Tadhg Beirne to lead The British & Irish Lions against the Waratahs in Sydney

Munster Rugby and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will captain the side as Maro Itoje gets the evening off after leading the tourists to victory against the Queensland Reds.

Beirne is joined in the second row by fellow Irishman and Leinster Rugby’s James Ryan.

Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman, Sale Sharks and England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and Connacht Rugby and Ireland tight-head Finlay Bealham pack down in the front row.

The backrow is made up of Northampton Saints and England’s Henry Pollock at no.6, Leinster and Ireland’s Josh van der Flier at no.7 and Saracens and England’s Ben Earl at No.8.

The backline sees the English duo and Northampton Saints teammates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith at scrum-half and fly-half, with the Scotland partnership of Glasgow Warriors duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the centres.

Leinster and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan and Toulouse and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will make their Lions debuts and are joined in the back three by Connacht and Ireland’s Mack Hansen.

Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell, said: “Congratulations to Tadhg who will lead the side on Saturday night - and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts. The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”

The game kicks off at 11.00am BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Twelve years ago the Lions beat the Waratahs 47-17 with Leigh Halfpenny contributing 30 of the Lions’ points.

Squad Update

The British & Irish Lions can confirm that Saracens and England back Elliot Daly has been ruled out of the rest of the Tour with a fractured forearm.

Daly sustained the injury against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. His Premiership Rugby club and country teammate Owen Farrell has been called up as a replacement and will join the squad in Sydney on Friday evening.

Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell said: “It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours. Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”

Owen, Lion #780, has been called up to his fourth Tour having made 18 appearances for the Lions across the 2013, 2017 and 20121. The 33-year-old has 112 caps for England and is his country’s record points scorer.

Lions Tour Manager Ieuan Evans said: “To be a three-times tourist like Elliot means you have to be a world-class player over an extended period of time. But not only is Elliot a world-class player, he is also a wonderful Lion who is much-loved by his teammates and our fans. So we all feel for him right now. Both on and off the field, Elliot can be immensely proud of his contribution on this Tour of Australia. He will be sorely missed and we wish him a speedy recovery.”