From zero to hero – four players who became unexpected heroes for the Lions
The return of Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly's departure, and the call up of Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson as well as a Scottish trio of Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman means there are plenty of chances for an unexpected hero, should any of the late arrivals manage to force their way into the test squad later in the series.
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Irish Daily Mirror
27 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Nine Irish players to start for Lions but pair miss out after injuries
Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan are set to make their first starts in the British and Irish Lions' series against Australia, with Andy Farrell largely relying on his seasoned Test starters to secure a clean sweep. Kinghorn is stepping in for James Lowe on the left wing for Saturday's final match of the tour at Sydney's Accor Stadium, while Ryan will replace Ollie Chessum in the second row. Chessum has been relegated to the bench where head coach Farrell has chosen a six-two split favouring forwards over backs, bringing back Ben Earl as back row cover after missing out on the second Test. The starting line-up features nine players from Ireland, three Englishmen, and three Scots, with Maro Itoje leading the charge as captain, aiming to be the first Lions team to finish a tour unbeaten since 1974. Having clinched the series with a 29-26 win in Melbourne last weekend, Farrell's squad is eager to deliver a final blow to 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 commented. "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 previously entered the fray as second-half substitutes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A reshuffle on the wing was anticipated after Lowe's underwhelming performance in the first two Tests, while Kinghorn made a notable contribution during his 20-minute stint and will rejoin the back three alongside Hugo Keenan and Tommy Freeman. Ryan also proved to be an effective substitute in Melbourne, outshining the less impactful Chessum. The Lions had previously stated their intention to field their strongest XV rather than rotating deserving squad members, and they've stayed true to their word by going all out at Sydney Olympic Park. This includes keeping the high-energy flankers Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry, who gave their all at the MCG but have been outstanding throughout the series. Joe McCarthy, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen were given the green light to participate after recovering from injuries that ruled them out of the second Test, but none of them are included. Prop Tadhg Furlong is set to start his ninth consecutive Lions Test, becoming only the seventh player in history to achieve this feat. 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). Substitutes: 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).
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Andy Farrell makes two changes for final Lions Test
Andy Farrell has made two changes to the British & Irish Lions team for Saturday's third and final Test against Australia, with James Ryan and Blair Kinghorn coming into the starting line-up. Both players made big impacts off the bench in last Saturday's series-clinching second Test victory over the Wallabies in Melbourne and each played a important part in the final attacking sequence that led to Hugo Keenan's try which secured the Lions' dramatic 29-26 victory. Ireland lock Ryan comes in for Ollie Chessum to partner captain Maro Itoje in the second row, while Scotland's Kinghorn replaces James Lowe on the left wing. Otherwise, the Lions are unchanged with tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong set to make his ninth consecutive Lions Test start in an all-Irish front row alongside Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan. Try-scoring flankers Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry continue in a settled back row with Jack Conan at No.8, while the backline sees half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell and the centre pairing of Bundee Aki and Huw Jones retained with Kinghorn slotting into a back three alongside fellow wing Tommy Freeman and full-back Keenan as head coach Farrell bids to complete a 3-0 series victory over Joe Schmidt's Australia. The selection means there is no place for Ireland openside flanker Josh van der Flier while Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen are also omitted despite returning to training this week following foot injuries. Garry Ringrose was unavailable due to concussion return to play protocols. '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 on Thursday. 'Last weekend's Test match in Melbourne 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.' The Lions bench, which made such a vital contribution to the victory at the MCG, has been switched from a 5-3 split between forwards and backs to a 6-2, with Ben Earl restored as a third back-rower alongside Jac Morgan and Chessum, who can cover lock and blindside. Schmidt has made four changes to the Wallabies starting side for this Saturday's 82,000 sell-out crowd at Sydney's Accor Stadium. Racing 92-bound tighthead prop Taniela Tupou comes in for his first Test appearance of the year having faced the Lions nine days ago for the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Tupou replaces the injured Allan Alaalatoa, partnering hooker David Porecki and loosehead James Slipper, now set for his 147th international. Rob Valetini has been rested after his explosive 40-minute comeback from injury in last Saturday's second Test and is replaced at blindside flanker Tom Hooper alongside fellow back-rowers Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson. There is a freshen up at scrum-half where Nic White has been named to start in his 73rd and final Wallabies Test having announced his retirement from Test rugby earlier on Thursday. White replaces Jake Gordon. The final change sees Dylan Pietsch replace the injured Harry Potter on the left wing. 'The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's Test in Melbourne,' Schmidt said, 'but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.' AUSTRALIA: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Tom Lynagh, Nic White; James Slipper, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Will Skelton; Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson - captain. Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: Hugo Keenan (Leinster/Ireland); Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Bundee Aki (Connacht/Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland); Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster/Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster/Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland); Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) - captain. James Ryan (Leinster/Ireland); Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), Jack Conan (Leinster/Ireland). Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), Will Stuart (Bath/England), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), Ben Earl (Saracens/England), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Owen Farrell (Saracens/England).
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Schmidt's Wallabies make four changes for final Lions Test
WALLABIES BOSS JOE Schmidt has made four changes to his starting XV for Saturday's third Test against the Lions in Sydney [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports]. 35-year-old scrum-half Nic White comes into the team for what will be his final Test appearance before retiring from international rugby. Taniela Tupou starts at tighthead prop in the injury-enforced absence of Allan Alaalatoa, while Tom Hooper comes into the back row after the explosive Rob Valetini was ruled out due to injury. Advertisement This will be Tupou's first appearance in this Lions series, with the powerful prop set to join Racing 92 in France next season. The final change to the Wallabies' XV sees Dylan Pietsch start on the wing after Harry Potter was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Schmidt has opted for a 5/3 bench split, with tighthead prop Zane Nonggorr and wing/fullback Andrew Kellaway coming into the matchday 23. Australia (v Lions): 15. Tom Wright 14. Max Jorgensen 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Len Ikitau 11. Dylan Pietsch 10. Tom Lynagh 9. Nic White 1. James Slipper 2. David Porecki 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Nick Frost 5. Will Skelton 6. Tom Hooper 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (captain) Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard 17. Angus Bell 18. Zane Nonggorr 19. Jeremy Williams 20. Langi Gleeson 21. Tate McDermott 22. Ben Donaldson 23. Andrew Kellaway Referee: Nika Amashukeli [GRU].
