British and Irish Lions team: Andy Farrell selects two more debutants while ‘Huwipulotu’ gets big opportunity but pressure on Fin Smith after Owen Farrell call-up
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell and fly-half Fin Smith.
Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn will make their British and Irish Lions debuts after being named in the back three to face the Waratahs.
Ireland full-back Keenan was due to take on the Reds on Wednesday but he was forced to pull out late on due to illness, delaying his touring bow until this weekend.
He is joined in the back three by Scotland’s Kinghorn, who starts on the wing after arriving in Australia following Toulouse’s Top 14 triumph last Saturday.
It is a side led by Tadhg Beirne with the back five forward captaining in the absence of the rested Maro Itoje.
“Congratulations to Tadhg who will lead the side on Saturday night – and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts,” Lions head coach Andy Farrell said.
“The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”
New position for Pollock
Beirne forms an all-Ireland second-row partnership with James Ryan while another Irishman, Finlay Bealham, is at tighthead prop.
Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker and Pierre Schoeman is at loosehead.
In the back-row, there is a new position for Henry Pollock as he shifts from number eight to blindside flanker, with Ben Earl at the base of the scrum and Josh van der Flier at openside.
Behind the pack, the Northampton Saints duo, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, are the half-back combination, although there is slightly more pressure on the latter now given Owen Farrell’s arrival.
They will look to provide space for the Scotland pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, who will get the opportunity to start together.
Finally, the Lions have interestingly opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, with Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings and Jac Morgan the forward replacements.
Ben White comes into the 23 as the reserve scrum-half after being called up following Tomos Williams’ injury, while Marcus Smith is also involved.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne (c), 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ben White, 23 Marcus Smith
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20:00 local (11:00 BST, 10:00 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
FPRO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
