Andy Farrell drops British and Irish Lions selection hint for third Test as key duo given ‘every chance to be fit’
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell (front left) with an inset of Joe McCarthy (right)
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed that Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen will be given every chance to prove their fitness ahead of the third Test against the Wallabies, as the boss drops a major hint at his thinking ahead of the Sydney clash.
The Ireland pair have both missed out on Farrell’s 23-man squad to face the Wallabies at the MCG this weekend through injury, with McCarthy suffering from plantar fasciitis while Hansen has been out of action with a foot injury picked up in the Lions’ 48-0 win over the AUNZ Invitational XV.
‘We’ll give him every chance to be fit’
Both men have been among the leading performers on tour thus far. Lock McCarthy has seen his stock rise right across the tour, earning his way into the starting Test side for last weekend’s series opener against the Wallabies, which the Lions won 27-19, as a result.
Winger Hansen was also understood to have been in Farrell’s thoughts for that opening Test; however, his injury against the AUNZ XV saw him miss out on selection.
Commenting on the fitness of lock McCarthy, Farrell disclosed that he hasn’t yet got a timeframe for his return, but insists he will be given every chance to get back fit.
“The honest answer is we don’t know,” he said. “We’re not sending him home, so we’ll give him every chance to be fit.”
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Of Hansen, Farrell added he is in the same position: “He isn’t fit for this weekend, he’s exactly the same as Joe.”
While these updates might not paint a full picture of their fitness, it does suggest that the pair are again high in Farrell’s thoughts heading into next week’s final Test in Sydney.
The Lions have not been shy to send injured players home this tour, with Elliot Daly and Tomos Williams both heading back following their respective tour-ending injuries.
Farrell also opted to keep Blair Kinghorn with the squad following his knee injury, with the Scot now included in the 23-man squad for tomorrow’s second Test in Melbourne.
The boss is also well-equipped with cover for the pair. England’s Ollie Chessum has been promoted into the starting XV as a result of McCarthy’s issue, with James Ryan coming onto the bench, and Scottish duo Scott Cummings and Gregor Brown are also within Farrell’s wider squad.
Out wide, Tommy Freeman and James Lowe are again preferred in the starting XV, but Scottish ace Duhan van der Merwe is also available. Darcy Graham is also with the squad; however, he is also an injury concern after coming off after just 16 minutes in Tuesday’s game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV.
