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Have you read Rob Kitson’s take in this week’s breakdown yet?
You should:
Growing up in Johannesburg and watching Super Rugby in the 1990s and early 2000s, my father had a name for the Canberra based franchise.
“Bloody Brumbies,” that’s what he called them. Because for a generation they were the baddies of Australian rugby. Gregan, Larkham, Giteau, Mortlock, Smith, Roff, Moore; I could go on.
It’s great (sort of) to see them doing well again. And who can forget when they beat the Lions in 2013?
Any takers on this latest lot doing the business again?
Team news
Is this the Lions Test XV? It looks like it.
Maro Itoje is back to skipper and partners Ireland’s Joe McCarthy in the second row. The half-backs are the pair we all expect to start against the Wallabies and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, fresh from a Top 14 triumph, slots in at fullback. It’s also an all-Ireland midfield combination
The biggest questions are in the back row where Tom Curry and Ollie Chessum are likely still playing for a spot in the Test side. They’ll have Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock coming off the bench to mop up. Marcus Smith continues to play the role of impact player.
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.
The Brumbies are the strongest of the Australian clubs and have Wallaby Tom Hooper in the ranks.
The flanker played in the narrow win over Fiji recently but starts this evening.
The Canberra side will be without some other Wallabies including James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright and Noah Lolesio who will also miss the Test series after picking up a nasty neck injury against Fiji.
ACT Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead; 14 Ben O’Donnell, 13 Ollie Sapsford, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole; 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c); 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 Lington Ieli.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachie Hooper, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Hudson Creighton.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
We’re getting close now. Andy Farrell has named a team that feels like a Test side and a few pieces are slotting into place. Does Big Faz know who he wants in midfield, in the back row and on the bench when he squares up to the Wallabies in 10 days’ time? He’s got two more dress rehearsals til then and judging by the line-up, he’s honing in on his preferred 23.
Because let’s be real. The tourists haven’t exactly shot the lights out, have they?
They blew away a hapless Western Force before blowing hot and cold against the Reds. Then, against a revved up Waratahs, the Lions seemed to regress in an error-strewn 11-point win in Sydney.
With Owen Farrell getting up to speed with the group we’re approaching the realm of now or never for some of those players still on the fence for the first Test.
The Brumbies were the standout Australian team in Super Rugby, finishing third behind two New Zealand clubs. This will be the Lions’ stiffest challenge of the lot and should answer a few lingering questions.
Kick off at 11am BST, 8pm in Canberra.
Team details and other bits to come shortly.
If you’d like to get in touch, please feel free by dropping me a mail.
What would you like to see from this game and who has impressed you so far on tour?
