Andy Farrell has named his squad for the British and Irish Lions’ First Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday, making history with his selections.
The lineup features an all-Scottish midfield - fly-half and two centres - for the first time ever, as Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones all get the nod for this weekend’s showdown at Suncorp Stadium, with Garry Ringrose ruled out due to concussion.
Irishmen and Englishmen make up the rest of the contingent, but there is no space for any Welshman in the matchday squad, with Jac Morgan not named among the 23.
That means that this is the first Lions Test squad not to feature a Welsh international since 1899.
Tom Curry will play at openside flanker ahead of Morgan and Irishman Josh van der Flier, while Tadhg Beirne gets the nod on the blindside ahead of England’s Ollie Chessum.
Jack Conan completes the back row at No8, and Joe McCarthy partners captain Maro Itoje at lock. At the front of the pack, Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong line up either side of hooker Dan Sheehan.
Jamison Gibson-Park gets the nod at scrum-half, and he will partner Russell at stand-off in an exciting duo.
However, there is no room for Farrell’s son Owen - a late and stunning arrival in Australia - in the squad, despite his cameo appearance in the 48-0 win over an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide last time out.
Instead, Marcus Smith earns a place on a 5-3 bench alongside Bundee Aki and Alex Mitchell, with Ronan Kelleher backing up Sheehan in the absence of Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Hugo Keenan will play at full-back, with Blair Kinghorn still yet to recover from the knee injury that he sustained against the Brumbies in Canberra. Tommy Freeman and James Lowe complete the back three out wide, with Mack Hansen missing with a foot issue.
“We are entering the business end of the tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,” Andy Farrell said.
“We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.
“It s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.”
British and Irish Lions XV: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong; Itoje (c), McCarthy; Beirne, Curry, Conan
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Aki
