British and Irish Lions team: Five takeaways as tourists aim to inflict ‘pain’ on ‘porous’ Wallabies
Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn after British and Irish Lions' second Test victory over the Wallabies, and head coach Andy Farrell.
Following the British and Irish Lions’ team selection to face the Wallabies in the final Test, here are our five key takeaways from Andy Farrell’s 23-man squad.
The top line
Farrell has decided not to make mass alterations, instead trusting the majority of the squad who have already wrapped up the series with one game to spare. While the Lions have not reached their potential on this tour so far, you get the feeling they are not far away and the head coach will hope for a repeat of the final Test in 2013.
On that occasion, Warren Gatland’s outfit produced a complete performance to smash the Wallabies 41-16 on a historic day for the famous touring team. Given that the current Australia team are not as good as that side and we think this Lions squad is stronger than the one that visited 12 years ago, they will look to put all the pieces together in the final Test and hammer the hosts.
There are just two changes to the starting XV as Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan come in for James Lowe and Ollie Chessum respectively. Lowe has dropped out of the squad altogether after a couple of poor displays in the opening two matches, with Kinghorn rewarded for his impressive cameo in Melbourne.
As for the selection at lock, Chessum is perhaps unfortunate to be back on the bench but it gives the visitors more impact in the second period, while Ryan confounded critics by playing a vital role in the final quarter.
The Leicester Tigers back five forward is joined among the replacements by fellow England star Ben Earl, which is the final alteration in the 23. Earl missed the second Test but he gets a shot in the third match and his versatility will be useful.
No time for sentiment
Some would have urged Farrell to select a few fringe players for the finale and given opportunities to those that have perhaps played well on tour but were unlucky to be omitted for the opening two Tests. However, we very much doubt that thought would have even entered the Lions head coach’s mind heading into the Sydney clash.
Many were calling for Henry Pollock to be included, others felt Jac Morgan should start despite Tom Curry’s performances, while the likes of Scott Cummings and Josh van der Flier have surely earned Test opportunities with their efforts in Australia? Well, not if you’re Farrell.
The boss has made it clear that he will not give out Test caps easily, especially for something as prestigious as this, and he will demand that his side beat the Wallabies this weekend – and do so comfortably. They have the chance to make history and become the first Lions team to whitewash their opponents since the Argentina tour way back in 1927.
Aerial and kicking game
Lowe may have simply been dropped due to his poor displays but it also makes tactical sense, given that Kinghorn is stronger in the air – an area they struggled last weekend. The presence of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton allowed the Wallabies to win the gain line battle and, as a result, it enabled Jake Gordon and Tom Lynagh to kick on the front foot, which put pressure on the tourists’ back three.
The Ireland wing was the one to fold, struggling in several aspects of the game, and Farrell has therefore decided to bring in the Scotsman. Kinghorn was excellent in his 20 minutes last week and he completes a tall and skilful wing partnership alongside Tommy Freeman. Ireland’s Hugo Keenan is the final member of a back three that possesses fantastic ability in the air.
If the pack can just do a better job of depriving the hosts of the ball, the Lions could find real joy through Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell and their chasers. With that Australian defence looking rather porous in both matches so far, it will a long 80 minutes for Joe Schmidt’s men if the the visitors are able to dominate that kicking and aerial battle.
6-2 bench
For the first time in the Test series, Farrell has opted to introduce a Lions ‘Bomb Squad’. The presence of Kinghorn makes it possible, given his ability to cover multiple positions across the backline, but Earl’s inclusion also helps out in that regard.
The back-rower is mainly there for the impact he could have in the second period at either flanker or number eight, but it is very useful that he has covered centre at international level on the odd occasion. As a result, it has allowed the Lions to stack their replacements with forward power, which could inflict pain on the Wallabies.
As already mentioned, Chessum is unfortunate not to be starting but, alongside fellow Englishmen Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, who were superb in Test two, that is some real heft to come on. When you add Irish hooker Ronan Kelleher and Welsh flanker Morgan into the mix, they have some real dynamism on the bench.
Unfortunate injuries
Not everyone can feature but it is particularly unlucky for those that are simply not given a chance due to injury. That has been the case for Garry Ringrose and Mack Hansen, who have seen their opportunity of appearing in these Tests dissipate.
Hansen, at the age of 27, could well get another opportunity of playing in a Lions series, but for Ringrose, who is three years older, his dream could have ended. After not being selected for the 2017 and 2021 tours, he was the favourite to take that 13 spot and would have done so had it not been for concussion.
At least for Joe McCarthy and Sione Tuipulotu, they managed to play their part in the victory in Test one, but they will also be frustrated after being ruled out of the subsequent two matches. They are four players who could well have started in all three games, which rather shows the wealth of talent the Lions possess that they’ve had outstanding replacements.