Lions team named as big injury blow confirmed and Irish pair make first start

Irish Daily Mirror

a day ago

Andy Farrell admits Tomos Williams will be sorely missed by the British and Irish Lions after being ruled out of the tour of Australia due to a severe hamstring injury.
Williams, one of just two Welshmen selected by the Lions, is set to journey back home on Monday following Farrell's announcement that the injury sustained while nailing his second try against Western Force on Saturday will keep him off the pitch for the "medium to long term".
In light of Williams' departure, Ben White has been called up from the Scotland squad in New Zealand to step in, with his arrival scheduled for Monday, alongside Blair Kinghorn who's now freed up after contributing to Toulouse's triumph in the Top 14 final.
The situation marks a twist of fate for Williams, whose performances thus far had earned him a glowing reputation and placed him in the running for a spot against the Wallabies; he leaves behind a tour where he shone significantly, rendering him the previous season's Gallagher Premiership player par excellence.
"It's shocking news for us all. We're not just going to miss an outstanding player – he played unbelievably well and it was some try that he was actually injured by," lamented Farrell.
"We're also going to miss the bloke. We have only been together for a few weeks now but his character is everything you want to have in your group on a Lions tour. He's very popular and that makes it a little bit tougher.
"Ben will be devastated for Tomos, like we all are. But at the same time, he's super excited.
"He obviously had ambition to get into the squad – as did many others who didn't get selected – so now he gets his chance."
Williams' absence is somewhat mitigated by Jamison Gibson-Park's comeback from a glute issue, which will see him make his Lions debut against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Gibson-Park will join forces with Finn Russell at half-back – a duo that was tipped to be first-choice to face the Wallabies prior to the tour.
Full-back Hugo Keenan and substitute lock James Ryan are slated for their inaugural outings for the touring party after overcoming their calf and quad injuries respectively.
Lions skipper Maro Itoje is back in the second row for the clash, following a rest during the 54-7 thrashing of the Force, teaming up with Ollie Chessum in the engine room.
The match against the Reds marks the start of a frenzied schedule of four matches in 11 days before the initial Test against the Wallabies, also held in Brisbane, on 19 July.
"Here we go now. This is proper touring. Games are coming thick and fast, so this is the exciting part of the tour for us," Farrell commented.
"We've been outlining to the lads what the weeks are going to look like – not much training, actually, just out there on the field and plenty of mental preparation.
"But if you ask any player, what would they rather do? Be involved in big games, playing for the Lions, or training every day? I know which I'd rather do.
"We see it as a great opportunity for ourselves to be fast-tracking our ambition, our potential as a team."
Lions: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Jac Morgan, Tom Curry, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje (captain), Will Stuart, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose.