Andy Farrell was captained by his son Owen on Tuesday against Aboriginals and Pasifika XV. Farrell will lead the side, which contains eight players who were not originally selected for the Tour as management tries to keep most of their preferred 23 fresh fresh fresh for Saturday's second test against the Kangaroos.
It will be Farrell's 20th appearance in the Lions jersey, and his experience in four Lions Tours has earned him a captain's nod before his Englishman and most recently, the Lions substitute Jamie George. Farrell will wear 12 players on a team, and the team also has two newcomers to Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Osborne and Darcy Graham at the center and the Wing respectively.
The bench also contains many covers on the fixture, which rekinds the debate over whether it dilutes the lion's honor. The Scottish trio of Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland and Gregor Brown were substituted after being called out from Scotland after New Zealand, which had been playing in the game.
Leinster and Ireland Thomas Clarkson are another new face, while Garry Ringrose returns from the bench, is ruled out in the first test competition and has developed delayed concussion symptoms. “This fixture provides a player with another opportunity to compete in the last two tests,” Andy Farrell said, whose team won the first 27-19 Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
“When it comes to selection, the coaches’ minds are open. They have to perform and push the location with so many players, and we want to continue with the remaining two tests. This group knows we will need the level of performance we need for the Aboriginal people. [and] The Pasifika team is full of talent and strength. ”
Aboriginal and Pasifica XV captain Kurtley Beale played in the Melbourne captain's game. Photo: William West/AFP/Getty Images
Kurtley Beale, 36, brought Captain’s Aboriginal and Pasifika XV, which also included Taniela Tupou and Filipo Daugunu, both released by the Wallabies squad and head coach Joe Schmidt.
However, former Wallaby forward Pete Samu won't show up because he doesn't meet the strict standards in the Tour agreement that all players involved should participate in the super rugby game this season. SAMU helped Bordeaux win this year's Champions League and returned home to join Waratahs, but Lions management refused to have an exception.
Despite this, Toutai Kefu, the head coach of First Nation and Pasifica, hopes his team will be competitive. “The team feels really good, not only a blend of youth and experience, but a blend of culture,” he said. “The Lions show their strength on this tour…but we’re not here to make up for the numbers. We want to win this game and make history.”
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Aboriginal and Pasifika XV: muirhead; Reilly, Foketi, Feliuai, Daugunu; Bill (Captain), Thomas; Ieli, Paenga-Amosa, Tupou, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Gamble, Taii Tualima. Alternatives: Asiata, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, McLeod.
British and Irish lions: Kinghorn; Graham, Osborne, Farrell, Van der Merwe; F. Smith, White; Schoeman, George, Bealham, Ryan, Cummings, Morgan, Van der Flier, Pollock. Replacers: Ashman, Sutherland, Clarkson, Brown, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Ringrose.