{"id":284078,"date":"2025-07-23T02:38:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T02:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/284078\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T02:38:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T02:38:07","slug":"leaked-lions-team-to-play-australia-in-second-test-four-changes-expected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/284078\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaked Lions team to play Australia in second test, four changes expected"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andy Farrell looks set to roll with the same Test stars that got the job done in style last weekend. After a convincing win in the First Test, the Lions boss isn\u2019t keen on fixing what\u2019s clearly not broken.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude2c Midweek Mayhem: Lions Just Edge It<\/p>\n

The Lions wrapped up their final midweek clash with a far-from-comfortable\u00a024-19 win<\/strong>\u00a0over the First Nations & Pasifika XV. A squeaky one, and certainly not the kind of performance that shook up the Test team pecking order.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea6 Waiting on McCarthy\u2019s Medical Pass<\/p>\n

Farrell\u2019s hoping to get a green light from the medics for\u00a0Joe McCarthy<\/strong>\u00a0to start in the second row. If he\u2019s fit enough for 50-60 minutes, don\u2019t expect any changes up front for the Melbourne showdown.<\/p>\n

But if McCarthy doesn\u2019t make it?\u00a0Ollie Chessum<\/strong>\u00a0is ready to step into the engine room. The rest of the starting XV looks locked in, with just\u00a0three tweaks<\/strong>\u00a0expected on the bench.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udde0 O\u2019Gara: No Headaches Here<\/p>\n

Ronan O\u2019Gara<\/strong>\u00a0told\u00a0Sky Sports\u00a0the midweek match didn\u2019t exactly stir up a selection storm \u2014 in fact, quite the opposite:<\/p>\n

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\u201cAfter the second half of the First Test, there were a lot of chances for boys tonight to grasp the opportunity of playing in the second Test, but this performance has made things easier for Andy Farrell.<\/p>\n

It was a stop-start performance at best, it was clunky. There was so much to play and there was a little bit of forcing it from the Lions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Translation: opportunity missed.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd14 Biggar on Farrell vs\u2026 Farrell<\/p>\n

Asked whether\u00a0Owen Farrell<\/strong>\u00a0had done enough to nudge his way into the Test team,\u00a0Dan Biggar<\/strong>\u00a0wasn\u2019t convinced:<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf you look at the AUNZ game, that made it more difficult for Farrell ahead of the first Test,\u201d Biggar told\u00a0Sky Sports.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think there was much chance the starting team would change that much, players tonight were playing for places on the bench. It\u2019s very difficult for Andy Farrell to change that winning XV.<\/p>\n

Where do the Lions need cover, where did they need cover last Saturday? It was at 10 and 15. Kinghorn has just come back and played 80 minutes, so now they probably need cover at 10 and 12, and one of the best players on the park today was Owen Farrell. So that opens that debate!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Owen Farrell for the bench? The door\u2019s not closed \u2014 it\u2019s just creaking.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd81 Expected Lions XV \u2013 Second Test vs Australia<\/p>\n

Backline<\/strong>
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu
11. James Lowe
10. Finn Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park<\/p>\n

Pack<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Ellis Genge<\/li>\n
  2. Dan Sheehan<\/li>\n
  3. Tadhg Furlong<\/li>\n
  4. Maro Itoje<\/li>\n
  5. Ollie Chessum\u00a0(if McCarthy ruled out)<\/li>\n
  6. Tadhg Beirne<\/li>\n
  7. Tom Curry<\/li>\n
  8. Jack Conan<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Finishers<\/strong>
    16. R\u00f3nan Kelleher
    17. Andrew Porter
    18. Will Stuart
    19. Scott Cummings
    20. Ben Earl
    21. Alex Mitchell
    22. Owen Farrell
    23. Blair Kinghorn<\/p>\n

    EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n

    \u201cUndroppable\u201d \u2013 Five Lions Who\u2019ve Emerged as Genuine Test Contenders<\/p>\n

    The British & Irish Lions secured another midweek victory as debutant Jamie Osborne crossed for two tries in a dominant performance against the First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a look at who might have pushed themselves into contention for the Test 23.<\/p>\n

    Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n

    \ud83e\udde0\u00a0The General Returns \u2013 Owen Farrell<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Position:<\/strong>\u00a0Inside Centre \/ Fly-Half
    Tours:<\/strong>\u00a04th Lions Tour \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83e\udd81<\/p>\n

    Verdict:<\/strong>
    Back in the saddle and straight into command. Starting his first game of the tour, Farrell led the midweek Lions from 12 with trademark authority. His dink over the top set up Jamie Osborne\u2019s second try, and his composure cemented his value as a squad leader. Farrell\u2019s ability to cover 10 and 12 puts real pressure on Marcus Smith for the playmaker bench spot.<\/p>\n

    Planet Rugby 8\/10: <\/a><\/strong>\u201cThe best of the Lions today as he vindicated the coaches\u2019 decision to call him up. He pitched in with two try assists and caused all kinds of havoc for the First Nations and Pasifika XV defence. His first assist was a sharp spot of the lack of backfield cover as he put in a pinpoint chip over the top, with his weaker foot, to make the most of it. His show and go in the second half paid dividends for Van der Merwe. Skippering the Lions for the first time, Farrell rose to the occasion and may well still have something to say in the Test series.\u201d<\/p>\n

    FloRugby 8.5\/10<\/strong>: \u201cDirected traffic with assurance and supported Fin Smith well. His kick for Osborne\u2019s try was world-class\u2014executed off his weaker foot. Read the defence smartly, exploiting gaps with grubbers and short balls. His disguised pass to van der Merwe created a vital score. Led with intelligence, and this composed, tactical showing bolsters his case as a steadying force in the backline.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udcdd\u00a0Still the most natural field marshal in the squad.<\/p>\n

    CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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