Farrell, Pollock miss out from Lions team named to face Australia / Photo: DAVID GRAY - AFP
Farrell, Pollock miss out from Lions team named to face Australia
England flanker Tom Curry and Scottish centre Sione Tuipulotu won the race Thursday to start for the British and Irish Lions against Australia, but veteran Owen Farrell and emerging star Henry Pollock missed out.
The experienced Curry edged Welshman Jac Morgan for the openside flanker role in the first Test on Saturday in Brisbane, joining Irish pair Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne in the back row.
Despite some impressive performances on tour, Morgan failed to make the bench meaning there is no Welsh player in a Lions matchday 23 for a Test for the first time since 1896, according to the BBC.
Dan Sheehan got the nod as hooker over Ronan Kelleher and will pack down alongside Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong in the front row.
England captain Maro Itoje leads the side and is partnered in the second row by Ireland's Joe McCarthy.
But rising star Pollock misses out after a standout season in the back row for Northampton and some dynamic performances in Australia.
- 'At the business end' -
Former England captain Farrell was also overlooked after being called up when utility back Elliot Daly broke his arm.
The veteran was never going to make the starting side, but could have made the bench as backs cover, but that role went to Marcus Smith.
Garry Ringrose was ruled out with concussion, leaving head coach Andy Farrell to opt for the tried and tested all-Scottish pairing of Huw Jones and Tuipulotu in the centres.
Ringrose's Irish teammate Bundee Aki is on the bench, while Blair Kinghorn's failure to recover from a knee injury opened the door to Ireland's Hugo Keenan at fullback.
Scotland's Finn Russell and Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park form the half-back combination, with England's Tommy Freeman and Ireland's James Lowe on the wings.
Mack Hansen, in contention for a place on the wing, was left out after sustaining a foot injury last weekend.
"We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date," said Farrell.
"We know how motivated the Wallabies team will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.
"It is a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night," he added.
After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, the Lions have won all five games since arriving in Australia and are overwhelming favourites in the three-Test series.
British and Irish Lions (15-1):
Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy, Maro Itoje (capt); Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Ellis Genge
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki
H.Hurtado--ECdLR
