British and Irish Lions team announcement LIVE updates
Andy Farrell will name his starting XV for this weekend's clash against Western Force in Perth.
The British and Irish Lions touched down onto Australian soil earlier this week and will play their first match Down Under at 11 am Irish time this Saturday.
The Lions recently suffered a shock defeat to Argentina in a thrilling clash at the Aviva Stadium last Friday and the Ireland boss will be hoping for a much improved performance a week later.
It will be interesting to see what trends emerge as Farrell names his side but between last Friday's match and the travel, he will be expected to shake things up quite significantly.
Team news is expected to drop sometime this evening and we will have all the live updates here on the Irish Mirror.
In terms of Irish interest, Farrell will welcome back his Leinster contingent this weekend after most of the players were given the Argentina clash off. Only Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong were named on the bench.
Hello and welcome to live coverage as Andy Farrell names his British and Irish Lions starting XV for their clash against Western Force this weekend.
The game takes place at 11 am Irish time on Saturday with the match taking place in Perth.
There should be changes aplenty this weekend due to the gruelling travel schedule from Dublin to Australia with Farrell happy to get a look at his entire squad in action.
The starting XV will be named on Wednesday evening and we will have all the updates here on the Irish Mirror.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Injury rules Denise O'Sullivan and Megan Campbell out of opening USA friendly
DENISE O'SULLIVAN AND Megan Campbell will both have their respective injuries assessed to determine whether they can play any part in the Republic of Ireland's friendly double header with the USA in Colorado. Both players are definitely ruled out of the opening game with the USA in the early hours of Friday morning (2am Irish time) but could return for Sunday's fixture against the team ranked number one in world. Advertisement O'Sullivan picked up a knee injury on club duty last weekend while Campbell is nursing an ankle issue from training. There'll be no Denise O'Sullivan or Megan Campbell for the Republic of Ireland against the USA on Friday morning (2am, live on @RTEplayer ), but boss Carla Ward tells @Corktod she expects others to embrace the challenge against Emma Hayes' world No 1-ranked team #RTEsoccer — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 25, 2025 Ireland boss Carla Ward is already missing captain Katie McCabe for the trip Stateside as the Arsenal star was afforded more time off after winning the Champions League with the English club. Aoife Mannion and Heather Payne have also not travelled as the pair search for new clubs following their release from Manchester United and Everton, respectively. The second friendly with the USA is on Sunday at 8pm Irish time.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan 'so lucky' to work with 'best ever' Emma Byrne
Courtney Brosnan has said she is feeling extremely proud ahead of winning a 50th cap for the Republic of Ireland this week, with the moment set to be extra special when it takes place against her birth country the USA. The 29-year-old made her debut five years ago and has become a mainstay for the Girls in Green. Born in New Jersey but of Irish descent, there was interest from both countries when it came to her future in international football. Playing for USA at Under-23 level may have offered an indication of who would win. However, it was the close ties to the Irish side of her heritage that helped sway Brosnan's decision. "Deep down I kind of always knew, and my family knew, that it was always going to be Ireland for me," she told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue ahead of Friday's game (2:07am kick-off). "I think just how special it is for my grandparents and for my Dad and for my family that I play for Ireland." Working under goalkeeping coach Emma Byrne, she feels that is particularly poignant, recognising the stature and impact of those that have come before her. "It's a really proud moment for me and for my family. To be among the group of players who have reached 50, with some absolute legends of the team, current and past, I think it's really special to be named amongst them. "I feel so lucky to be able to work with Emma and to learn from her every day in camp. "You get to learn from the best goalkeeper to ever play for the team, so I think that's really special for me to have someone that has been in my shoes and knows exactly what it takes in these games. "When I think back to watching her as a kid and seeing her for the national team and for Arsenal, her presence was unbelievable. "She's one of, if not the best, shot stopper that I've ever seen. "Her presence is something that I really try to implement into my game as well." The highlight of her time in the green shirt has been saving Caroline Weir's penalty in the play-off with Scotland that led to qualification for the World Cup. That tournament also brought huge highs, but it has not been smooth sailing since. Carla Ward is in the dugout now and attempting to steer Ireland back to the World Cup in 2028. End-of-season friendlies are normally not something to get overly excited by. The players will watch on with envy as the European Championships begin next month. But the milestone and the chance to come up against the outstanding team in the game is something to relish, according to the Everton goalkeeper. It also provides the opportunity for her family to be present on two big occasions, starting with Denver in the early hours of Friday morning before moving on to Cincinatti on Sunday. "I think we're in a unique position right now with these friendlies. "It's a great opportunity for us to continue to build with the squad that we have and push to where we want to be. It's a great to challenge ourselves against the best team. "We know the threats that they possess going forward and how good they are defensively. "It's really special for me. There's nothing I love more than playing for Ireland. Something that is hard for me is a lot of my family live in the States. "It's difficult for them because, if they could, they would come out to literally every single game I play. "That is obviously not possible with the flights, the work schedule and the price. "With the games a little bit closer to them, it's easier for my family to get out and to support me. I feel really grateful that they can be here."
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Brad Pitt says F1 experience was 'really extraordinary'
Brad Pitt relished his experience of driving a Formula One car - describing it as "really extraordinary" - as F1: The Movie takes a pit stop at cinemas this weekend. The Hollywood star, who plays fictitious F1 driver Sonny Hayes in the blockbuster film, was recently given the chance to drive McLaren's 2023 car around Austin's Circuit of the Americas. Pitt, 61, had plenty of driving experience - including behind the wheel of modified F2 cars - while filming the movie over the last two years, but was blown away by his first proper experience of an F1 car. "Oh my God, what a rush," Pitt said in a video on McLaren's social media channels. "A lot bigger horse than I've been on." Pitt added on the Beyond the Grid podcast: "I got to hit 197mph this week. I really wanted to hit 200. You know, it hurts me a little bit – three miles per hour short on the straight. This was at Austin. "You're so focused, but you're not white knuckling. You're just in this sublime groove. It is really extraordinary. "I try to explain this feeling of downforce, and I fail every time because you try to say like a rollercoaster, but that's not even right, because you feel the fulcrum point underneath you – you're in it. "I was in an aerobatic plane once, and it's the closest thing, but still this thing… this is such a unique feeling and an absolute high. I'm still on a high, I really am. I'm just still on a high." Pitt's fictional rookie team-mate Joshua Pearce is played by British actor Damson Idris. Filming has taken place across multiple races over the last two seasons and F1 chiefs hope the movie will follow the popularity of Netflix's Drive To Survive series in cracking America.
