The British and Irish Lions take on Australia for the first time since 2013, when the tourists claimed the series 2-1.
The British and Irish Lions take on Australia for the first time since 2013, when the tourists claimed the series 2-1.
Ahead of the first Test in Brisbane this Saturday, wing Mack Hansen has emerged as a major doubt after picking up a foot injury.
The Australian-born Irish international hurt his foot towards the end of the 48-0 victory against a AUNZ side on Saturday and did not fully participate in Tuesday’s training session, along with full back Blair Kinghorn who is still recovering from a knee injury.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and centre Garry Ringrose had already been ruled out of the first Test with concussion.
When is the first Test?
Saturday, July 19.
What time does it start?
11am (BST).
What TV channel is it on?
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action, which will rebrand to ‘Sky Sports The Lions’for each Test weekend.
Sky customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app. Non-Sky customers can stream the action with a NOW day or a cancel-anytime month pass.
Talksport will cover the Lions for radio. It’s coverage will feature former England and Australia head coach Eddie Jones, Ben Kay, Gordon D’Arcy, Alex Cuthbert, Jim Hamilton, Rocky Clark and Matt Giteau.
BBC Radio Wales will provide Welsh commentary throughout the Tour.
Telegraph Sport will live blog every game too.
Where is it being played?
Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, which has a capacity of 52,500. It is the home of Australian Super Rugby side Queensland Reds. It has been nicknamed ‘The Cauldron’ due to the atmosphere it generates and has been favourably compared to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Who is the referee?
New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe will referee the first Test in Brisbane. O’Keeffe will be taking charge of his second ever Lions Test, having overseen the second Test of the 2021 tour to South Africa.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
What is the latest team news?
With head coach Andy Farrell finalising his selection plans for the first Test at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, it would appear that both Mack Hansen, who has impressed in the warm-up matches, and Blair Kinghorn are likely to miss out.
“Mack hurt his foot in the game, I don’t think it is anything serious but he was managed today,” Richard Wigglesworth, the assistant coach, said. “Hopefully he will be fully integrated pretty quickly. It is nothing that we are overly concerned about but we need to make sure we have enough numbers at training but it doesn’t look too serious.”
Hansen was a strong contender to start with Farrell reserving special praise for his performance in the opening warm-up match in Australia against the Western Force.
Asked if Hansen’s absence from training makes him a doubt, Wigglesworth said: “Yeah because as I was saying with Blair, in terms of we have to...if they get on the field tomorrow and they’re better, then they’re right in contention. We’ve not finalised anything yet. A doubt is anyone who didn’t train fully today, but he’s definitely not ruled out.”
In the potential absence of Kinghorn and Hansen, the Lions would likely field a back three of full back Hugo Keenan along with wings Tommy Freeman and James Lowe. Scotland’s Huw Jones is the only specialist outside centre as Ringrose undergoes his return to place protocols while Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell are likely to be the half-back pairing. The inside centre position is likely to be a shootout between Ireland’s Bundee Aki and Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu. Farrell will confirm his team on Thursday.
Wigglesworth has been satisfied with the team’s attacking performances in the warm-up games where the Lions have been eager to spread the ball. Many observers expect to the Lions to tighten up once the Test series begins, but Wigglesworth says that their philosophy will not change.
“You can’t really afford to be doing something for five or six weeks and then try and change something with two or three days of training,” Wigglesworth said. “So we’ve been working on the way we want to play in terms set-plays and that sort of stuff we always tweak game to game but there’ll be no massive philosophy change from us.
“The boys have done well. It’s probably always the hardest thing to… naturally, it’s going to look a bit clunky at times, but there were reasons for that. We didn’t get the breakdown right for a couple of games and there’s not a team in world rugby who look good without a decent breakdown. We were better at that at the weekend and we know we need to be better at that again this weekend.”
Lions squad
Since the original squad was announced in May injuries have forced the withdrawal of Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly.
Backs: Ewan Ashman (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Elliot Daly (England), Tommy Freeman (England), Jamie George (England), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Darcy Graham (Scotland), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Jamie Osborne (Ireland), James Lowe (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Marcus Smith (England), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Tomos Williams (Wales). Ben White (Scotland, for Tomos Williams), Owen Farrell (England, for Elliot Daly).
Forwards: Finlay Bealham (Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Tom Clarkson (Ireland), Ollie Chessum (England), Jack Conan (Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Tom Curry (England), Ben Earl (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England), Maro Itoje (England, capt), Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Henry Pollock (England), Andrew Porter (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Josh Van der Flier (Ireland).
Wallabies squad
Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.
What are the best odds?
- Lions to win first Test 4/11
- Australia to win first Test 45/17
- Draw 33/1
Category: General Sports
