Lions Tour: Team named for Waratahs clash as Farrell gets call-up

The British & Irish Lions are set to face their biggest handicap of this summer's tour so far after bookmakers chalked up a 40-point line for Saturday's clash with the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.

The tourists have comfortably covered the handicap in their two victories on Australian soil, racking up more than 50 points against the Western Force and Queensland Reds.

The matches have followed similar paths as the Lions conceded early in both games but pulled away in the second half, and there have been handling errors as well as set-piece malfunctions as well.

Plenty of players have put their names up for Test selection, and back-three players Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn get their first chances against the Waratahs as both start for the first time.

Ireland full-back Keenan had been due to start against the Reds on Wednesday but was sidelined through illness, while Scotland winger Kinghorn has only just joined up with the squad after playing for Toulouse in the Top 14 final.

Tadhg Beirne will captain the team back in the second row having started at blindside last weekend, while Henry Pollock moves across the back row from eight to six. Northampton pair Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith are the starting half-backs.

The Waratahs finished eighth in this year's Super Rugby standings, missing out on the playoffs, and although internationals Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway have been named in the team, they are without most of their Wallaby players.

These teams met on the 2013 tour, when the Lions overcame a 23-point handicap in a 47-16 win, but they have been set a far stiffer task by bookmakers this time.

Owen Farrell has been called up to the Lions squad after Elliot Daly picked up an injury against the Reds. Farrell made his Lions Test debut off the bench on the 2013 tour, started all three Tests against New Zealand in 2017, then came off the bench again in the first two Tests of 2021.

Australia play their one warm-up match before the first Test against the Lions on July 19. The Wallabies take on Fiji in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday and are 15-point favourites.

Lions team to play New South Wales Waratahs

Lions: 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.

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2025 British & Irish Lions Tour schedule

The British & Irish Lions play ten matches this summer and after beginning their schedule with a 24-28 defeat to Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Andy Farrell's side have scored a half-century of points in wins over the Western Force and Queensland Reds since arriving in Australia.

Next up for the Lions is a date with the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney, the first of just three remaining tour matches before the first Test against the Wallabies on July 19.

Here is the full itinerary:

Odds correct at time of publication.

2025 British & Irish Lions squad in full

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.

Read Jack Ogalbe's thoughts on the Lions squad

Where can I watch the 2025 Lions tour?

The 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia will again be shown live on Sky Sports.

Who is the captain of the Lions?

England forward Maro Itoje was named as the captain of the British & Irish Lions at May's squad announcement at the O2 in London. He is the first English captain of the Lions since Martin Johnson led them on the 2001 tour down under and only the third in 89 years.

Who is the Lions' head coach?

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was appointed as leader of the British & Irish Lions in 2024. Farrell, who enjoyed a stellar career in rugby league with Wigan, is currently head coach of Ireland, whom he has guided to two Six Nations titles. 

What is the betting for the 2025 Lions Tour?

Here are the latest odds for the British & Irish Lions' three-match Test series against Australia's Wallabies.

Odds correct at 11am on Thursday, June 26. Subject to change.

Read more ...

Jack Ogalbe: Ignore the Lions naysayers and strap in for an amazing summer 

Graham Woods: Instinct and experience key for Lions punters 

Lions Tour: Jac Morgan stakes Test claim in rout of Queensland Reds 

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