Keenan and Kinghorn start for Lions against Waratahs as Owen Farrell jets in

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Andy Farrell has made some big calls - AFP/David Gray

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Owen Farrell, the former England captain, has been confirmed as Elliot Daly’s replacement as Lions head coach Andy Farrell makes 14 changes for their warm-up games against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday.

As exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport, Farrell will become a four-time Lions tourist, a feat only matched by Brian O’Driscoll and Alun Wyn Jones in the professional era after utility back Daly was confirmed to have fractured his arm. He suffered the injury in the process of making a tackle on opposite number Jock Campbell in the 52-12 victory over the Queensland Reds on Wednesday night.

“It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over,” Andy Farrell said. “He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours. Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”

Scotland centre Huw Jones is the only player to be retained from the starting XV with Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne captaining a team full of eye-catching selections. Full-back Hugo Keenan, who has recovered from a sickness bug, and Blair Kinghorn, who moves to the wing, make their first starts of the tour with Mack Hansen completing the back three.

For the first time there is an all-Scotland centre pairing of Jones with Sione Tuipulotu with Northampton and England teammates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith taking the reins at half-back. In the back row, Andy Farrell has opted to pick three athletic flankers in Henry Pollock, who has now started at 6, 7 and 8, along with Josh van der Flier and Ben Earl.

In the second row, Beirne partners Ireland teammate James Ryan, who makes his first start of the tour, while up front Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Finlay Bealham are selected together for the first time. There is further intrigue on the bench where Farrell has opted for a six-two split with Jac Morgan, the man of the match against the Reds, backing up, while Ben White could make his first appearance of the trip having replaced the injured Tomas Williams.

“Congratulations to Tadhg who will lead the side on Saturday night - and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts,” Andy Farrell said. “The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”

While the arrival of Farrell will take centre stage, the loss of Daly should not be understated having barely put a foot wrong in his three tour matches so far. “To be a three-times tourist like Elliot means you have to be a world-class player over an extended period of time,” Lions tour manager Ieuan Evans said. “But not only is Elliot a world-class player, he is also a wonderful Lion who is much-loved by his teammates and our fans. So we all feel for him right now. Both on and off the field, Elliot can be immensely proud of his contribution on this Tour of Australia. He will be sorely missed and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

Lions team to face NSW Waratahs​

15. Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
14. Mack Hansen (Ireland)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
11. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
10. Fin Smith (England)
9. Alex Mitchell (England)
1. Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (England)
3. Finlay Bealham (Ireland)
4. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) (c)
5. James Ryan (Ireland)
6. Henry Pollock (England)
7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
8. Ben Earl (England)

Replacements
16. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
17. Ellis Genge (England)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
19. Joe McCarthy (Ireland)
20. Scott Cummings (Scotland)
21. Jac Morgan (Wales)
22. Ben White (Scotland)
23. Marcus Smith (England)

More to follow...

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12:27 PM BST​

Views on the 23 to face Waratahs​

Both Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn, who are the two main contenders to start at full-back for the Test series, are named in the starting XV for Saturday, with Keenan at 15 and Kinghorn on the wing. Keenan was due to start at 15 yesterday before pulling out due to illness. Kinghorn did start on the wing for Toulouse in the Top 14 final last weekend but probably the main reason why he is deployed quite often on the wing for Toulouse is because they have Thomas Ramos to play at full-back. When you cast your eye to the bench, Andy Farrell has named a six-two forwards-backs split on the bench, with debutant Ben White and Marcus Smith providing cover for the backs.

What do you make of the matchday 23 for Saturday? Do you think Andy Farrell would consider going for a six-two split in the Test series? You can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.

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12:19 PM BST​

Telegraph Rugby Podcast​

Go beyond the back pages and join the Telegraph’s rugby experts and big name guests as they tackle the game’s most interesting trends, themes and talking points. Our unrivalled rugby coverage, now available on the move! New episodes out Mondays.

