,000. In 2009, there were only around 120,000 fans in attendance at Turnberry. Given the financial hit that lower attendances would pose to their revenue streams, there's no way the R&A will take that kind of risk unless major improvements are made to Turnberry's logistics and infrastructure. While the golf course is among the best in the world, Turnberry is a fairly remote location, with limited travel and accommodation links, and no real town to speak of in the surrounding area. So, what does the future rota look like and when might we see Turnberry host The Open again? The next couple of years are already set in stone. In 2026, The Open will be held at Royal Birkdale, before going back to St Andrews in 2027. It's widely expected that Portmarnock in Ireland will be among the frontrunners to be added to the rota for 2028. That could push things as far back as 2029 before we might see The Open return to Turnberry. The R&A's stance has softened somewhat. They are not as vehemently opposed to Trump as they once were. They recognise that Turnberry is one of the most popular of all Open venues among the players. But, as Trump embarks on his tour of Scotland over these next few days, it still feels like there's a lot of boxes that need to be ticked before this sleeping beauty catches sight of the Claret Jug once more.
BBC News
27 minutes ago
- BBC News
Stamatelopoulos earns Motherwell draw against Hertha Berlin
Motherwell brought their league preparations to a close with a 1-1 friendly draw against Hertha Fir Park hosts fell a goal behind after a short Liam Gordon back pass led to keeper Calum Ward wiping out Jon Thorsteinsson. Fabian Reese converted wasn't much to shout about for the majority of the 3,931 inside Fir Park in the first half before the Steelmen stepped up the pressure late with the clock ticking down they got their reward with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos turning in a Callum Slattery cross at the front Steelmen finished the stronger of the two, but Hertha, who finished last season 11th in Bundesliga 2, held Berthel Askou, who fielded the same XI to the side which defeated Morton to secure top spot in their Premier Sports Cup group, will see his side kick off their Premiership campaign at home to Rangers on 2 August.
