9 Irish starters confirmed for 2nd Lions Test vs Australia as Andy Farrell places his trust in his Irish contingent to seal the series in Melbourne this Saturday. Farrell has named nine Irish players in his starting lineup, showing his confidence in their ability to get the job done against the Wallabies.
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Farrell Banks on Irish Core
With a total of 11 Irish players in the matchday squad, the Lions are heavily leaning on Ireland’s top talent. Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen miss out due to foot injuries that have kept them out of training, but despite these absences, the Irish presence remains strong. Last week, Farrell started with eight Irish players, and this week he has increased that number, aiming to clinch the series with a game to spare.
Late Changes Shake Up Plans
Farrell had initially planned to start Garry Ringrose at centre, which would have made it 10 Irish starters, but Ringrose had to withdraw this morning due to ongoing concussion symptoms. As a result, Huw Jones steps in to partner Bundee Aki, who replaces Sione Tuipulotu in the centre.
Front Row Dominated by Ireland
Andrew Porter moves into the starting lineup at loosehead prop, with Ellis Genge moving to the bench, giving Farrell a more explosive option later in the game. The front row at the MCG will now feature an all-Irish lineup, with Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong starting alongside Porter. The back row remains unchanged with Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, and Tom Curry, who were dominant in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium.
Consistency in the Backline
The Lions will stick with their proven half-back pairing of Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell, while the back three remain unchanged with James Lowe and Tommy Freeman on the wings and Hugo Keenan at full-back.
Fresh Faces on the Bench
Farrell has made several adjustments to the bench, reflecting his disappointment with the previous replacements’ impact. James Ryan is set to play his first Lions Test, replacing Chessum, while Jac Morgan takes over from Ben Earl as the back-row option. Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn also join the bench, both having played full matches in Tuesday’s win against the First Nations and Pasifika XV.
Full Lineups Confirmed
The Lions’ starting XV will feature Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, Chessum, Beirne, Curry, Conan, Gibson-Park, Russell, Lowe, Aki, Jones, Freeman, and Keenan. On the other side, Australia will field a strong team led by Tom Wright and Tom Lynagh, aiming to level the series on home soil.