Follow the Rugby Podcast Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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12:17 PM BST​

Get your fix​

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12:13 PM BST​

Proud moment for the Beirne family​

Skipper for Saturday! #Lions2025pic.twitter.com/48jlSxBSLV

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 3, 2025

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12:09 PM BST​

Owen called up​

He has only just re-joined Saracens after a year in Paris with Racing 92 but he will be on a plane very soon out to Sydney. Perhaps he will be on the Emirates flight from London Gatwick to Sydney, taking off at 2.30pm this afternoon that has a stop-off in Dubai which gets into Sydney tomorrow evening.

Called up to his fourth Tour, @owen_faz is a Lion once again. #YourSaracens #WeGoBeyondpic.twitter.com/jUdXAWyAXF

— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) July 3, 2025

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12:04 PM BST​

View from the opposition​

Former Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar is in charge of the Waratahs and he has been speaking about the excitement of the challenge facing his side:

“It is a big game. Everyone wants to play in it. Like every week, the boys all want to be involved,” McKellar said. “There have been some tough decisions, as always; but we are comfortable with the 23 that we have got.

“We do not want to go out there and perform for the occasion. We want to go out there and perform well. We have worked incredibly hard over the last month since Super Rugby finished for us. I want to see a transfer of that and put a performance on that we can hang our hat on.

“We want to challenge them and do the Wallabies a few favours and try to expose them. It is a special event against some of the best players in the world. Not a lot of coaches and players are fortunate enough to have it fall within their career span, being only every twelve years. So, you have got to be grateful for that and be excited by it. Now, we have to go out there and perform and make sure we are excited by the performance that we deliver.”

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12:00 PM BST​

What Owen Farrell said just a few weeks ago​

"My focus is to get myself right, get myself in a good place"

Owen Farrell coy on potential Lions recall when asked in June pic.twitter.com/GZlydd86Aw

— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 3, 2025

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11:56 AM BST​

More of your reaction​

• Nick Parker: “So in all likelihood, unless Farrell is getting dropped straight into the test team at 12, Marcus Smith isn’t going to get a start in his first choice position before the first test. Because Brumbies is going to be the test probables and Owen will get a start against the invitational team on the Saturday. I might not rate him as highly as others as a test 10, but I feel sorry for him.”
• Anti Mony: “This lions team should slaughter the tahs...”
• David Joy: “Brace yourself Farrell. Expect people to take cheap shots.”
• The Long Hard Road: “How is Farrell a replacement for Daly at full-back. What am I missing?”
• Simon Smith: “Don’t understand this - OF has had a pretty average season in France and gets parachuted in????”

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11:53 AM BST​

Your views​

• Paddy Gilling: “That is a fast back row. Maybe a little lightweight but should be fun. Gutted for Daly, he was a certainty for the test team and probably playing his best rugby in years. Such a shame to have him injured in a game he wasn’t meant to have anything but a brief cameo in. Hopefully Keenan and Kinghorn go well. 15 is looking risky at the moment.”
• Loopy Loser: “Andy is disrespecting the Lions, and disrespecting other players such as Darcy Graham and his son’s supposed good mate, George Ford. Rapidly losing my appetite for this tour!
• Rory Kirkwood: “Like this squad selection. But clearly the Faz news is already casting a shadow over the tour. I can’t see where he’d even fit into a club game squad, let alone a test. Just begs the question; why?”
• Dermot McCrum: “Picking Owen Farrell is smart. Daly is an experienced Lion and likely part of a leadership group. Farrell has that in spades, and I suspect his selection is as much driven by Sexton who knows him well and rates him highly. Neither of the 12s - Tuipulotu or Aki - have been pulling up trees in their performances. If nothing else, it will serve to push them further.”

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11:50 AM BST​

The two teams on Saturday​

British and Irish Lions starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Tadhg Beirne (c), 5 James Ryan, 6 Henry Pollock, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements:16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ben White, 23 Marcus Smith.

Waratahs starting XV: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson; 1 Tom Lambert, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Miles Amatosero, 6 Rob Leota, 7 Charlie Gamble, 8 Hugh Sinclair (c).

Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Henry O’Donnell.

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11:46 AM BST​

When will Owen play?​

Good question. The Lions have three warm-up games before the first Test:

Saturday 5th July: Waratahs vs Lions

Wednesday 9th July: Brumbies vs Lions

Saturday 12th July: Invitational AU & NZ VS Lions

Owen is not available for the Waratahs game and it may be a stretch to see him involved against the Brumbies in just under a week considering he will only arrive in Australia on Friday night. Not long to get up to speed before the Test series begins. Andy has said that he feels the timing is right to bring Owen into the fold.

