Andy Farrell’s men now head to Brisbane, where they’ll be seeking a sterner challenge against a more formidable Australian outfit in the Queensland Reds.
RUCK’s Lions content is powered by ISUZU.
Scrum-Half Concerns for Farrell
Injury worries continue for the Lions at scrum-half. Despite Tomos Williams impressively scoring twice against Western Force, he was quickly replaced by Alex Mitchell due to a hamstring issue.
“Nine is quickly becoming a significant issue for us,” Farrell told Sky Sports after the commanding 54–7 win. “We’ll assess Tomos Williams in the morning (Sunday). It’s a hamstring – you never know with these things.”
Farrell is unlikely to risk going into the Reds match with only two fit scrum-halves, especially with Jamison Gibson-Park’s availability still uncertain. A call-up at number nine is expected.
Scotland’s Ben White, who landed in New Zealand on Friday, may be the contingency. With direct flights from Auckland to Brisbane on Sunday (4:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.), he could feasibly link up with the squad in Queensland ahead of Wednesday's clash.
Mitchell, who scored late against the Force, is likely to start. But if both Williams and Gibson-Park are sidelined, White may be named on the bench. Notably, White is geographically closer to Suncorp Stadium than the current squad at the time of writing.
Second Row Competition Heating Up
Joe McCarthy was named Player of the Match against Western Force, putting in a stellar performance that strengthens his case to partner Maro Itoje in the first Test on July 19.
Itoje is expected to resume his captaincy role against the Reds, and we could see Ollie Chessum make his first Lions start. The Leicester Tigers man will need to shine to challenge McCarthy for that Test berth alongside Itoje.
Keenan and Van der Merwe Eye Back-Three Spots
Hugo Keenan is set to make his tour debut after recovering from injury, while Duhan van der Merwe will look to bounce back from a disappointing outing against Argentina. Tommy Freeman is also in contention after a strong showing in Dublin last week.
Elliot Daly, who scored twice against the Force, could provide bench cover.
Midfield Chemistry Taking Shape
Farrell seems to be building his midfield around Sione Tuipulotu. The experiment with Gary Ringrose and Huw Jones worked well against the Force, but Bundee Aki may return at inside centre with Jones outside him, and Ringrose providing cover from the bench.
Cohesion will be key moving forward, and Tuipulotu appears central to Farrell’s centre pairing strategy.
Fin Smith or Marcus Smith at 10?
Fin Smith, who impressed alongside Mitchell against Argentina, is the likely choice at fly-half. However, Marcus Smith – primarily a 10 – may also be tested. With only three specialist fly-halves in the squad, any injury could prompt further call-ups.
Genge to Start Again, But Schoeman Looming
Ellis Genge is expected to feature after a rest week, following his dominant showing against Argentina. However, Pierre Schoeman made a strong case for himself against the Force, particularly in contact.
With Will Stuart likely at tighthead and Luke Cowan-Dickie returning at hooker, we could see an all-English front row. Cowan-Dickie will be looking to improve on his Argentina performance.
Back Row Selections Still Up in the Air
Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, and Tom Curry are all vying for meaningful minutes, while Jack Conan is set to make his first start of the tour. Henry Pollock is expected to be rested.
With Josh van der Flier also pushing for time, Farrell faces a crucial decision over who starts at six and seven as the Lions look to go 2–0 on tour.
Lions team to play Queensland Reds (Predicted)
Ellis Genge
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Will Stuart
Ollie Chessum
Maro Itoje (captain)
Jac Morgan
Ben Earl
Jack Conan
Alex Mitchell
Fin Smith
Duhan van der Merwe
Bundee Aki
Huw Jones
Tommy Freeman
Hugo Keenan
EDITORS PICKS:
- “Sh**housery” – Lions unhappy as stadium announcer brutally trolls four players
- Lions Crush Force, But These 5 Talking Points Show It Wasn’t All Smooth Sailing…
- England star ‘on first flight to Australia’ following cruel injury blow
- Lions player ratings vs Western Force: Russell and Pollock star
"Absolute Disaster" - Four Lions players who flopped against Western Force
Here are four Lions who failed to fire, with scores and quotes from the top rugby outlets.
1. Tadhg Beirne –
RUCK 5 | RugbyPass 6 | Express 5
RUCK: “He really struggled up against the Forces’ pace to the game and gave away some silly penalties in and around the breakdown.”
RugbyPass: “Busy in the tight but appeared to be on the wrong side of Ben O’Keeffe’s whistle early on, giving away two breakdown penalties.”
Express: “Needless penalties in first half before being replaced in second.”
Beirne’s move to the back row didn’t pay off. He looked off-rhythm early and conceded costly penalties that gave the Force momentum. Not the kind of calm leadership expected from such an experienced Lion. Discipline will be non-negotiable in the Tests — and Beirne knows it.
2. Pierre Schoeman –
RUCK 5 | Planet Rugby 5 | Telegraph 4
RUCK: “Really struggled under the pressure at the scrum... a passenger struggling with the Forces’ physicality.”
Planet Rugby: “Struggled in the scrums but was busy around the park.”
Telegraph: "The Force put the Lions scrum under serious pressure which leaves his position vulnerable after Ellis Genge’s strong performance last week."
Schoeman found the going tough up front, especially in the first half. He offered his usual work rate in loose play, but the Force repeatedly got the better of him at the scrum — and that pressure filtered through the Lions' entire pack. Didn't show the presence he had against Argentina.
3. Tadhg Furlong –
RUCK 5 | Planet Rugby 5 | Telegraph 4
RUCK: “Struggled in the physicality department… lost the battle at set piece and was on the back foot for the majority of the game.”
Planet Rugby: “Not nearly as dominant in the scrums as he was a week ago… managed to get through a decent amount of defence work.”
Telegraph: "Would have hoped for a more dominant performance against a converted loosehead in Tom Robertson. Got through a lot of tackles and some soft hands in phase play."
Another surprise dip. Furlong, usually a reliable anchor at the set piece, had an unusually shaky night. While his hands and defence were solid, the Lions needed dominance — not damage control — from the veteran tighthead. He’ll be under pressure to bounce back quickly.
4. Scott Cummings –
RUCK 4 | RugbyPass 5.5 | Express 5 | Balls.ie 5
RUCK: “At the forefront of the Lions’ biggest Achilles heel, which was kick-off restarts… maybe played himself out of test contention.”
RugbyPass: “Failed to reclaim the restart… and the second-half kick-off too.”
Balls.ie: “Targeted for restarts and struggled there.”
Express: “Line-out worked but didn’t see much carrying.”
Telegraph: "An absolute disaster at the restarts where he was mercilessly targeted by the Force."
A frustrating night for the Scottish lock. Missed two restarts — one of which directly led to the Force’s only try — and gave away a soft penalty near his own line. Made plenty of tackles, but his aerial work and general impact left a lot to be desired. A golden opportunity missed.
QUIZ: Can you name the 2013 British & Irish Lions squad?
Think you’re a true rugby nut? It's time to put your Lions knowledge to the test.
12 years have passed since Warren Gatland’s men roared to a famous series win over Australia, but how well do you really remember the iconic 2013 British & Irish Lions squad?
From legendary leaders to surprise selections, we’ve lined up every player from that unforgettable tour. All you have to do is name them. No pressure, right?
Take the quiz below and prove your rugby brain still bites.
? Scroll down and get cracking – how many can you get without cheating?
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading