Late Change for Lions as Starter Fails Fitness Test

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The Irish lock limped off during the gritty 27-19 win in Brisbane with plantar fasciitis and hasn’t laced up his boots in training since. With just one more session—Thursday’s run-out—left to prove his fitness, insiders believe McCarthy will not recover in time and is set to miss the Melbourne clash.

His absence is likely to force a reshuffle up front. James Ryan and Jac Morgan were both taken off early in Tuesday's 24-19 warm-up win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV, a move that could indicate Farrell’s Test selection plans.

Ollie Chessum is expected to step into the second row alongside skipper Maro Itoje, while Tadhg Beirne could shift from flanker to lock—opening up space on the bench.

Head coach Andy Farrell has also confirmed that several recent call-ups will be packing their bags, with the squad being trimmed ahead of the final two Tests.

“It gets to a point where if someone’s not in the mix, it makes more sense to send them home,” said Farrell. “Bringing someone across the globe at this stage takes time—and we need bodies ready to go now.”

With the series on the line and no margin for error, the Lions are locking in their best—and fittest—23. Saturday’s clash at the MCG is shaping up to be a seismic showdown.

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #881 

14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) #858

13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #878 

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837 

11. James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #870 

10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835 

9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #879 

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876

2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #873 

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818 

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C) #825 

5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) #875 

6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838 

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853

8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839 

Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864 17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England) #859 18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877 19. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #880 20. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) #861 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) #860 22. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England) #780 23. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland) #882

These four players did their chances of test selection no favours as they underperformed in the match in Melbourne.

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Planet Rugby 5/10: "Had two of his passes picked off, the first led to a try while the second was damn close to costing the Lions again. That was just two of the four turnovers that he conceded in the first half alone. He got better in the second period and topped the running metres in the match while using his boot to good effect and finally nailed a long pass for a try assist. But frankly, today was his opportunity to claim a starting jersey on Saturday but didn’t."

Telegraph 3/10: "Surely played his way out of the Test squad, throwing two horrific intercepts. One delicious pass for Osborne’s second try but four turnovers is a black mark."

Verdict: Two horror intercepts, four turnovers, and a performance that screamed panic. Yes, there was a slick assist for Osborne, but it was too little, too late. Kinghorn looked rattled, and Farrell will have noticed.

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Got rinsed more times at scrum time than a white t-shirt with a pesky Bolognese stain. He wasn’t much better in contact, coughing up ball and metres. He’s had a fine tour, but this was an off-night."

Planet Rugby 3/10: "Comfortably bettered by Lington Leli in the scrums in the first half. When he left the pitch in the 51st minute, he had conceded three penalties and was quiet in open play. Sure, it was difficult at scrum time when Ryan was absent from the set-piece, but he had to do better. Unless there is an injury, that looks to be the end of his tour."

BALLS 4/10: "Had a nightmare in the scrum and conceded three penalties in the opening 40 minutes. Made little ground on his carries. Landed his four tackles."

RUCK 5.5/10: "Flew into a ruck off his feet, with Seru Uru battling beyond the Connacht prop for a 28th-minute penalty. Overwhelmed at a 33rd-minute scrum, as Lington Ieli won the FN&P a scrum penalty."

Verdict: A bruising reminder that tour form doesn’t always translate. Conceded ground and penalties in equal measure. Bealham looked miles off Test standard here.

Telegraph 5/10: "Highlight was an early scuffle with Uru and then a turnover at the end, otherwise fairly quiet. A tour that started with such promise has fizzled out."

BALLS 6/10: "Very quiet first half. Peeled off a couple of scrums when he was needed to dig the heels in. Got in a couple of jersey-grabbing scuffs."

Irish Times 6/10: "A vital breakdown penalty late on, won several lineouts, and managed to get in the face of the opposition, literally on one occasion. But he was quieter than usual in the unfamiliar role of number eight."

Verdict: Early aggression with Uru raised eyebrows, but his influence faded fast. One late turnover doesn’t cover for a game spent chasing shadows. Lions jersey might be slipping away.

Telegraph 3/10: "Tupou spread Schoeman like marmalade at scrum time. A few decent carries could not make up for his pasting up front."

The Scottish bulldozer was bulldozed. Though he trucked up a few carries, Schoeman was devoured in the scrum and outmuscled by the Wallaby wrecking ball. A chastening night.

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