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11:41 AM BST​

Andy Farrell looking ahead to Saturday​

“The squad we have picked for Saturday is exciting. We have some different combinations and at the top of that is Tadhg Beirne coming in as captain so he was honoured and delighted. It took him aback when I told him and that is exactly the type of reaction you want.”

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There will be three Lions debutants on Saturday and Tadhg Beirne will captain the side - Steve Christo/Getty Images

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11:39 AM BST​

Andy Farrell on Daly and Farrell​

“They are best mates. It sums up the bloke Elliot is that when he realised it was Owen replacing him he was delighted for him. It was bad news for Elliot but it shows the manner of the bloke. I think they have been on the phone together.”

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11:35 AM BST​

Owen to play 12?​

Listening to Andy Farrell during his team announcement press conference, the first position he mentioned in reference to Owen was inside centre before then saying fly-half. Does that suggest Andy may see a role for Owen at 12 for the Tests? Back in 2017 on the tour to New Zealand, Owen started the second and third Tests outside Jonny Sexton, who is on the coaching staff for this tour.

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11:27 AM BST​

Andy Farrell on injuries​

“I hope it is not a trend [the injuries] but it is the sport we all sign up for and play. History tells us injuries happen on a tour like this, especially when the games are coming thick and fast like they are. You think you are going ok with injuries and across the board we are but we have suffered two bad injuries.

“Jamison [Gibson-Park] is good and it was good to get minutes into players like him. Ben [White] is here and up to speed. We are excited to see him get his first shot at putting a Lions shirt on off the bench on the weekend.”

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11:21 AM BST​

Andy Farrell on Elliot Daly​

“He is an unbelievably popular bloke amongst the group and he is vastly experienced. He has not only got 70-odd Test caps but in a Lions shirt he is somewhat of a Lions legend. 16 times he has put the Lions shirt on, 11 consecutive games, which it is amazing. A very experienced player who was back to his best. It is very sad.

“We have just sent him off to he airport and he was the one to announce the line-up for the Waratahs game so that was a nice touch.”

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11:15 AM BST​

Your reaction​

• Rory Kirkwood: “Calling up Owen isn’t just a bad call because there are better players in his position(s) available. It’s bad for Itoje’s captaincy, and it could be bad for squad cohesion. Owen is a known “standards driver” aka gives players grief for not training to his ideal, and some of the fun factor of the tour is probably going to wither. The only good rationale I can stretch for with Owen being called up is to give him a sort of player/coach role, aligning with his new Sarries contract. So he’d be there for training and input, rather than having much of a chance of playing.”
• Brian Rowlands: “We now have the potential exciting option of replicating the successful combination of Sexton/Farrell at 10/12 except Finn Russell in Sexton’s shoes; looking at the matches so far the 12 position has not been firmed up by anyone, so this unexpectedly gives Farrell the shot at 12 in the Test side.”
• Simon Cross: “Looks as if the test 15 is slowly getting there. You’d expect the Test side to play next week, barring switches between starting and bench. There’s no way that back row will play vs Aus as a unit, and if McCarthy has another blinder, Beirne will have to play 6, or nowhere. As Conan is a shoo-in for 8, and Morgan favourite for 7 after yesterday, those 3 are probably competing for a bench place. Nobody much has said it, but Mitchell has added a lot when he’s come on, and this one could be big for him.”

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11:09 AM BST​

More from Andy Farrell​

“If he [Owen] did not have a chance (of getting in the Test team) then what is the point?”

On the competition at fly-half?

“We have said from minute one we want competition.”

Completed return to play protocols?

“He has gone through all the processes. He is up to speed.”

On lack of form/fitness?

“That is what experience gives you doesn’t it. He is the right man for this moment in time for us. We know how much he looks after himself and applies himself. He has not played in quite some time.

“He did not cry like Finlay (Bealham)! I suppose that is what happens when you are going on your fourth tour. Owen was delighted and it was a very short conversation.”

