9 hours ago
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Owen Farrell has been named on the bench for the Lions’ final preparation match before their upcoming series against Australia.
Having been called up as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly last week, Farrell will make his first appearance of the tour against the Australia and New Zealand invitational side.
He will provide back up to No 10 Fin Smith and the all-Scotland centre partnership of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones.
Following Blair Kinghorn’s injury against the Brumbies, Hugo Keenan has been given a chance to impress from full-back, with Mack Hansen and Duhan van der Merwe named on the wings.
Scrum-half Ben White makes his first start of the tour, with head coach Andy Farrell urging his rotated team to seize their opportunity to impress.
‘We are in a great position just over a week out from the first Test,’ said Farrell.
Owen Farrell has been named on the bench for the Lions' final warm-up game against AUNZ
Henry Pollock will start again to try and pin down his place for the Australia Test
Andy Farrell insists he is still open to changing his mind about his Test team selection
‘The players now have another chance to put in a strong team performance and put a hand up for selection for the Test matches against the Wallabies.
‘Les Kiss has assembled a strong squad with lots of international experience and we know that he will have them well organised and they will bring a lot of physicality to the contest.’
Up front, the Lions have named a dynamic back-row of Henry Pollock, Jac Morgan and Ben Earl, with all three well in the race for the Test squad.
Tadhg Beirne has taken over the captaincy at lock, scrumming down with fellow Irishman James Ryan.
Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart will form the front-row for the match at the Adelaide Oval.
Lions line-up to face AUNZ
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #881
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #867
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #878
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #863
11. Duhan van Der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England) #862
9. Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland) #883
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland) #868
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England) #851
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877
4. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #880
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) #838 (c)
6. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England) #865
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales) #861
8. Ben Earl (Saracens/ England) #857
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864
17. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #856
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #869
20. Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #874
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England) #860
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
23. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England) #780
