Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson are set to make their debuts for the British and Irish Lions in the tourists’ final midweek game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Tuesday (kick-off 8pm local time/11am Irish).
Osborne is named at outside centre, partnering Owen Farrell in midfield, and is one of four Irish players named in the Lions’ starting XV along with Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Josh van der Flier up front.
Farrell, called up as a replacement for Elliot Daly for his fourth Lions tour, has been named as captain by his father Andy in what will be the player’s 20th Lions appearance.
Clarkson is included among the replacements to cap his breakthrough season, as is Garry Ringrose, which suggests the Irish outside centre is under serious consideration for Saturday’s second Test in front of a 90,000-plus crowd at the MCG. Ringrose missed the last Saturday’s 29-17 win over the Wallabies in the first Test through the delayed concussion he suffered in the win over the Brumbies almost two weeks ago.
READ MORE
Osborne and Clarkson will thus become take Ireland’s representation on this tour to 18 players, of which 14 are from Leinster.
Andy Farrell's Lions fire the first shot in Australia
Mack Hansen, who was also ruled out of consideration for the first Test due to the foot injury he sustained in the win over an Invitational XV in Adelaide last Saturday week, is the only player in the expanded 45-man squad not to feature either last Saturday or in this game against the Pasifika XV.
Blair Kinghorn returns from the knee injury he suffered against the Brumbies to start at fullback in an all-Scottish back three featuring Darcy Graham (also making his Lions debut) and Duhan van der Merwe. Another Scot, Ben White, will partner Fin Smith at halfback.
Bealham will make his third Lions start alongside Pierre Schoeman and Jamie George, a veteran of the last two tours who will make his 11th appearance in the Lions’ red jersey after earning a late call-up. Ryan has also been afforded his third Lions start alongside Scott Cummings, as is Van der Flier, who last started against the Waratahs 2½ weeks ago. Jac Morgan, starts at six with Henry Pollock at number eight.
There are another couple of recent Scottish call-ups in line for their Lions debuts off the bench: hooker Ewan Ashman and lock Gregor Brown. The only players from the matchday 23 in the first Test being asked to back up are the reserve half-backs Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith, and backrow Ben Earl.
Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby has indicated that both Joe McCarthy and Hansen could be in consideration for Saturday’s second Test, although both missed training on Monday.
“Joe is just recovering from that foot issue he had on the weekend, and that’s just a wait and see type of injury. Mack, it’s probably just a bit too soon in terms of playing tomorrow, but he’s in good shape.
Easterby added that Hansen is “certainly on track” to be in the mix for the second Test. “It’s probably one of those where we just have to get through the next 24-48 hours and then make a decision based on how he’s recovering and how he’s been doing over the last few days.”
The Irish defence coach and interim head coach during the Six Nations, when Osborne started against Wales and France, and Clarkson played in all but the Italian game, couldn’t hide his pleasure in the pair making their Lions debuts.
“Tom’s fought through a pretty tough position at Leinster, never mind in the Irish squad, and he’s put in some brilliant performances. He really has stood up and bringing them on the Emerging Ireland tour. He was certainly someone that we felt could step up over the next couple of years, but he’s been excellent.
“He’s fought for everything and in a pretty tough position where being a tighthead probably takes a good few years to learn your trade, he’s certainly in a really good place.
“Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer, his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13, wing, 15, it was pretty impressive, the positions he can cover and the quality that he brings to the group as well.
“I’m really pleased with the two of them. They fully deserve being here and no doubt they’ll perform really well tomorrow.”
BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS: B Kinghorn (Scotland); D Graham (Scotland), J Osborne (Ireland), O Farrell (England, capt),D van der Merwe (Scotland); F Smith (England), B White (Scotland); P Schoeman (Scotland), J George (England), F Bealham (Ireland); J Ryan (Ireland), S Cummings (Scotland); J Morgan (Wales), J van der Flier (Ireland), H Pollock (England).
Replacements: E Ashman (Scotland), R Sutherland (Scotland), T Clarkson (Ireland), G Brown (Scotland), B Earl (England), A Mitchell (England), M Smith (England), G Ringrose (Ireland).
FIRST NATIONS AND PASIFIKA XV: Andy Muirhead (First Nations); Triston Reilly (First Nations), Lalakai Foketi (Maori & Tonga), David Feliuai (Samoa), Filipo Daugunu (Fiji); Kurtley Beale (First Nations, capt), Kalani Thomas (Maori); Lington Ieli (Fiji), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Samoa), Taniela Tupou (Tonga); Darcy Swain (Samoa), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Samoa); Seru Uru (Fiji), Charlie Gamble (Tonga), Tuaina Taii Tualima (Samoa).
Replacements: Richie Asiata (Samoa), Marley Pearce (Maori & First Nations), Mesake Doge (Fiji), Mesake Vocevoce (Fiji), Rob Leota (Samoa), Harrison Goddard (First Nations), Jack Debreczeni (Cook Island), Jarrah McLeod (First Nations).