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11:06 AM BST​

The thoughts of Lions head coach Andy Farrell​

“What we need for the squad in the here and now with Elliot [Daly] going and the options we have at 15...he [Owen Farrell] can play 12 and obviously 10 as well. He replaces the experience that Elliot has. It is not just the experience in terms of the playing side, it is how he makes the group feel.

“He [Owen] is fit otherwise he would not have been selected. I know the guys have been keeping in touch with him. He has been training for quite some time now.

“It is what you do in the here and now. He gets here late Friday night and I am sure he will be dying to get into it.”

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Andy Farrell has called up his son Owen to the squad to replace the injured Elliot Daly - Saeed Khan/Getty Images

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11:03 AM BST​

Mairs’ verdict​

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Arguably the two most important debuts of the tour will see Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn occupy two of the back three positions against the Waratahs on Saturday.

Following confirmation that Elliot Daly’s tour is over and Owen Farrell is his injury replacement, it is now imperative that Keenan and Kinghorn not only come through unscathed but also hit the ground running.

Keenan’s selection at full-back suggests that he has been given the first opportunity to nail down the full-back position, having recovered from his illness that ruled him out of the victory over the Queensland Reds.

Yet Kinghorn’s selection on the wing will surely see them rotate in the backfield, bringing a potency to the Lions attacking game. Given the pair’s lack of game time – Kinghorn only arrived on Monday following his Top 14 commitments – it is almost certain that at least one of them will be required to play again on Wednesday against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

Significantly the back row selection also looks like becoming a final trial between the three openside flankers. Josh van der Flier is in pole position, but Ben Earl and Henry Pollock will both hold high expectations of forcing themselves into contention.

The selection of Tadgh Beirne as captain and in the second row suggests that it is highly unlikely now that he will be considered as a blindside flanker. Given Joe McCarthy’s barnstorming display against the Western Force, he will be eager for a big display.

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Hugo Keenan starts at full-back after illness ruled him out of the match against the Queensland Reds - David Rogers/Getty Images

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10:56 AM BST​

Waratahs drop their team news​

Former Leicester Tigers head coach Dan McKellar has named his Waratahs side to take on the Lions. They have been boosted by the availability of the likes of Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway, who both start, whilst Australian internationals Matt Philip and Tane Edmed are among those looking to make their mark off the bench.

Our 23 to take on the British & Irish Lions this Saturday Night #wearetahspic.twitter.com/q1J9hAA1Uq

— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) July 3, 2025

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10:51 AM BST​

Lions team selector​

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10:46 AM BST​

Kinghorn jets into Lions camp after Top 14 party​

One of the Lions debutants on Saturday will be Scotland and Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn, who will start on the wing against the Waratahs. He joined up late with the squad due to his involvement with Toulouse in the Top 14. He started the final against Bordeaux as Toulouse ran out 39-33 winners after extra time. Daniel Schofield has all the latest on Kinghorn, including how he woke up tour captain Maro Itoje!

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Blair Kinghorn set to make his Lions debut on Saturday - David Rogers/Getty Images

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10:40 AM BST​

Owen jetting in​

The Lions have now confirmed that with Elliot Daly being ruled out of the tour with a fractured forearm, Owen Farrell has been called up as his replacement. He is set to join up with the squad in Sydney on Friday evening. What do you make of that? Would have you called up Farrell as Daly’s replacement? Were there better options to replace Daly? These were some of the names that our very own Daniel Schofield proposed as possible replacements in the back line before it was confirmed that Farrell had been called up:

Tom Jordan (Scotland)​

The Bristol Bears-bound back can happily cover fly-half, centre and full-back. He also benefits from geographical proximity being based a short hop away in New Zealand for Scotland’s match against the Maori this weekend. Jordan would add an extra playmaking option to the back line but also boasts deceptive pace. New Zealand born, Jordan qualified to play for Scotland on residency grounds.

Jamie Osborne (Ireland)​

Perhaps the ultimate Mr Versatile, Obsorne has popped up at 11, 12, 13 and 15 and many fancied him to make the original squad on the basis of his flexibility. At 6ft 3in, Osborne is physically imposing and has a growing fan club in Ireland where former Lions centre Gordon D’Arcy described him as a Rolls Royce of a centre. Farrell too values his organisational abilities and his distribution qualities. He is, however, currently in Georgia for Ireland’s tour, which would delay his arrival in Australia considerably.

