Andy Farrell picks Henry Pollock as lineout option and hands trio debuts

Times

3 days ago

Andy Farrell has backed Henry Pollock to prove his prowess as a lineout forward before his first British & Irish Lions start at No6.
Pollock will play at blind-side flanker against NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday in his third different jersey on this tour. He came off the bench at open-side against Argentina and started at No8 against the Western Force.
Farrell believes the 20-year-old Englishman is proving his versatility.
'Henry's a very good lineout forward. You don't underestimate him in there,' Farrell, the Lions head coach, said.
'And then in regards to the best plan for the group that we've picked, we always come up with a lineout option or menu that's going to accommodate that. I actually thought the lineout was pretty good at the weekend, certainly how we got after their ball as well. So we need to push on in that regard though, that's for sure.'
Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn and Ben White will all make their Lions debuts against the Waratahs, with the touring side captained by Tadhg Beirne of Ireland.
'I'm delighted for Tadhg. The squad that's been picked [against Waratahs] is an exciting one. At the top of that is Tadhg Beirne as captain. He's honoured and delighted. It took him aback when I told him and that's exactly the type of reaction you want,' Farrell added.
Keenan was meant to start in Brisbane against the Queensland Reds on Wednesday but fell ill, so Elliot Daly came in for him at the last minute, broke his arm, and has now gone home.
Keenan has recovered to wear the No15 jersey for the Waratahs match, with Kinghorn named on the left wing — his position for Toulouse. Kinghorn arrived from Paris having won the Top 14 final last Saturday.
Pollock joins a dynamic back row alongside Ben Earl, at No8, and Josh van der Flier at open-side flanker.
Ben White, an injury replacement for Tomos Williams, who was sent home after tearing his hamstring against the Western Force, makes the bench for the first time. Farrell has gone for a 6-2 split among the substitutes with Marcus Smith the only other back.
Farrell said he has wanted to see how the team fire with that bench split to prepare for the Test matches against Australia. Earl may have to move to inside centre, like he did against the Western Force in Perth.
'It was obviously in our planning, we thought of doing this along the way as well,' Farrell said. 'So here we are, and it just so happened that Ben [Earl] got to be able to play No12 anyway [on Wednesday]. That wasn't the plan but it's always in the background, because you're always aware these things can happen.
'So that was a nice little start as far as that's concerned, and obviously there are many more pieces that could happen that we might have to put together in regards to that. But yeah, it's a different way for us, but it's an exciting one. We're trying to find out more about ourselves.'
In the starting team Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith make up the half backs with Scottish centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in midfield for the first time together. Mack Hansen completes the back three with Kinghorn and Keenan.
In the forwards Pierre Schoeman lines up with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Finlay Bealham, with captain Beirne pairing at lock with James Ryan — who makes his first start.
How the Waratahs line-up
XV 15 Laweson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson; 1 Tom Lambert, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Miles Amatosero, 6 Rob Leota, 7 Charlie Gamble, 8 Hugh Sinclair (capt).
Replacements 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Henry O'Donnell.