Queensland Reds game is make-or-break for Porter and Keenan's Lions chances
Andy Farrell rung the changes on Monday morning, making 14 changes to the side which made light work of Western Force in the first tour game on Australian soil.
Finn Russell is the only player to be retained. It's an instructive selection from the Lions head coach. It probably wasn't in the initial plan for the Scot to start back-to-back games so early on tour, but Jamison Gibson-Park's hamstring injury has changed the picture. Finn Russell is the only player to be retained. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
The Leinster scrum-half admitted himself that the injury, which ruled him out of the URC Grand Final triumph against the Bulls last month, was far from a niggle and it could have put Gibson-Park's entire tour in jeopardy.
Now, he is starting alongside Russell against Queensland Reds at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium and that half-back pairing must now be short odds to start en bloc against Australia at the same venue in Brisbane later this month.
In truth, both were frontrunners before this tour. Jamison Gibson-Park will start alongside Finn Russell. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Russell, despite some well-documented disciplinary issues in the past, is a more mature and rounded player, on and off the field, these days. The fact that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend appointed him as a vice captain last year spoke volumes, given how fractured that relationship had been in the past.
Russell has only recently guided Bath to a first English Premiership title in 29 years. He's well on the way to becoming a Test centurion for his country.
Fin Smith, his nearest rival on tour, is only 23 and has just 11 Test caps to his name. Marcus Smith, meanwhile, looks miles back in this No10 pecking order.
Russell looks nailed-on for the Test series and a strong performance on Wednesday morning will only cement that status. Marcus Smith looks miles back in this No10 pecking order. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
This is Gibson-Park's first appearance in a Lions shirt but the 33-year-old already looks assured of a starting berth against the Wallabies.
His Test credentials were only strengthened when Tomos Williams was ruled out of the tour with a hamstring injury. The Cardiff Blues scrum-half put in an eye-catching, two-try shift in Perth. Alas, his campaign is already done and dusted. Williams was making his Lions bow at age 30 and it's already over. He'll be 34 when the Lions tour New Zealand in 2029. That's a tough break for the Welshman.
Gibson-Park would have been feeling a bit of heat from Williams before injury intervened. Alex Mitchell is a class act but the Northampton Saints scrum-half was one of several players who fluffed their lines against the Pumas in Dublin. Mitchell needs a massive game against the Waratahs on Saturday to force the issue but Farrell's mind may already be made up by then.
No doubt, he is excited about the prospect of Gibson-Park and Russell working in tandem. Both like to play the game at pace. Both come alive when things get messy and unstructured. They are both instinctive, heads-up players who are thinking a few seconds quicker then everyone else on the pitch. Mitchell needs a massive game against the Waratahs on Saturday to force the issue but Farrell's mind may already be made up by then. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Gibson-Park and Russell will be great fun to watch. Farrell will want to see plenty of pragmatism, mind you.
Yes, this Lions team clearly wants to play with tempo and ambition. But the tourists will need to play the percentages as well. If the Lions half backs can mix the highlights reel stuff with savvy game management, they are locked in to face Joe Schmidt's side in the coming weeks.
Jack Conan is another Irish candidate who can cement his Test credentials with a big showing.
This is the Leinster No8's first outing on tour. Conan has not been a guaranteed starter in Ireland's ranks in recent seasons. Indeed, it wasn't the case for long stretches of Leinster's campaign either, with Ryan Baird and Max Deegan getting the nod ahead of their esteemed fellow backrower ahead of a lot of big Champions Cup games. Jack Conan is another Irish candidate who can cement his Test credentials with a big showing. Pic: INPHO/Billy Sitckland
But Conan has timed his run perfectly. Caelan Doris' injury opened up a slot in the Leinster pack and the Bray native seized his opportunity. The manner with which he guided the province to URC glory in the wake of the Northampton debacle spoke volumes. Conan has a lot of credit in the bank with Farrell and, crucially, he is the only specialist No8 in this squad.
He is a leader and, having started all three Tests on the last tour of South Africa in 2021, Conan has been there and done it. This current crop of Lions forwards isn't lacking raw talent but perhaps there is a lack of genuine on-field leaders? Conan fits that bill. A big night in Brisbane and a fourth consecutive Lions Test start is in the offing.
This is a big night for Hugo Keenan, too. The Leinster full-back has lost a bit of momentum due to a calf injury. This will be his first competitive appearance since Leinster's URC quarter-final win against Scarlets on May 31.
Keenan's fitness is renowned and he will hit the ground running tomorrow. He has long been a favourite of Farrell. Hugo Keenan has long been a favourite of Farrell. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
However, the classy Elliot Daly has not put a foot wrong on tour while Blair Kinghorn arrived into camp last night following his Top 14-title winning exploits with Toulouse.
The Scotland full-back has a bit of ground to make up as well, but Kinghorn, with his size, passing skills and aerial ability, brings such an attacking threat. Keenan needs to lay down a maker.
Same goes for Andrew Porter. The Leinster loosehead knows he's in a battle with Ellis Genge at the moment. The 29-year-old has such a commanding presence for club and country, regularly getting through 70-minute shifts. Porter is by far and away the best loosehead in Ireland. It's been that case for a long time. Andrew Porter tackles Western Force's Reed Prinsep. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
In Genge, Porter has a real rival in this Lions setup. The fiery Bristol and England prop is a serious operator and, to many observers, is a more effective scrummager than his Irish rival.
Porter, for all destructive abilities and remarkable stamina, has fallen foul of referees when it comes to the scrum on a few notable occasions. Considering that the Lions management will feel that the set-piece is the place where they can really squeeze the Wallabies, that's a definite concern. A powerful scrummaging performance against the Reds is paramount for Porter.
Because time is running out to impress. Some Irish representatives are in pole position but others are lagging behind.
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