Henry Pollock has been named on the British and Irish Lions bench to face the ACT Brumbies on Wednesday having been a late withdrawal from the tourists’ previous game with a calf concern.
Pollock was selected in the starting XV to face the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday but was withdrawn shortly before kick-off as the Lions went on to secure an unconvincing 21-10 victory in Sydney.
Any concern that the decision was more than precautionary was dismissed on Monday as head coach Andy Farrell named the 20-year-old Northampton back row forward in his latest matchday 23, as the Lions continue their preparations for the first of three Tests against the Wallabies on July 19.
Captain Maro Itoje returns to lead what appears to be the strongest side Farrell has named across five fixtures, with Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn the only player from Saturday’s starting line-up to keep his place in the XV, as he switches from the wing to full back.
Itoje is part of a second-row partnership with Joe McCarthy and across the starting XV there are picks considered first choice, including half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell.
The all-Ireland combination of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose have been chosen in the centres, with Kinghorn making his first start at full-back having joined the squad late because of his Top 14 duties with Toulouse.
Tommy Freeman and James Lowe are the favourites to fill the wings against Australia in Brisbane and both are present, with Mack Hansen adding back-three cover from the bench against his former Super Rugby franchise.
Providing X-factor on the bench are Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are ready to take on the Wallabies.
Farrell had already confirmed that Wednesday’s game would come too soon for his son Owen Farrell, who was added to the squad as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly after the back fractured his arm in last week’s win over the Queensland Reds.
British and Irish Lions side to face ACT Brumbies – live on Sky Sports
British and Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 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 Ollie Chessum, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18, Will Stuart, 19 Josh van der Flier, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Mack Hansen.
Pundits pick their starting XV to face Australia
Former British and Irish Lions Sam Warburton and Will Greenwood have predicted Andy Farrell’s Test side to face Australia and believe five spots remain up for grabs.
Two-time Lions tourist Warburton (2013, 2017 – both as captain) and three-time Lions tourist Greenwood (1997, 2001, 2005) presented a potential Test XV in the aftermath of the Lions’ 21-10 victory over the Waratahs on Saturday.
In the forwards, the positions of tighthead prop, openside flanker and blindside flanker were flagged as areas where there are no current favourites.
Highlights: Lions’ tour so far
British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.