Hurls out as the Lions prepare for stellar ‘Tahs test’
The British and Irish Lions’ tour down under rumbles on this Saturday as they go down to Sydney to face the New South Wales Waratahs.
Andy Farrell has yet again made numerous changes to his starting team, though there’s no spot for his son Owen after he was called into the squad to replace the injured Elliot Daly.
Tadhg Beirne is named as captain of the side in place of Maro Itoje to become the second Irish captain of this tour after Dan Sheehan’s spell as skipper against the Western Force.
Tadhg Beirne during a British & Irish Lions captain’s run at North Sydney Oval in Sydney Pic:Steve Christo/Sportsfile
Beirne also becomes the seventh Munster man to captain the Lions after Tom Kiernan, Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray.
There was definitely a Munster feel to the captains’ run as Jack Conan popped up with a hurl and was caught hitting a few shots with Englishman Ben Earl.
Jack Conan plays hurling after a British & Irish Lions captain’s run Pic: Steve Christo/Sportsfile
Wicklow man Jack Conan has spoken a few times about his love for GAA recently. In the run up to Leinster’s URC final against the Bulls Conan spoke about his memories of Wicklow winning the Tommy Murphy Cup at Croke Park back in 2007.
He would subsequently be the man that lifted the URC trophy at GAA HQ after Leinster were resounding winners against their South African rivals.
Conan showed Ben Earls, who’s starting in place of him this Saturday, a few tricks and got the England and Saracens star to hit a few sliotars across the pitch during the captain’s run.
Ben Earl during a British & Irish Lions captain’s run Pic:Steve Christo/Sportsfile
Earl will be joined by Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock in the back row as Andy Farrell has named another six Irish players in this Saturday’s starting team. Van der Flier will be joined by Finlay Bealham, Beirne, James Ryan, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan who is looking to finally make his Lions debut after he was a late withdrawal from Wednesday’s game against the Reds due to illness.
Keenan along with Scots Ben White and Blair Kinghorn are all set to make their Lions debut. Both Scots joined the camp late, White as a replacement for the injured Tomos Williams and Kinghorn made his way down under after playing a starring role as Toulouse won the Top 14 final after an extra-time win over Bordeaux-Begles.
Dan Sheehan along with Tadhg Furlong are on the bench as Andy Farrell goes for a 6/2 split with White and Marcus Smith covering the backline on the bench.
The Waratahs will offer a stern challenge to the Lions in the form of their star man, the ‘Tongan Thor’ Taniela Tupou. Tupou is one of the strongest players on the planet and when fit, is impossible to stop.
He is joined by Wallaby winger Andrew Kellaway who has been released from the Wallabies squad to play in this match. A former Northampton Saint, Kellaway is a stellar winger who offers huge amount of pace.
You can catch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action at 11am on Saturday.
