Canberra hosts the next leg of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025, with the Brumbies lying in wait.
The Lions team has been announced for Wednesday’s clash and brings with it no shortage of talking points…
Kinghorn retains place
Only one player who started against NSW Waratahs will do so again at the GIO Stadium, full-back Blair Kinghorn.
The Scot, who joined the Tour later than some of his teammates after helping Toulouse to Top 14 glory, started on the wing on his Lions debut in Sydney but moves to his more customary spot in the No.15 shirt for this one.
“It is just to give Blair an opportunity there,” Head Coach Andy Farrell said.
“Hugo (Keenan) had a start there and was able to train, it’s not been a full-on week but he’s been able to get used to that position as far as other players are concerned.
“This gives Blair a chance to do that.”
Chessum handed chance to shine
The back row has been widely discussed as one of the main selection dilemmas Farrell is facing and it is clear he values versatility.
Tadhg Beirne started at blindside on Saturday after a late reshuffle and another man who can cover second row and back row, Ollie Chessum, will do so against the Brumbies.
The Leicester Tigers and England powerhouse has impressed Farrell on Tour so far, with the Head Coach saying: “I’ve really enjoyed working with him.
“The emotion he showed getting selected has spilt over into him really knuckling down and trying to prove to himself and his teammates that he will thrive in this sort of situation. He has been very impressive.”
All-Irish midfield partnership
Saturday’s game showed the potential merits in picking a midfield partnership used to playing alongside each other, as Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu linked up to devastating effect for the tourists’ first try.
On Wednesday, it will be Ireland pair Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose who get an opportunity to impress as both look to build on impressive starts to their respective Tours.
Aki crossed for the first Lions try of 2025 against Argentina while Ringrose dotted down against both Western Force and Queensland Reds.
Test spots still all to play for
Farrell was quick to quash speculation that this could be the side that lines up for the first Test, insisting he is keeping his options open.
“There is always going to be speculation but it’s up to people to put their best foot forward for a Test spot from hereon in,” he said.
“Players can play themselves in and play themselves out but what we are looking for is a cohesive team performance, that is at the forefront of what we are trying to achieve.
“The format over these two games allows us to be open-minded. We play on Saturday after this and we have a full week’s worth of training.
“You have to stay open-minded, a closed book is not good for anything.”
Hansen on home turf
The match marks a return to familiar territory for Mack Hansen, who used to play for the Brumbies and was in the crowd when they beat the Lions in 2013.
He admitted he has had friends ‘crawling out the woodwork’ asking him for tickets – with around 30 friends and family expected to be among the spectators – but his focus is solely on the task at hand.
“I’ve loved it so far,” he said. “The weekend was a bit tougher but as a group we are gelling really well.
“Everyone is starting to buy in with the way we want to flow in attack and stop teams in defence. We are bonding as a unit and that is showing on the field.”
