Owen Farrell on the Lions bench for last warmup before Wallabies tests
Farrell hasn't played international rugby since the 2023 World Cup. By game day he will have played no rugby in nine weeks and only 18 minutes in the last 10 weeks.
The former England captain replaced the injured Elliot Daly to make it onto his fourth Lions tour.
He will play his 19th game for the Lions when he comes off the bench in what is a last chance for the team to impress coach Andy Farrell before the test series begins against Australia next week.
Their chances improved after the shadow Lions test side conceded four tries to the ACT Brumbies in a scratchy 36-24 win midweek.
Fullback Hugo Keenan makes his second tour appearance, and a timely one after his rival for the No. 15 test jersey, Blair Kinghorn, left the Brumbies win early with an injured left knee.
Scrumhalf Ben White gets his first start after replacing the injured Tomos Williams in the tour party in Australia.
The back row, still not fixed for the Lions, features Henry Pollock, Jac Morgan and No. 8 Ben Earl.
Forward Tadhg Beirne will captain the Lions for the second time after tour leader Maro Itoje was given another rest.
'We are in a great position just over a week out from the first test,' Andy Farrell said. '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.'
The first combined Australia-New Zealand XV since the 1989 Lions tour has 17 internationals, including the entire starting side.
Coach Les Kiss, the Wallabies coach-in-waiting, picked Crusaders' Super Rugby-winning skipper David Havili and Queensland Reds forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto as co-captains.
'The co-captaincy model with natural leaders like David and Lukhan (will) really suit this team and what we represent,' Kiss said. 'In forming new bonds many of them have discovered they have more in common than they originally thought.'
The Lions are 4-0 in Australia since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin. They have beaten all of Australia's Super Rugby franchises. Before the Brumbies, they defeated the Western Force, Queensland Reds, and New South Wales Waratahs.
The test series begins on July 19 in Brisbane, followed by games in Melbourne on July 26 and in Sydney on Aug. 2.
___
Lineups:
British and Irish Lions: Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Duhan van Der Merwe (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Ben White (Scotland); Ben Earl (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Henry Pollock (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland, captain), James Ryan (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Finlay Bealham (Ireland), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Marcus Smith (England) Owen Farrell (England).
AUNZ Invitational XV: Shaun Stevenson, AJ Lam, Ngani Laumape, David Havili (co-captain), Marika Koroibete, Tane Edmed, Folau Fakatava; Hoskins Sotutu, Pete Samu, Shannon Frizell, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (co-captain), Angus Blyth, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusita'a, George Dyer, Matt Philip, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada News.Net
40 minutes ago
- Canada News.Net
MLS taps brakes on seismic calendar shift
(Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images) While acknowledging that it makes sense to move the MLS season to a schedule that mirrors the top soccer leagues in Europe, there was no commitment to the change during All-Star Game festivities at Austin, Texas, this week. At the MLS board of governors meeting, in conjunction with the league's All-Star week, a vote on the monumental shift in schedule that would start in late summer and end the following spring was delayed. With no commitment to a change, the earliest an MLS schedule change could happen now is in 2027. The current MLS season started in February and will run until October, although adjustments are made in World Cup years. A potential new schedule pattern would avoid league play in the core summer months. 'We're not making any announcements today, but we continue to do enormous amount of work with our fans, with our partners, with all of our chief soccer officers, and with our clubs to get ourselves closer to the point we're able to make that decision,' commissioner Don Garber said this week. 'But we believe that alignment is something that makes sense.' One issue for a schedule that spans winter is extreme cold and snow that could affect teams like the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, CF Montreal, the New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, and even clubs like the Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. But extreme heat and thunderstorms in the summer months have posed their challenges in the current schedule setup. 'It's getting hotter, and that's clearly an issue, playing through the depth and the core of the warmest months in many of our markets,' Garber said. 'So it just adds to the challenges and complexity that MLS has to deal with.' In April, the board of governors voted to continue the exploration of a schedule that operated through the winter. This week's decision to delay a vote means the subject will not be dealt with again by the board until later this year.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas joins Pumas in Mexico after some advice from Ramos and Herrera
