"Owen returns" - Lions team to play Invitational AU & NZ XV Confirmed

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Ireland and Munster lock Tadhg Beirne will lead the side for the second time on Tour, with Maro Itoje rested ahead of the First Test. Beirne is joined in the engine room by Leinster and Ireland teammate James Ryan.

Up front, it's a powerful front row with Scotland’s Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh) packing down alongside England duo Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks) and Will Stuart (Bath).

In the back row, Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints & England) gets the nod at blindside, with Jac Morgan (Ospreys & Wales captain) at openside, and Ben Earl (Saracens & England) anchoring the scrum at No.8.

It’s a new-look half-back pairing as Ben White (Scotland & Toulon) makes his first start on Tour alongside Fin Smith(England & Northampton Saints).

In midfield, Scottish duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones (both Glasgow Warriors) link up again after impressing earlier in the campaign.

At the back, Hugo Keenan (Leinster & Ireland) is set for his second appearance on Tour. He’s joined by Mack Hansen(Connacht & Ireland) and Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh & Scotland) to round off a dynamic back three.

Owen Farrell (Saracens & England) is named among the replacements and is in line to win his 19th Lions cap.

Friday 20^th June: Lions 24-28 Argentina

Saturday 28^th June: Western Force 7-54 Lions

Wednesday 2^nd July: Reds 12-52 Lions

Saturday 5^th July: Waratahs 10-21 Lions

Wednesday 9^th July: Brumbies 24-36 Lions

Saturday 12^th July: Invitational AU & NZ VS Lions

Saturday 19^th July: Australia vs Lions (First Test)

Tuesday 22^nd July: First Nations and Pasifika XV vs Lions

Saturday 26^th July: Australia vs Lions (Second Test)

Saturday 2^nd August: Australia vs Lions (Third Test)

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

14.⁠ ⁠ Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #867

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

12.⁠ ⁠ Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #863

11.⁠ ⁠ Duhan van Der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby/Scotland) #841

10.⁠ ⁠ Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England) #862

9.⁠ ⁠ Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland) #883

1.⁠ ⁠ Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland) #868

2.⁠ ⁠ Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England) #851

3.⁠ ⁠ Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877

4.⁠ ⁠ James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #880

5.⁠ ⁠ Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) #838 (c)

6.⁠ ⁠ Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England) #865

7.⁠ ⁠ Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales) #861

8.⁠ ⁠ Ben Earl (Saracens/ England) #857

16.⁠ ⁠ Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864

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

18.⁠ ⁠ Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #856

19.⁠ ⁠ Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #869

20.⁠ ⁠ Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #874

21.⁠ ⁠ Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England) #860

22.⁠ ⁠ Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855

23.⁠ ⁠ Owen Farrell (Saracens/England) #780

While some players have grabbed their chances, others have faltered at the worst possible moment.

Whether it’s form, fitness, or simply being outplayed by teammates, these four big names look set to miss out when the Lions take on the Wallabies in the Test arena.

There was a real sense that Fin Smith needed a standout showing to stay in the mix for the No.10 jersey — especially with Owen Farrell lurking and Marcus Smith offering more versatility.

Instead, the Saints fly-half delivered two underwhelming performances. He looked nervy against Argentina and struggled to control the game against the Waratahs, forcing too much and paying the price with errors.

With Finn Russell locked in and both Farrell and Marcus Smith ahead of him, Fin’s Test hopes have likely faded.

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The Lions scrum was meant to be a weapon — but against the Western Force, it was anything but. Schoeman struggled to assert himself and was part of a front row that got bullied.

With Ellis Genge putting in a dominant display the previous week, the Scottish loosehead couldn’t have picked a worse time to fall short. His usual power and edge just weren’t there.

Ireland’s Andrew Porter looks primed to take the bench role, leaving Schoeman on the outside looking in.

Four years ago, Duhan van der Merwe was the Lions’ wrecking ball. But this tour, he’s looked sluggish, short on sharpness, and lacking his usual cutting edge.

Injuries have clearly disrupted his preparation, and it’s shown. Defensively vulnerable and ineffective in attack, he’s lost serious ground.

With James Lowe and Tommy Freeman both impressing, it’s hard to see how Duhan forces his way back into the Test conversation in time.

Few positions are more hotly contested than openside flanker — and Tom Curry just hasn’t done enough to separate himself. Against the Brumbies, he worked hard and managed an assist, but it wasn’t clean.

Turnovers, penalties, and a second-half fade led to an early substitution. Meanwhile, Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier are ticking all the boxes, and Ben Earl’s versatility adds even more value.

Curry’s class is undeniable, but on current form, he looks set to miss the Test 23.