Australian-born Lions trio Finlay Bealham, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen will all start against the Waratahs on Saturday night in Sydney.
Lions coach Andy Farrell, who spent much of his Thursday evening defending the dramatic call-up of his son Owen, once again made wholesale changes to the side that smashed the Reds 52-12 on Wednesday night, with Scotland centre Huw Jones the only player to back up for the match.
But despite needing to back up, the back will feel comfortable with those that Farrell has selected around him with his Scottish midfield partner Tuipulotu named and Blair Kinghorn named on the wing in what will be his first minutes on the tour since arriving from France earlier this week. Hansen, the former Brumby, will play on the other wing.
Sione Tuipulotu (R) will combine with his Scottish midfield partner Huw Jones against the Waratahs on Saturday night. (Photo by Seb Daly/SNS Group via Getty Images)
With Finn Russell rested, England duo Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith form the halves. Irish fullback Hugo Keegan will play his first match on Australian shores after failing to take the field in Brisbane due to illness.
Farrell also named a different captain for the third straight match to start the campaign in Australia, with Beirne to start in place of regular skipper Maro Itoje who has been rested following his starring role against the Reds. Beirne is joined by his Irish second-row partner James Ryan.
The front-row is a similar one to the one that battled against the Force last Saturday, with Pierre Schoeman and Bealham starting. English hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will pack down between them.
They will get an early sighter on Wallabies tight-head prop Taniela Tupou, who was released earlier this week by Joe Schmidt to get more minutes under his belt after an underwhelming season for the Waratahs.
There’s also plenty of explosive power in the back-row, with Josh van der Flier at openside flanker alongside English duo Henry Pollock and Ben Earl.
In a daunting prospect for Dan McKellar’s Waratahs, the bench is once again stacked, with Farrell opting for one of his strongest front-rows, spearheaded by Sheehan, who led the side against the Force.
Fin Smith will start for the first time in the No.10 jersey on Australian shores. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Farrell said he was devastated to lose utility back Elliot Daly for the rest of the tour, with the coach drafting in his son and former England captain, Owen, to join the Lions in Sydney ahead of the third match on tour.
“It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s tour is over,” Farrell said.
“He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks.
“Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”
Lions (1-15):
Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne (c), James Ryan, Henry Pollock, Josh can der Flier, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Blair Kinghorn, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keegan
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummins, Jac Morgan, Ben White, Marcus Smith
Waratahs (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Taniela Tupou, Fergus Lee-Warner, Miles Amatosero, Rob Leota, Charlie Gamble, Hugh Sinclair (c), Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Darby Lancaster, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, Andrew Kellaway, Lawson Creighton.
Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Jack Barrett, Daniel Botha, Matt Philip, Jamie Adamson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Henry O’Donnell