Blair Murray (Wales)​

It is never easy to stand out at Test level, but it is especially hard to catch the eye when you are playing for a side in the midst of a 17-Test losing run, which is what Murray managed in this year’s Six Nations. Murray has electric feet, meeting a Welsh record 11 defenders, in the loss to Ireland earlier this year and can cover full-back, wing or fly-half. He is currently in Japan for Wales’s tour so would be able to join up with the squad relatively quickly.

Remember you can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.

All set for his fourth Lions Tour, Owen Farrell will join the squad in Sydney! #Lions2025pic.twitter.com/uSN79obHk0

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 3, 2025

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10:34 AM BST​

Proud day for Beirne​

Tadhg Beirne is now the third player to lead the Lions this tour, with Maro Itoje tour captain and Ireland team-mate Dan Sheehan leading the group against the Force.

When Beirne was named captain of Munster last year, he did joke about it, saying after his first run-out with the accolade, “I realised it’s just a tag on your name sometimes, even in today’s game half the time you don’t really need a captain, the ref’s not really listening to you anyway!”

Back then he did add, though, that” there’s certainly an onus on you to perform and I kind of enjoy that bit of pressure to make sure I was performing to a certain standard as well, it just gives you an extra kick to make sure you’re setting the standards for everyone around you.”

What an honour for the Munster star.

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Beirne will become the second Irishman on the tour to captain the Lions after Dan Sheehan - Brian Lawless/PA

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10:33 AM BST​

The thoughts of Lions tour manager Ieuan Evans​

“To be a three-times tourist like Elliot [Daly] means you have to be a world-class player over an extended period of time. But not only is Elliot a world-class player, he is also a wonderful Lion who is much-loved by his teammates and our fans. So we all feel for him right now.

“Both on and off the field, Elliot can be immensely proud of his contribution on this tour of Australia. He will be sorely missed and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

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10:31 AM BST​

Squad update​

The Lions have confirmed that Elliot Daly has been ruled out of the rest of the Tour with a fractured forearm. Daly sustained the injury against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane yesterday. Owen Farrell has been called up as Daly’s replacement and will join the squad in Sydney on Friday evening. Owen, Lion #780, has been called up to his fourth Tour having made 18 appearances for the Lions across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 tours. Here is what head coach Andy Farrell has had to say on Daly’s injury and Owen’s call-up.

“It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over. He is a Lions legend who has added so much to the group on and off the field over the past few weeks and over the course of three Tours. Owen will now come in and add to our options and bring his own Lions experience to the group.”

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10:30 AM BST​

Beirne to captain side​

Tadhg Beirne will captain the British and Irish Lions against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Northampton and England duo Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith are in the half-back positions.

Leinster and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan and Toulouse and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will make their Lions debuts from the start whilst Ben White, called up after Tomos Williams’ injury, will make his Lions debut off the bench.

“Congratulations to Tadhg [Beirne] who will lead the side on Saturday night, and also to Blair [Kinghorn], Hugo [Keenan] and Ben [White] who will all make their Lions debuts,” said Lions head coach Andy Farrell. “The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”

Lions team to face the Waratahs:

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland)
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
11. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/ Scotland)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England)
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England)
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland)
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) (c)
5. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
6. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens/ England)

Replacements:

16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/ England)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
19. Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
20. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland)
21. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales)
22. Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England)

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10:26 AM BST​

Lions player ratings from yesterday’s victory over the Queensland Reds​

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The British and Irish Lions overcame a scrappy start to cruise to a 52-12 victory over Queensland Reds at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday.

The win follows a warm-up defeat by Argentina in Dublin and a victory over Western Force in Perth as Andy Farrell’s side build towards the first Test on July 19.

Here is Telegraph Sport’s analysis of who put their hand up for a Test start and who took a step back.

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10:15 AM BST​

‘Duhan van der Merwe is not an elite winger and should be nowhere near the Lions Test team’​

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If you were to play a rugby version of Frankenstein and construct your ideal Test winger, the finished product would look something pretty close to Duhan van der Merwe.

