Tadhg Beirne To Captain Lions As Farrell Replaces Injured Daly For Waratahs
Tadhg Beirne To Captain Lions As Farrell Replaces Injured Daly For Waratahs
Tadhg Beirne was named the Lions captain vs. the Waratahs, as Owen Farrell replaces Elliot Daly in controversial call by head coach and father Andy Farrell.
On a day when Andy Farrell’s call-up of his son Owen sparked controversy, Tadhg Beirne was named captain of the British and Irish Lions for Saturday’s match against the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.
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The Lions, who have made 14 changes from the side that defeated the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, will field a fresh-look team featuring debutants Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn in the back three alongside Mack Hansen.
Beirne, of Munster and Ireland, leads the team from the second row in the absence of Maro Itoje, who is being rested after skippering the side last week.
Huw Jones, the only player to retain his starting place, links with Glasgow Warriors teammate Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, while Northampton Saints duo Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell form a new halfback pairing.
In the pack, Ireland’s James Ryan partners with Beirne in the engine room.
The front row sees Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Finlay Bealham combine, with Henry Pollock returning at blindside flanker.
Josh van der Flier and Ben Earl round out the back row.
The team announcement was overshadowed by news that Saracens and England veteran Owen Farrell has been called up to replace Elliot Daly, who fractured his forearm against the Reds.
The decision, made by Lions head coach Andy Farrell, has raised eyebrows, given that the 33-year-old Farrell has not played since suffering a concussion in May while at Racing 92.
The elder Farrell acknowledged the emotional toll of Daly’s departure.
“It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over," Andy Farrell said. "He is a Lions legend.”
He added that Owen will bring “experience and leadership” to the group.
Owen Farrell, Lion #780, is set to join the squad in Sydney on Friday. It marks his fourth Lions Tour, having earned 18 caps across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 series.
However, he has not played international rugby since England’s bronze-medal win over Argentina at the 2023 World Cup, 615 days ago.
Despite the surrounding controversy, Andy Farrell focused on the task ahead.
"Congratulations to Tadhg, who will lead the side on Saturday night — and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts," Andy Farrell said. "The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side that will want to make their mark.”
British And Irish Lions Roster Vs. Waratahs
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne (c), 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ben White, 23 Marcus Smith
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