Farrell on the bench for Lions against Australia-New Zealand
Owen Farrell was named Thursday on the bench for the British and Irish Lions side to face a combined Australia-New Zealand team in Adelaide.
The former England captain is set to end a period in the international wilderness as the Lions continue their nine-game tour with their fifth and final warm-up on Saturday.
Advertisement
Farrell made the dash to Australia last week after his father, Lions coach Andy Farrell, summoned him as cover when utility back Elliot Daly broke his arm.
The 33-year-old, on his fourth Lions tour, earned the last of his 112 Test caps at the 2023 World Cup, and is coming off an underwhelming and injury-plagued season with French club Racing 92.
The Lions are unbeaten in four matches in Australia after wins over four Super Rugby sides, including 36-24 against ACT Brumbies on Wednesday in Canberra.
But they endured a sloppy performance against the Brumbies, with notable issues around the breakdown.
Advertisement
- Numerous changes -
The Lions have made numerous changes with Tadhg Beirne to take the captaincy reins, while young star Henry Pollock returns.
Scrum-half Ben White will make his first start for the Lions.
The Australia-New Zealand side, the first time the powerhouses have joined forces since 1989, will be led jointly by David Havili and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Coach Les Kiss picked 17 internationals in his matchday 23 for Saturday's final warm-up game for the Lions before they face Australia in the opening Test on July 19 in Brisbane.
"We are in a great position just over a week out from the first Test," coach Farrell said.
Advertisement
"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.'
British Lions XV (15-1):Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van Der Merwe; Fin Smith, Ben White; Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock; Tadhg Beirne (capt), James Ryan; Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell
tl/fox
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hawks coach confident injury-plagued star will be back
Sam Mitchell has pointed to Jesse Hogan as an example of what is still possible for injury-plagued Hawthorn star Will Day. Day has suffered more bone stress in his navicular, ending the midfielder's AFL season. With Josh Weddle already sidelined for the rest of 2025, Day's latest foot problem is a fresh blow for the Hawks as they battle to stay in the top eight. They face a massive test on Thursday night against Collingwood, who similarly need a win after dropping three of their last four games. While navicular injuries can be notoriously tough to heal and have ended AFL careers, Mitchell is upbeat about Day overcoming his foot problem. He noted Hogan has overcome navicular injuries to star at GWS. You'd never know he was gone. Will Day with a hanger! 😭#AFLHawksBlues — Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) July 24, 2025 "I'm 100 per cent confident that he'll be back and back consistently," Mitchell said of Day. "He's a pro and our medical team will work really hard ... Jesse Hogan's had some similar stuff in his career and he's obviously put together a pretty good few years." Mitchell added Day is coping well with this latest setback. He managed only six senior games this season. "He's not too bad, he'll be on the bench for us tomorrow night, so he's in a pretty good head space," Mitchell said. "His navicular site, where he had the surgery, looks pretty good. He has some bone stress in some other parts of his foot - it obviously changed the mechanics of his running. "It's an issue for us, trying to get him back out and ready for the season ... but he's not back to square one. "He's still a fair way through his process of getting back." While Hawthorn are coming off a loss to Adelaide, Mitchell said they are making progress as they try to match it with other top-eight heavyweights. "We want to put ourselves into a position where we play big games against big clubs and we play in a style that can compete and win those games," he said. "Now, can we compete in those games? Absolutely. Everyone watched our game against Adelaide last week and said that's two pretty good teams going at it. "You don't throw the baby out with the bath water and say we're not good enough. We need to refine a couple of things in our game and handle those moments. "You look at Collingwood's last month - it's pretty easy to say they've lost three out of four, but they've played pretty good footy. Both teams are in pretty good form without getting the points."
