Owen Farrell to captain Lions in final tour match
Farrell junior was called up as an injury replacement early in the tour and will skipper the side from inside centre at Dockland's Stadium in his 20th match for the Lions.
Scot Blair Kinghorn, the favourite to fill the number 15 shirt in the tests against Australia, starts at fullback having recovered from a knee injury which ruled him out of the series-opening victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.
Irish centre Garry Ringrose also returns from a concussion layoff on the bench to stake his claim for a place in the test side for the remaining two matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday and in Sydney the following weekend.
Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier and Jac Morgan, who all missed out on test selection for Brisbane, make up a mobile back row.
"This fixture gives players another opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the final two tests," Farrell senior said in a news release.
"The coaches' minds are open when it comes to selection, they have to be with so many players performing and pushing for places and we want that to continue for the remaining two tests."
Darcy Graham starts on the right wing having been called into the squad from Scotland's tour of the Pacific, while Jamie George plays at hooker after making his way to Australia from England's tour of Argentina.
Three other Scottish squad reinforcements - lock Gregor Brown, hooker Ewan Ashman and prop Rory Sutherland - were named on the bench.
Kurtley Beale was on Sunday named captain of a strong First Nations & Pasifika team for the match.
"This group know the level of performance that we will require against a First Nations Pasifika team that is packed with talent and power," Farrell added.
Team: 15–Blair Kinghorn, 14–Darcy Graham, 13–Jamie Osborne, 12–Owen Farrell, 11–Duhan van der Merwe, 10–Fin Smith, 9–Ben White, 8–Henry Pollock, 7–Josh van der Flier, 6–Jac Morgan, 5–Scott Cummings, 4–James Ryan, 3–Finlay Bealham, 2–Jamie George, 1–Pierre Schoeman
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Lions boss treats son Owen Farrell like any other player, says coach
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - British & Irish Lions v Argentina - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - June 20, 2025 British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo MELBOURNE - The familial bond between head coach Andy Farrell and playmaker son Owen looms large over the British & Irish Lions as they prepare for the second test against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday. However, the dynamic between the pair has been strictly professional since Owen's late call-up into his father's squad, according to Lions scrum coach John Fogarty. Owen Farrell missed out on selection for the first test win in Brisbane but the former England captain has been named in the reserves for the clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Farrell and his father have shared plenty of change-rooms, including during the Lions' 2013 tour of Australia, when Andy was defence coach and Owen came off the bench to help the tourists win the third test decider in Sydney. The family ties make for an interesting sub-plot as the pair could celebrate another series win at the MCG on Saturday. In the team environment, though, their special relationship is virtually imperceptible, said Fogarty. "When we're training or when we're in a rugby setting, there's no difference between any player and Owen," Fogarty told reporters on Friday. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA Singapore More students to get Smart Buddy watches; most schools have gone cashless Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers, without facing penalties Business Microsoft Singapore managing director Lee Hui Li dies while on sabbatical Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly "It's just the same relationship as any player and coach. If you didn't know it was his son, you wouldn't really get it. "You wouldn't really think he was his son. He doesn't treat him in any way differently. "They're two professionals." The coach's decision to call up Owen as a replacement for injured fullback Elliot Daly proved polarising despite the flyhalf/centre's leadership and experience of three previous Lions tours. Farrell had, after all, not played a test for England since 2023 and endured an injury-blighted season with French club Racing 92. But few have questioned the 33-year-old's selection for the Melbourne test following his strong, 80-minute performance at inside centre in the mid-week win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Farrell's versatility and experience could prove valuable for the Lions on Saturday should the test prove tight and tense deep into the second half. The players will hear a familiar voice out on the field. "He has huge respect from the other players," Fogarty said. "When he talks, he talks sense, like his dad. "There's similarities between the two of them. They're natural leaders. That's very visible when they both interact with players." REUTERS
CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
Lions boss treats son Owen Farrell like any other player, says coach
MELBOURNE :The familial bond between head coach Andy Farrell and playmaker son Owen looms large over the British & Irish Lions as they prepare for the second test against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday. However, the dynamic between the pair has been strictly professional since Owen's late call-up into his father's squad, according to Lions scrum coach John Fogarty. Owen Farrell missed out on selection for the first test win in Brisbane but the former England captain has been named in the reserves for the clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Farrell and his father have shared plenty of change-rooms, including during the Lions' 2013 tour of Australia, when Andy was defence coach and Owen came off the bench to help the tourists win the third test decider in Sydney. The family ties make for an interesting sub-plot as the pair could celebrate another series win at the MCG on Saturday. In the team environment, though, their special relationship is virtually imperceptible, said Fogarty. "When we're training or when we're in a rugby setting, there's no difference between any player and Owen," Fogarty told reporters on Friday. "It's just the same relationship as any player and coach. If you didn't know it was his son, you wouldn't really get it. "You wouldn't really think he was his son. He doesn't treat him in any way differently. "They're two professionals." The coach's decision to call up Owen as a replacement for injured fullback Elliot Daly proved polarising despite the flyhalf/centre's leadership and experience of three previous Lions tours. Farrell had, after all, not played a test for England since 2023 and endured an injury-blighted season with French club Racing 92. But few have questioned the 33-year-old's selection for the Melbourne test following his strong, 80-minute performance at inside centre in the mid-week win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV. Farrell's versatility and experience could prove valuable for the Lions on Saturday should the test prove tight and tense deep into the second half. The players will hear a familiar voice out on the field. "He has huge respect from the other players," Fogarty said. "When he talks, he talks sense, like his dad.
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Straits Times
Wallabies confident with return of leaders Valetini and Skelton, says captain
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Ireland v Australia - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 30, 2024 Australia's Rob Valetini in action as he is tackled by Ireland's Bundee Aki REUTERS/Lorraine O'sullivan/File Photo MELBOURNE - The return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton has given the Wallabies a boost of confidence before their bid to win the second test against the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday and square the series, captain Harry Wilson said. Loose forward Valetini and lock Skelton will add weight and power to Australia's starting 15 after calf injuries forced the pair to miss the 27-19 defeat by the Lions in the Brisbane opener. "You get a lot of confidence when you have two people with their experience and their presence coming to your side," Wilson told reporters at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. "It always does give you a lot of confidence and they're two real leaders in the group and having them back in such a big match is really exciting for us. "I think Bobby loves playing for Australia, so he's missed two games this year, which he hasn't missed many over the last five or six years, so he's really excited," added Wilson of Melbourne native Valetini. "He's had a really good week's prep, his body's looking good and I know he loves playing here in Melbourne, so he'll be fired up." Despite the tight scoreline in Brisbane, Australia were well beaten by the Lions in the collisions while affording their ball-carriers too much time and space in the first hour, making the hosts' bench-led comeback too little, too late. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HDB resale price growth moderates in Q2, more flats sold Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Cambodia and Thailand are willing to consider ceasefire: Malaysian PM Anwar Singapore Prison officer accused of taking bribes to smuggle nude photos, prescription drugs to inmate Sport 'We can match Malaysia or do even better', say Singapore's divers Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts With wet weather expected, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has named six forwards on his bench, which Wilson said would give the starting pack freedom to go hard early. "We want to impose ourselves physically," said Wilson. "We want to back our skills and we just want to go out there and start fast, which (with) a 6-2 bench means another person gets to go off the field. "So, more reason to go out there, start fast, throw your body around, knowing there's some quality bench players that come in and finish." The third and final test in the series takes place in Sydney on August 2. REUTERS
