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Breakdown newsletter
Well, let’s get into it then.
Should the Lions be visiting France in 12 years rather than Australia?
Once an unthinkable question, it’s now worth considering.
Gerard Meagher wonders out loud what that might look like and whether or not its a good idea.
The comments below the line are divided. Where do you stand on this?
Team news
Owen Farrell starts and captains from midfield. That’s the headline. But there’s intrigue elsewhere as a couple of Lions with eyes on a possible Test cap have an opportunity to impress.
Blair Kinghorn was on track to start the first Test at fullback until a knee injury in the warmups cut him down. He’ll have fellow Scots Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham alongisde him in the back three.
Fin Smith will run the show at fly-half while Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock form a formidable looking back row.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Jamie George, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jac Morgan 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Another veteran skippers the First Nations & Pasifika XV as Kurtley Beale gets another shot at the Lions 12 years on.
Beale, one of the most exciting and creative players at his peak, slipped in the first Test in 2013 and will be fizzing to make his mark this evening.
There’s no Pete Samu (more on that in a bit) but there are 10 internationals with nine Wallabies and one Flying Fijian.
First Nations & Pasifika XV: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Kurtley Beale (c), 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Lington Ieli
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Jarrah McLeod
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
On we go, one last time in midweek, one last opportunity for some fringe players to don the famous red jumper, one last chance for some on the edge of the Test team to show what they’re about.
My job is to hype this up. Normally that would be a pretty easy gig but – I really do hate to say it – this tour hasn’t quite lived up to the billing.
The Lions were uninspiring but good enough throughout the warm-up matches before cruising to a comfortable win in the first Test. There’s talk of a clean sweep down under and frankly, from what we’ve seen so far, anything else would constitute a failure.
There are existential questions floating in the air. Should Australia be granted another Lions tour in 12 years’ time? Is this touring side still relevant in a cutthroat, hyper professional age? Is winning matches more important than hearts and minds? Perhaps you’d like to write in and share some thoughts of your own.
We’ll have to chew gum and walk at the same time because the midweek dirt-trackers have a game on their hands.
They’re up against the First Nations & Pasifika XV, a team of Fijians, Tongans, Samoans, Maoris and First Nations ballers. They’ll be physical, they’ll be fast and they’ll be dangerous on the ball.
If nothing else this should be an entertaining game of footy. Amidst all the angst and uncertainty and melodrama, 80 minutes of fun will be just what the doctor ordered.
Kick-off at 11 am UK time/8 pm in Melbourne.
Teams and updates to come.
As mentioned above, I’d love to hear from you. I read every email so please do send in your thoughts.
