No sooner had they finished against Queensland Reds, thoughts turned to Saturday’s game against the Waratahs as The British & Irish Lions travel to Sydney for the next leg of their 2025 adventure.
Allianz Stadium, Sydney will host the third instalment of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025 and Head Coach Andy Farrell is fully utilising his squad, with plenty of changes for Saturday’s match.
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.
The Lions have made 14 changes in all, while there was confirmation that back Elliot Daly will miss the remainder of the Tour after fracturing his arm against the Reds, with Owen Farrell called up in his place.
Here are the key talking points ahead of Saturday’s match.
KEENAN AND KINGHORN SHARE LIMELIGHT
Daly’s loss is a significant blow for the Lions. Playing at full-back, he had started the Tour superbly and made a strong case to be included in the Test team.
His absence means the other specialist full-backs in the squad are in a battle for the 15 jersey and, tantalisingly, they could all see the field.
Hugo Keenan gets the first shot for his maiden start on Tour. The Ireland international missed the first two games through injury and was set to start against Western Force before a sickness bug on the morning of the game forced a re-think.
Keenan will be chomping at the bit to get his Tour started and show off his widely-regarded pace, handling skills and defensive fortitude.
There will also be a first appearance on Tour for Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, who arrived in Australia this week following the conclusion of the Top 14 season in France.
Kinghorn was part of the Toulouse team that won the title and he will hope to carry that momentum to the Lions. While normally a full-back, he starts on the wing here.
READ MORE: The Making of Blair Kinghorn
Meanwhile, Marcus Smith, who started against Argentina in the 1888 Cup, is on the bench and ready to make an impact.
HUWIPULOTU IN THE MIDDLE
One of rugby’s great bromances, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones form the spine of Scotland’s midfield and they now have a chance to translate that partnership into Lions red.
Jones is the only starter who retains his place from the side that beat Queensland Reds, and will hope to build off an impressive performance that include an intercept try.
Meanwhile, Scotland captain Tuipulotu is desperate to crank things up a notch after what he has said has been a slow start to his summer. The inside centre started the 1888 Cup match against Argentina and then first match of the Tour against Western Force.
With his great mate outside him, he has a perfect chance to do that on Saturday.
WHITE’S FIRST SHOT
Saturday will also likely mark Ben White’s British & Irish Lions debut after he joined the squad earlier in the week to replace the injured Tomos Williams.
White will back-up starter Alex Mitchell and hope to make a strong impression, just two weeks from the first Test.
"It's pretty crazy," he told Scottish Rugby.
"I don't think it's quite sunk in yet to be honest. He (Farrell) called me this morning - about an hour ago - and I just haven't stopped shaking since. It's an incredible honour. I'm really excited."
SIX-TWO BENCH SPLIT
With Daly’s injury and Keenan’s sickness bug on Saturday, Farrell has likely had to change his plans around and, for the first time this summer, he has opted for a six-two bench split.
Ben White and the versatile Marcus Smith are the covering backs, while six forwards – including two second-row options in Joe McCarthy and Scott Cummings – form a heavy artillery waiting in the wings.
Jac Morgan, the Qatar Airways Player of the Match against Queensland Reds, will cover the back-row.
BACK-ROW OPTIONS
Speaking of the back-row, it remains perhaps the most fascinating position to watch in the build-up to the first Test.
Henry Pollock, who thrived at No.8 against Western Force, is back but this time starts at blindside flanker, while Ben Earl in in at No.8 and Josh van der Flier starts at openside.
This marks a second start for all three, and with Tom Curry, Jack Conan and Morgan waiting in the wings, they know they must take every opportunity that comes their way.
