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Blair Kinghorn handed Lions starts in third Test

Blair Kinghorn handed Lions starts in third Test

Chessum drops to the bench where head coach Farrell has opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs with Ben Earl returning as back row cover after being left out for the second Test.
British and Irish Lions' James Ryan after coming off the bench in the second Test in Melbourne (David Davies/PA)
The starting XV is made up nine players from Ireland, three Englishmen and three Scots with Maro Itoje captaining the bid to become the first Lions team to record an unbeaten record on tour since 1974.
A series triumph was sealed by last weekend's 29-26 victory in Melbourne, but Farrell's men are determined to rout the Wallabies.
'We have put ourselves in a great position to finish this Tour with our best performance to date and create our own piece of history,' Farrell said.
'The second Test was an incredible spectacle and illustrated how special Lions tours are and what they mean to both the players and the supporters.
'We are expecting another epic battle this weekend against a Wallaby side that showed their quality last week.'
Kinghorn and Ryan made their first appearances of the series as second-half replacements at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A change on the wing was expected after Lowe disappointed in the first and second Tests, while Kinghorn made an impact for the 20 minutes he was on the field and will resume in the back three alongside Hugo Keenan and Tommy Freeman.
Ryan was also an influential reinforcement in Melbourne, overshadowing the less effective Chessum.
The Lions made it clear they would field their strongest possible XV rather than rotating in deserving squad players and they have been true to their word by going for the jugular in Sydney Olympic Park.
That includes retaining full-throttle flankers Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry, who emptied the tanks at the MCG but have been magnificent so far in the series.
Joe McCarthy, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen had been cleared to take part after recovering from injuries that forced them to miss the second Test, but none of them are involved.
Prop Tadhg Furlong will start his ninth successive Lions Test, becoming only the seventh player in history to reach that mark.
Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), B Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England, capt), J Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).
Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), J Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), O Farrell (Saracens/England).
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‘He doesn't try to be intimidating. He just is': Lions reveal how Andy Farrell makes the magic happen
‘He doesn't try to be intimidating. He just is': Lions reveal how Andy Farrell makes the magic happen

The Guardian

time24 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

‘He doesn't try to be intimidating. He just is': Lions reveal how Andy Farrell makes the magic happen

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Gold Dancer reels in stablemate Westport Cove for Galway glory
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Gold Dancer reels in stablemate Westport Cove for Galway glory

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Questioning Australia's future as Lions opponents is ‘insulting'
Questioning Australia's future as Lions opponents is ‘insulting'

Rhyl Journal

time3 hours ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Questioning Australia's future as Lions opponents is ‘insulting'

The Lions are seeking to complete a series whitewash when the rivals clash for the final time in Sydney on Saturday with Farrell making two changes to his starting XV, bringing in lock James Ryan and wing Blair Kinghorn. Australian rugby is facing significant challenges on and off the field and is the weakest of the three nations visited by the elite of British and Irish rugby, with South Africa and New Zealand completing the 12-year rotation. Our team for Saturday's third Test in Sydney! 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 31, 2025 Furthermore, there is growing support for the Lions to visit France because of the strength of their national side and club game, as well as the commercial possibilities. The Wallabies answered their critics at Melbourne Cricket Ground by taking the second Test to the wire in an all-time classic before falling 2-0 behind in the series when Hugo Keenan struck with 51 seconds left. When asked if Australia had earned the right to host another tour, Farrell replied: 'It was never off the agenda, in my opinion. 'Every single team, country and province have their ups and downs but Australia – the sporting nation that they are – are always going to come back. 'Have a look at the year they've got coming up. Come the 2027 World Cup they're going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100 per cent. 'It would be tragic not to tour here. We've had a blast. To me its insulting to talk about it in that kind of way.' Ryan replaces Ollie Chessum amid praise from Farrell for the 'venom' he shows when taking on the unglamorous work up-front, while Kinghorn has been preferred ahead of James Lowe thanks to his 'unpredictability' and the strength of his aerial game in what should be wet and windy conditions at Accor Stadium. But Farrell's warmest words were reserved for those players who had not participated in the series yet, having fully embraced the task of preparing the Test team to face the Wallabies. 'It actually touches you. It touches you in the sense of how much it means to them,' said Farrell, who by Saturday night will have used 27 players in the three matches against Australia. 'The ones who were celebrating most on Saturday night were the ones who hadn't put the shirt on. That says it all. 'We all came together from day one and said 'the only thing that matters is the squad and that's it, full stop'. So we've all been in this together from day one.' Farrell's success as Lions head coach – as well as his obvious passion for the concept – makes him overwhelming favourite to lead the next tour to New Zealand, but he is refusing to look beyond attending an Oasis concert at Croke Park upon his return home. Time for the final push 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 31, 2025 'Would I do this again? Give me a break would you! Let me get through Saturday. I have absolutely loved every single minute and I knew I would because I just love everything that the Lions is about,' he said. 'Thinking about the future is not something that is on my mind until I get home and have a bit of reflection on the whole thing. 'I'm definitely going to Oasis and that's why I'm going home! I'll be taking a few friends. There are a few coaches here that are trying to get on the bandwagon.'

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