Itoje to face Brumbies as Test team appears to form

British and Irish Lions vs. ACT Brumbies

Date: Wednesday, July 9th, Kick-off: 11:00 BST

As Andy Farrell’s Test team appears to be getting stronger, Maro Itoje will take the place of Maro Itoje when the British and Irish Lions take on the Brumbies on Wednesday in Canberra.

This very much looks like the starting lineup for the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19 with the possible exception of one or two slots.

With Tommy Freeman and James Lowe on the wings, Blair Kinghorn makes his first start in the same position at full-back.

Since Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, their direct rivals, both started against the Waratahs on Saturday, it was always possible that Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki would start playing midfield.

The Ireland centers now appear to be sitting in the first Test. At half-back, Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park were both the most certainties.

The front row receives the nod from Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong.

Furlong is a totemic Lion, but so far on tour, he hasn’t been at his most devastatingly strong.

The locks are Joe McCarthy and Itoje, who has been wearing the blindside flanker jersey thanks to Ollie Chessum’s power and lineout skills.

Since Josh van der Flier is on the bench, Tom Curry is trusted on the openside flank, making Jac Morgan not make the 23.

Henry Pollock, who was a late withdrawal against the Waratahs, is named on the bench while Jack Conan is the only specialist number eight in the squad and starts against the Brumbies.

The replacements are split into five different players, with Alex Mitchell serving as Gibson-Park’s understudy, Marcus Smith as a cover for Russell, and Mack Hansen as the back three option.