British and Irish Lions: Tom Curry, Sione Tuipulotu start first Test vs Australia as Owen Farrell, Henry Pollock miss out on squad | Rugby Union News

Tom Curry and Sione Tuipulotu won respective selection battles to start for the British and Irish lions during the first Saturday test against Australia, in a team that does not include Owen Farrell or Henry Pollock.

Curry, who competes with Jac Morgan, Josh Van der Flier and Pollock, was appointed to start OpenSide Flanker in a rear row alongside the Irish duo Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan, while Tuipulotu obtained the head of 12 before Bundee Aki – the last indicated among the replacements.

Head coach Andy Farrell included Marcus Smith on the end-halve bench at the end of Smith and Owen Farrell, probably based on the capacity of the Harlequins man to cover back with Blair Kinghorn due to a knee tension and the only other specialist who remains on tour starting in Hugo Keenan. Elliot Daly has already left following an injury to the forearm suffered against the Queensland red.

In terms of rear cover on the bench, Ben Earl in England was selected instead of Pollock.

Wings Tommy Freeman and James Lowe combine with Keenan in the back-three, while Huw Jones begins outside to form a midfielder who is bogged down with Tuipulotu.

Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park are chosen like half backs, Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong forming the leading line. Joe McCarthy Partners Captain Maro Itoje in Lock.

On the bench, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum and Alex Mitchell complete the team alongside Earl, Smith and Aki.

“We are entering the end of the tour of the tour and it is time to achieve our best performance to date,” said head coach Andy Farrell.

“We know how motivated Wallabies will be and we know that they are a well -organized and dangerous side.

“It is a great opportunity and a moment of pride for Maro Itoje, which will captain the side of the test, but also for the players who have the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday evening.

“We have seen a flood of Lions supporters in the streets of Brisbane this week and we look forward to seeing a sea of red in the stands of the Suncorp stadium encouraging the team.”

Double injury injury for wallabies

Australia underwent a major blow before the first Saturday test at Suncorp Stadium, with Rob Valetini, Rob Valetini And Lock Will Skelton will miss both confrontation due to respective calf injuries.

Valetini – The consecutive player of the Australian year and statistically their main bullet holder in the past four years – is in a race against time to do the second test in Melbourne on Saturday July 26.

Langi Gleeson, who started in the place of Valetini in the back of Australia against Fiji earlier this month, was also excluded due to an ischio-injury injury.

La Rochelle Lock Skelton will miss the test, but is expected to come back next week, while the TIGHTHET TANIELA TUPOU and HOOKER DAVE PORECKI propeller were left out.

The main selection call of Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt intervened at the semi-fly after the serious neck injury to Noah Golesio, who started 12 of the 14 tests under the former head coach of Ireland, with Tom Lynagh, 22, winning the head sign.

Son of the former Grand Michael Lynagh of Wallabies, the half-flies of the Reds Tom has only presented in three tests so far in his career, all in replacement of a combined total of 60 minutes. He has not played for almost five weeks either due to a broken thumb.

Crespigny row champion will do his test debut.

First Test Teams in Full

British and Irish lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje (C), 5 Joe McCarthy, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.

Substitutes: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Bundee Aki.

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon; 1 James Slipper, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Nick Crespigny champion, 7 Fraser McREight, 8 Harry Wilson (C).

Substitutes: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Tom Hooper 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway.

Watch the first test of the Australia Lions against British and Irish on Saturday on Sky Sports The Lions & Main Event from 10 a.m. (kick -off 11 a.m.).

Visit of the British and Irish Lions in Australia on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish Lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and seven warm -up matches to be exclusively live.

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