Team news
British and Irish Lions
1.Ellis Genge 2.Dan Sheehan 3.Tadhg Furlong 4.Maro Itoje(C) 5.Joe McCarthy
6.Ollie Chessum 7.Tom Curry 8.Jack Conan 9.Jameson Gibson-Park 10.FInn Russell
11.James Lowe 12.Bundee Aki 13.Gary Ringrose 14.Tommy Freeman 15.Blair Kinghorn
16.Ronan Kelleher 17.Andrew Porter 18.Will Stuart 19.Josh Van der Flier
20.Henry Pollock 21.Alex Mitchell 22.Marcus Smith 23.Mack Hansen
Brumbies
1.Lington Leli 2.Lochlan Lonergan 3.Rhys Van Nek 4.Lachie Shaw 5.Caderyn Neville
6.Tom Hooper 7.Rory Scott 8.Tuaina Taii Tualima 9.Ryan Longergan(C) 10.Declan Meredith
11.Corey Toole 12.David Feliuai 13.Ollie Spasford 14.Ben O'Donnell 15.Andy Muirhead
16.Liam Bowron 17.Cameron Orr 18.Feao Fotuaika 19.Lachie Hooper
20.Luke Reimer 21.Harrison Goddard 22.Jack Debreczeni 23.Hudson Creighton
This is as close to a full test team as Andy Farrell has selected on this tour. Genge seems to be the clear starter at loosehead as is Sheehan at hooker. The big question in the front row is, who will be starting at tighthead? Furlong has lacked game time so has been given a start to make his case for selection and prove that he is fit enough. Itoje and McCarthy have been the best performers in the second row and are a powerful duo. They look set to start the first test. The back row still has some questions looming over it. Ollie Chessum will start at blindside flanker in what is presumably a direct battle with Tadhg Beirne to be the third line-out option. Tom Curry has fallen behind Morgan and Van der Flier in the pecking order but will get a chance to be the stand-alone seven in this line up rather than in a pairing with Morgan. Conan has played well when given the chance and can practically etch his name into the starting line up with another quality performance.
The half back duo (Gibson-Park and Russell) look set to be the starters against Australia and will be looking to gain more familiarity with more time together before the big games. In the midfield, the Irish duo have been given a turn after "Huwipulotu" had success against the Waratahs. Lowe and Freeman would be my picks to start on the wings and will get a chance to play with Blair Kinghorn who looks to be the number one option at fullback despite only playing 30-minutes at that position so far.
On the bench, Van der Flier and Pollock will bring an abundance of energy in the second half with no locks on the bench Ollie Chessum can provide cover at that position by moving into the second row if necessary. Mitchell and Smith will add to the excitement on the bench and will bring a fast pace to the attack with Hansen auditioning for the "lone back on the bench" role.
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