Owen Farrell Named In British And Irish Lions 23 To Face AUNZ XV
Owen Farrell Named In British And Irish Lions 23 To Face AUNZ XV
Owen Farrell returns from injury on the bench for the Lions’ final tour match vs AUNZ Invitational, eyeing test selection ahead of Australia series.
Owen Farrell is set to make his long-awaited return to action Saturday, named among the replacements for the British and Irish Lions’ final tour match before a test series against Australia.
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The 33-year-old fly-half, who joined the tour last week as injury cover for Elliot Daly, has not played since suffering a concussion in a European Challenge Cup semifinal in early May.
That match — his final appearance in a difficult season with Racing 92 — capped a frustrating stint in France disrupted by a groin injury. Farrell has since returned to Saracens and now is eyeing a dramatic test comeback.
His inclusion on the bench for the match against the AUNZ Invitational side — a combined Australia and New Zealand XV — could pave the way for a place in Andy Farrell’s squad for the first test in Brisbane on July 19.
Should he feature, it will be his first game in over two months and his first appearance in any international capacity since helping England to a third-place finish at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Farrell stepped away from the international scene following that tournament to focus on family and well-being.
Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan starts in what may be a direct audition for the test No. 15 shirt, with Blair Kinghorn still sidelined by a knock.
Marcus Smith, who started at fullback in November’s loss to Argentina, joins Farrell among the replacements, while Fin Smith is handed the fly-half reins.
Scotland’s Ben White starts at scrumhalf, with Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock and Ben Earl forming the back row. Tadhg Beirne captains the side from the second row.
The AUNZ side boasts an experienced spine, featuring 63-cap Wallaby Marika Koroibete, All Blacks Shannon Frizell, Hoskins Sotutu and Ngani Laumape, and fly-half Tane Edmed, who could return to the Wallabies following Noah Lolesio’s injury.
While Saturday’s clash serves as the final warm-up before the tests, the Lions’ midweek victory over the Brumbies is expected to offer a closer reflection of the likely test squad. However, for Farrell, this match is a golden opportunity to stake his claim in the most dramatic of comebacks.
British And Irish Lions
Starting XV
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 6 Henry Pollock, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen Farrell.
AUNZ XV
Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV
15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Ngani Laumape, 12 David Havili, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Folau Fakatava; 1 Aidan Ross, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4 Angus Blyth, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Pete Samu, 8 Hoskins Sotutu.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 George Dyer, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell.
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