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AFL fans react as Matthew Pavlich opens up on 'big decision' with wife
Matthew Pavlich has revealed he'll relocate from Perth to Sydney with his wife and kids after he was announced as the Swans' new CEO on Wednesday. A Fremantle great and former captain, Pavlich played 353 games for the Dockers and spent his entire career in the west. He settled down with wife Lauren in Perth and started a family, with the couple having three kids together. But Pavlich will now uproot the family and relocate to Sydney, which he described as a "big decision" on Wednesday. The 43-year-old will take over as the Swans' chief executive at the end of this season, when Tom Harley departs the role to become the AFL's chief operating officer. Since retiring in 2016, Pavlich has embarked on a successful media career as a commentator and news reader, and also has extensive knowledge of the business world. RELATED: Chris Scott clips Craig McRae over divisive act in press conference Staggering claim about Max Gawn after Simon Goodwin's sacking He'll now make the 4000km move to Sydney with his wife and three children. "The Sydney Swans is a highly successful, well respected and well managed football club," Pavlich said on Wednesday. "It is a big decision to uproot the family and bring them across the country to Sydney, but I am thrilled to be offered the opportunity to lead this great and highly professional club. I'm looking forward to working with the club's leaders and playing groups to continue the success of this iconic club over the coming years." Pavlich had previously been linked to the role of AFL Players Association boss, after Paul Marsh departed in May. He had previously served as AFLPA president during his playing days. Swans chairman Andrew Pridham said he's "delighted" to appoint Pavlich as chief executive, lauding his wealth of football experience as a player and administrator. "Together with his business pursuits in the sports and entertainment industry, Matthew has stayed involved in the game since his retirement from playing in 2016 and is widely respected across the industry," Pridham said. "We believe he will fit in well with the Sydney Swans culture and bring his own unique insights and perspectives that will benefit the club moving forward." AFL world reacts amid news about Matthew Pavlich Pavlich is the co-founder of talent, technology and brand partnerships business 'Launchd', in which he served as Executive Chairman. He also played an integral role in technology, data, and creative services company 'PMY Group'. 'Matthew seamlessly transitioned into business and media, working within his companies, as well as on-air roles at Fox Footy and 9 News," Pridhman added. "Demonstrating his versatility, Matthew has also administered leadership and consulting work within corporate Australia and played hosting roles during the Paris Olympics and the Australian Open. We are excited to be welcoming Matthew, Lauren, and their three children to the Swans as they make the move over from Perth.' Fabulous appointment! Welcome to the club, Matt! 👏 — Matt Hope (@MattHope4) August 6, 2025 Lucky Sydney. Pav is terrific — Shauna Dale 🐋 (@ShaunaDale18) August 6, 2025 Very good get swannies — MickR (@salty1259) August 6, 2025 A fantastic appointment imo. — Matt Hope (@MattHope4) August 5, 2025 The Swans are going through a period of transition after the departure of premiership coach John Longmire at the end of 2024. Longmire still works at the Swans, but is being tipped as the top candidate to take over from Simon Goodwin, who was sacked as Melbourne Demons coach on Tuesday. with agencies
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Roosters star turns on NRL after teammate banned under mid-season rule change
Roosters star Connor Watson has hit out at the NRL's decision to change the criteria for the rookie of the year award, which has seen Mark Nawaqanitawase banned from winning it. Cross-code star Nawaqanitawase was among the leading contenders for the award, which recognises the best first-year player in the NRL. But league bosses made the decision to block Nawaqanitawase from winning the gong as they felt the situation would have been unfair to some other 'traditional' rookies. The outside back played 58 games for the NSW Waratahs and 11 Test matches for the Wallabies before switching codes to the NRL last year. He's technically a rookie because he never played NRL before, but league bosses feel he doesn't really fit the criteria due to his experience in rugby union. Last week the Australian Rugby League Commission made a subtle tweak to its rules to prevent Nawaqanitawase winning the award. Under the new rule, players who have played five or more professional matches in another sporting code are now ineligible for the Dally M Rookie of the Year. The codes in question will be determined by the NRL on a case-by-case basis, but Nawaqanitawase's rugby background rules him out. It leaves Roosters teammate Robert Toia, Warriors forward Leka Halasima and Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi as the leading candidates for the gong. But according to Watson, the NRL's change is completely unfair on Nawaqanitawase. Watson took particular exception to the fact the rule has been changed mid-season. "Mark would probably be the favourite to win it," Watson said at the launch of the NRL's Indigenous Round on Tuesday. "So I feel like it's hard to make that call halfway through the year when he's played so well. If you're going to make a decision like that, you probably do it at the start of the year." NRL boss defends rookie of the year change But NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the mid-season change was "really simple". Abdo declared: "The (ARL) Commission has made a policy change decision around the eligibility for rookie of the year, and I think it's contemporary. (The rule) hasn't been looked at for a while. The decision was really simple. It is meant for genuine rookies, so players that are coming through pathways systems, and not for players that have got significant experience, even if it's in other sports." Nawaqanitawase has 13 tries on the season heading into Round 22, putting him equal-fifth overall. Only Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (17), Tyrell Sloan (15), Xavier Coates (14) and Philip Sami (14) have more, while Daniel Tupou and Tolutau Koula also have 13. RELATED: Stunning news about Latrell Mitchell as Bennett axing divides NRL hits Wests Tigers player with fine over 'offensive' gesture The 24-year-old Nawaqanitawase was even floated as an option to make his State of Origin debut for NSW before the start of the series. According to Watson, he's made a bigger impression off the field as on it. "That's probably been the best part of having him in the team," Watson said. "His energy every day and the positivity that he has around the group is good because sometimes when your season is inconsistent as it has been this year, everyone can get a bit down in the dumps. Mark comes in with a smile on his face every day and lifts the boys up." with AAP
