{"id":50857,"date":"2025-07-17T02:11:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T06:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/british-and-irish-lions-tom-curry-sione-tuipulotu-start-first-test-vs-australia-as-owen-farrell-henry-pollock-miss-out-on-squad-rugby-union-news\/17\/07\/2025\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T02:12:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T06:12:04","slug":"british-and-irish-lions-tom-curry-sione-tuipulotu-start-first-test-vs-australia-as-owen-farrell-henry-pollock-miss-out-on-squad-rugby-union-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/british-and-irish-lions-tom-curry-sione-tuipulotu-start-first-test-vs-australia-as-owen-farrell-henry-pollock-miss-out-on-squad-rugby-union-news\/17\/07\/2025\/","title":{"rendered":"British and Irish Lions: Tom Curry, Sione Tuipulotu start first Test vs Australia as Owen Farrell, Henry Pollock miss out on squad | Rugby Union News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tom Curry and Sione Tuipulotu have won respective selection battles to start for the British and Irish Lions in Saturday’s first Test against Australia, in a squad which does not include Owen Farrell or Henry Pollock.<\/p>\n

Curry, who was competing with the likes of Jac Morgan, Josh van der Flier and Pollock, has been named to start at openside flanker in a back-row alongside Irish duo Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan, while Tuipulotu has earned the nod at 12 ahead of Bundee Aki – the latter listed among the replacements.<\/p>\n

Head coach Andy Farrell has included Marcus Smith on the bench ahead of fly-halves Fin Smith and Owen Farrell, likely leaning on the Harlequins man’s ability to cover at full-back with Blair Kinghorn out due to a knee strain and the only other specialist remaining on tour starting in Hugo Keenan. Elliot Daly has already departed following a forearm injury sustained against Queensland Reds.<\/p>\n

In terms of back-row cover on the bench, England’s Ben Earl has been selected instead of Pollock.<\/p>\n

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Wings Tommy Freeman and James Lowe combine with Keenan in the back-three, while Huw Jones starts at outside-centre to form an all-Scottish midfield with Tuipulotu.<\/p>\n

Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park are picked as the half-backs, with Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong forming the front-row. Joe McCarthy partners captain Maro Itoje at lock.<\/p>\n

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\n In midfield, Sione Tuipulotu (right) has been named to start ahead of Bundee Aki (left), with the latter among the replacements
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n


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We take at the best of Tuipulotu on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour so far <\/span>
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On the bench, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum and Alex Mitchell complete the squad alongside Earl, Smith and Aki.<\/p>\n

“We are entering the business end of the Tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,” head coach Andy Farrell said.<\/p>\n

“We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.<\/p>\n

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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n


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Ahead of this week’s opening Test against Australia, Sam Warburton, Anthony Watson and John Barclay pick their top three Lions legends<\/span>
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“It is 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.<\/p>\n

“We have seen a flood of Lions supporters on the streets of Brisbane this week and we are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red in the stands of the Suncorp Stadium cheering on the team.”<\/p>\n

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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n


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The wait is nearly over. The eagerly anticipated first Test between the British and Irish Lions and Australia takes place on Saturday, exclusively live on Sky Sports<\/span>
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Double injury blow for Wallabies<\/a><\/h3>\n

Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of Saturday’s first Test at Suncorp Stadium, with back-row Rob Valetini <\/strong>and lock Will Skelton both missing the clash due to respective calf injuries.<\/p>\n

Valetini – the back-to-back Australia Player of the Year and statistically their leading ball carrier for the last four years – is in a race against time to make the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday July 26.<\/p>\n

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\n Back-row Rob Valetini has been ruled out for Australia due to a calf injury
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Langi Gleeson, who started in place of Valetini in the back-row for Australia against Fiji earlier this month, has also been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n

La Rochelle lock Skelton will miss the Test but should return next week, while tighthead prop Taniela Tupou and hooker Dave Porecki have been left out.<\/p>\n

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt’s major selection call has come at fly-half after the serious neck injury to Noah Lolesio, who had started 12 of 14 Tests under the former Ireland head coach, with 22-year-old Tom Lynagh earning the nod.<\/p>\n

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\n Tom Lynagh, son of former Australia legend Michael, will make his first Test start on Saturday
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Son of former Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, Reds fly-half Tom has only featured in three Tests so far in his career, all as a replacement for a combined total of 60 minutes. He also hasn’t played for almost five weeks due to a broken thumb.<\/p>\n

Back-row Nick Champion de Crespigny <\/strong>will make his Test debut.<\/p>\n

First Test teams in full<\/h3>\n

British and Irish Lions: <\/strong>15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Joe McCarthy, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.<\/p>\n

Replacements: <\/em>16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Bundee Aki.<\/p>\n

Australia: <\/strong>15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon; 1 James Slipper, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (c).<\/p>\n

Replacements: <\/em>16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Tom Hooper 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway.<\/p>\n

Watch the first Australia vs British and Irish Lions Test on Saturday on Sky Sports The Lions & Main Event from 10am (kick-off 11am).<\/strong><\/p>\n

British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n


\n \"Lions
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Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia exclusively live on Sky Sports this summer<\/span>
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Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and seven warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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British and Irish Lions 2025 tour schedule<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/th>\nOpponent<\/th>\nVenue<\/th>\n<\/thead>\n
Friday, June 20<\/td>\nArgentina (L 28-24)<\/td>\nDublin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, June 28<\/td>\nWestern Force (W 54-7)<\/td>\nPerth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wednesday, July 2<\/td>\nQueensland Reds (W 52-12)<\/td>\nBrisbane<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, July 5<\/td>\nNSW Waratahs (W 21-10)<\/td>\nSydney<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wednesday, July 9<\/td>\nACT Brumbies (W 36-24)<\/td>\nCanberra<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, July 12<\/td>\nInvitational AU-NZ (W 48-0)<\/td>\nAdelaide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, July 19<\/td>\nAUSTRALIA (first Test)<\/b><\/td>\nBrisbane<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tuesday, July 22<\/td>\nFirst Nations & Pasifika XV <\/td>\nMelbourne<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, July 26<\/td>\nAUSTRALIA (second Test)<\/b><\/td>\nMelbourne<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, August 2<\/td>\nAUSTRALIA (third Test)<\/b><\/td>\nSydney<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Howden Insurance – proud principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor of the British and Irish Lions. Find out more here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tom Curry and Sione Tuipulotu have won respective selection battles to start for the British and Irish Lions in Saturday’s first Test