New South Wales Waratahs v British and Irish Lions Venue:Sydney Football Stadium, SydneyDate:Saturday, 5 JulyKick-off:11:00 BST Coverage:Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app Munster lock Tadhg Beirne made two Test appearances for the Lions on their tour of South Africa in 2021 On a day in Sydney dominated by coach Andy Farrell calling up his son, Owen, as replacement for the injured Elliot Daly, Irishman Tadhg Beirne was named as captain of the British and Irish Lions team to play the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday. In a team showing 14 changes from the one that saw off the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, Hugo Keenan will make his first appearance at full-back with wing Blair Kinghorn also making his Lions debut. Huw Jones, the only player going back-to-back from Brisbane, starts alongside his Scotland midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu for the first time on tour. The Northampton half-backs, Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell, take over from Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park. Henry Pollock is back in the line-up at blindside. The Lions packed up and moved on from Brisbane to Sydney where the news about Farrell's call-up began to emerge. Farrell, a fly-half-cum-inside centre, replaced the deeply unfortunate Daly, a wing-cum-full-back-cum-outside centre. It is a hugely controversial call by his father and his fellow coaches given he isn't exactly a like-for-like switch. Farrell, 33, has recently left Racing and returned to Saracens after an unhappy spell in France. He hasn't played any rugby since getting concussed in a game against Lyon on 4 May. He only lasted 18 minutes that day, and hasn't played since. An undoubtedly great player in his day, Farrell hasn't played Test rugby since England's bronze medal game against Argentina at the World Cup in October 2023, a whopping 615 days ago. At the time he said he was taking the decision to stand back from the Test arena in order to focus on his and his family's mental well-being. British and Irish Lions:Keenan, Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Kinghorn, Smith, Mitchell; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham, Beirne, Ryan, Pollock, Van der Flier, Earl Replacements:Sheehan, Genge, Furlong, McCarthy, Cummings. Morgan, White, M Smith
Beirne to lead Lions against Waratahs in Sydney
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"Tadhg Beirne Named Captain of British and Irish Lions for Match Against Waratahs"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
In a significant announcement for the British and Irish Lions, Munster lock Tadhg Beirne has been appointed as captain for the upcoming match against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, July 5. This decision comes after a day filled with notable changes, including the call-up of Owen Farrell, son of head coach Andy Farrell, to replace the injured Elliot Daly. Beirne's leadership will be critical as the Lions make a staggering 14 changes to their lineup from the previous match where they triumphed over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. Among the new faces, Hugo Keenan will step in as full-back for his first appearance, while wing Blair Kinghorn will also make his debut. The midfield pairing of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu marks an exciting collaboration on the tour, and the Northampton half-backs, Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell, will take over the playmaking duties from Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park, respectively. Additionally, Henry Pollock returns to the squad at blindside, adding depth to the Lions' forwards as they transition to Sydney for this pivotal encounter.
The announcement regarding Farrell's selection has sparked controversy, as he is not a direct replacement for Daly due to his different playing style. After an extended absence from the field due to a concussion sustained in May, Farrell's return to rugby comes after a long hiatus of 615 days, during which he had focused on his mental well-being. His last appearance in Test rugby was during the bronze medal match against Argentina at the World Cup in October 2023. The Lions aim to build on their momentum from the previous match, and with Beirne at the helm, the team is poised to deliver a strong performance against the Waratahs. The match will be held at the Sydney Football Stadium, with kick-off slated for 11:00 BST, and fans can follow the action through live text commentary available on the BBC Sport website and app.
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