Andy Farrell has made a clear statement of intent for Saturday’s second Test against Australia, prioritising cohesion and physicality in his team selection. With a series victory potentially just 80 minutes away, the Lions head coach has turned to a heavily Irish-influenced starting XV, prompting renewed jokes about renaming the side the Irish & British Lions.
There would have been 10 Ireland players in the starting lineup had Garry Ringrose not withdrawn due to delayed concussion. Bundee Aki takes the 12 jersey, with Huw Jones moving to outside centre after initially being set to miss out. The Scotland pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, who performed well in Brisbane, has been broken up, with Tuipulotu reportedly nursing a tight hamstring. Farrell said: “I honestly believe this is one of the biggest, if not the biggest game, we have all been involved in.”
In the front row, Leinster loosehead Andrew Porter has been promoted, with Ellis Genge dropping to the bench. The injury absence of Joe McCarthy has reunited Ollie Chessum with Maro Itoje in the second row. Leinster still have nine representatives in the matchday 23, including James Ryan and Ronan Kelleher on the bench. Farrell defended his selections on merit, saying: “We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team.”
Ben Earl and Marcus Smith are both outside the matchday squad, while Jac Morgan earns a place in the back row. Blair Kinghorn returns from injury, and Owen Farrell is among the replacements. Farrell acknowledged the Lions must improve on their second-half performance in Brisbane: “We know we will have to be a lot better than last week. We thoroughly believe we’re way better than what we showed and we’ve got another chance to prove that.”
The Wallabies welcome back Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, adding physicality. But Farrell insisted: “The focus will be on us. We don’t want to get too distracted by what they may or may not do.” The second Test kicks off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