At 6ft 4in and close to 17 stone, Van der Merwe has all the physical gifts you could possibly wish for in a wing. Once he hits top end speed, the 30-year-old is like a rubbish truck rolling down the hill without the brakes on. You can try to stop it, but it isn’t going to end well for you. No winger has terrorised England so consistently since Jonah Lomu from back in the day.

But like the scarecrow from The Wizard of the Oz, Van der Merwe lacks the crucial commodity in the top two inches to be a genuine elite winger. Earlier this week, the Reds coaches treated the travelling journalists to a couple of cans of Castlemaine XXXX. With little prompting, it seemed they were rubbing their hands at the presence of Van der Merwe on the British and Irish Lions teamsheet. They knew the threats he posed in open field, but they also recognised the opportunities he presented

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Will Duhan van der Merwe make the Test matchday 23? - Albert Perez/Getty Images

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10:08 AM BST​

Lions tour schedule​

Friday 20th June: Lions 24-28 Argentina

Saturday 28th June: Western Force 7-54 Lions

Yesterday: Reds 12-52 Lions

Saturday 5th July: Waratahs vs Lions

Wednesday 9th July: Brumbies vs Lions

Saturday 12th July: Invitational AU & NZ VS Lions

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

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

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

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

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10:02 AM BST​

‘I know Farrell has his spark back – his Lions call-up could be a masterstroke’​

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But what the squad would miss, if Daly’s tour was brought to a cruel premature end, was his experience as a three-times tourist. As his replacement, Farrell will not only provide cover at fly-half and inside centre, and bring big-game goal-kicking skills, but also that priceless knowledge of what it takes to win a Lions tour in Australia, having been part of Warren Gatland’s 2013 series victory.

It might be a tough call-up for Marcus Smith, but the Farrell/Farrell father-and-son dynamic has always been utterly professional. It is certain that Farrell junior’s selection will have also have had support from key assistant coaches such as Richard Wigglesworth, his former team-mate at Saracens, and Johnny Sexton, his former Lions team-mate and fierce international rival.

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09:55 AM BST​

Farrell to be called up to Lions squad​

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Owen Farrell, the former England fly-half, will receive a sensational call-up to the Lions tour, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

Full-back Elliot Daly suffered a suspected broken forearm in the 52-12 victory against the Queensland Reds. The Lions will get the result of an X-ray that Daly undertook on Wednesday night after leaving the Suncorp Stadium in a sling.

Should their worst fears be confirmed, then Telegraph Sport understands that Daly’s new Saracens team-mate, Farrell, will be his replacement, with the Lions expected to confirm the news shortly.

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Owen set to join his father Andy in Australia? - Phill Magakoe/Getty Images

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09:49 AM BST​

Who will feature on Saturday against the Waratahs?​

Good morning and welcome to the team announcement for the British and Irish Lions game against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday in Sydney. The Lions go into the Waratahs game off the back of a resounding 52-12 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, running in eight tries, which followed an emphatic win over Western Force in Perth last weekend in the Lions’ first game down under.

That victory though was marred by a serious injury to Elliot Daly, who went off in the second half with a suspected broken foreram. Daly was not actually due to play yesterday but was called into action after Hugo Keenan pulled out late due to illness. Telegraph Sport has revealed that Owen Farrell is the front-runner to receive a call-up to replace his Saracens team-mate Daly. If Farrell is called up as expected, he will not arrive in time for Saturday’s match.

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Full-back Elliot Daly has suffered a suspected broken forearm

Saturday’s game should represent first games of the tour for Scottish pair Blair Kinghorn and Ben White. Kinghorn joined up with the squad late due to his commitments with club side Toulouse as he started their Top 14 final victory over Bordeaux last weekend. White, who was with the Scotland squad in New Zealand, was called up earlier this week due to the tour-ending hamstring injury suffered by Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams in the win over Western Force last weekend, thus potentially making it two tour-ending injuries in a matter of days for Andy Farrell’s side.

Twelve years ago the Lions beat the Waratahs 47-17, with Leigh Halfpenny scoring 30 of the Lions’ points. With the first Test in Brisbane just over two weeks away, every training session and game could prove crucial for players pushing their case for a place in the Test side. Stay tuned for all the team news when it is announced.

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