MEXICO CITY (AP) — When former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas got an offer to play in Mexico for UNAM Pumas, he knew who to ask for advice. The Costa Rica goalkeeper called his ex-Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos, as well as Costa Rica coach Miguel Herrera, before he eventually agreed to join Pumas in the top-tier Liga MX on a reported one-year contract. The move follows a six-month stint in Argentina with Newell's Old Boys. The 38-year-old Navas was introduced on Thursday as the Mexican side revamps its roster to try to end a 14-year spell without winning a league title. 'I'm here eager to give my all, to push myself, and to be on the pitch playing at my best,' Navas said. 'I have the mentality to make history, to be able to win a title. I believe we can achieve those goals by working with humility.' No details were given but Newell's Old Boys said it will receive $2 million as part of the deal. Ramos on Mexico Navas and Ramos played together for five seasons with Madrid, winning three Champions League titles. The pair also joined forces at Paris Saint-Germain where they were part of the team that won the Ligue 1 title in 2022. The 39-year-old Ramos signed with Mexican team Monterrey earlier this year. 'Sergio told me a little about his experience in Mexico. I know James (Rodriguez) is also here and playing at a high level,' Navas said at a press conference. 'Liga MX is growing and is very competitive, with a very good infrastructure, and I thought I'd come to a club where we can compete for titles.' James Rodriguez, who played with Navas and Ramos for four seasons with Madrid, also plays in Mexico with Leon. Pumas had already bought Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, Colombian left back Alvaro Angulo and Ecuador midfielder Pedro Vite. Help from Herrera Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Navas also called Herrera, who had coached six first division teams in Mexico before he was hired as coach of the Costa Rica men's national team as it attempts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. 'I spoke with Miguel because he knows the league and the club well, and he told me I should sign without a doubt,' Navas said. 'I'm joining a big club, and having him in the national team helps you make these decisions.' Navas also made the decision to move closer to Central America because his national team has World Cup qualifying games, starting in September, with 'Los Ticos' in Group C with Honduras, Haiti and Nicaragua. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Detroit Lions offensive line is a work in progress a year after being among NFL's best
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions had one of the NFL's best offensive lines last season. This year is more of a work in progress. Center Frank Ragnow's retirement and the loss of right guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency have opened up competition for at least two new starters. Graham Glasgow, who started at left guard last season and has experience at center, along with rookie Tate Ratledge are getting reps at center through four days of training camp. And then there's the banged-up veteran Taylor Decker at left tackle. 'It's been great. Tate, I thought, was doing a good job. Graham was in there today and I've been comfortable with Graham for quite some time,'' Lions quarterback Jared Goff said on Thursday. 'Whoever it ends up being I'll be good with.'' After Ratledge saw the bulk of center reps the first three days of camp, Glasgow took the center snaps Thursday. Ratledge played only guard at Georgia except for a few practice snaps at center. So he's adjusting to the NFL game and to playing a new position. 'I think just the speed of everything happening. At guard you have a little bit of a delay being off the ball and then, of course, you get up here and you're going against quicker guys,'' Ratledge said. He has no preference for guard or center. 'I enjoy football, it doesn't matter where I am on the field,'' said Ratledge, a second-round pick who sports a John Wayne tattoo on his left bicep. Coach Dan Campbell said earlier in the week that he will keep his eye on the offensive line. '(Ratledge is) getting it all at once. It's everything, it is. It's the mental and it's the technique of it. So, yeah, look we're putting a lot on him,'' Campbell said. 'He's drinking out of a fire hose right now. But there are things that we saw with him in college at Georgia that we felt like, 'You know what? We think this guy can play center.'' Decker remains sidelined while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, but is expected to join the team after the Hall of Fame game on July 31. He's been on the sidelines at camp daily. 'The standard is the standard. We're expected to be one of the top offensive lines in the league,'' Decker said. 'You lose big pieces, but we've put those expectations on ourselves and put ourselves in a position where we're expected to perform a certain way and it doesn't matter.'' Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell is healthy and practicing daily. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Christian Mahogany has been a sort of utility lineman for the Lions the past couple of years. He played in seven games in 2024 and started two, including a playoff game. Kayode Awosika, who started 11 games at guard in 2024, will also contend for a starting guard spot. NOTES: Lions LB Alex Anzalone, who has not participated in camp, was on the sidelines again Thursday in street clothes. He told reporters earlier in the week that he is disappointed the Lions have not signed him to a contract extension. INJURIES: LB Derrick Barnes (hand) and CB Terrion Arnold (leg) left practice early to be evaluated further for their injuries. … CB Ennis Rakestraw (chest) was working on the sidelines but has not practiced since he was injured on Sunday. He's expected to return within days. ___ AP NFL:
