James Ryan has earned a promotion to the starting team for the final British and Irish Lions Test against Australia, but Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen have failed to recover from foot injuries in time for Saturday in Sydney.
McCarthy missed last week's second Test in Melbourne, which allowed Ryan come into the matchday squad at the MCG, and the Leinster second row has been rewarded for an impressive cameo with a starting role at Accor Stadium alongside captain Maro Itoje at lock.
He’s one of two changes to last week’s winning team, with Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn coming in for James Lowe on the left wing.
The Lions, who wrapped up the series with the 29-26 victory, are yet to confirm whether or not Lowe’s absence is injury related.
Head coach Andy Farrell has gone for a 6:2 split on the bench, but that still hasn’t opened the door for Josh van der Flier to get a Test cap, with Ben Earl and Jac Morgan preferred as loose forward options on the replacements.
In total there are nine Irish players in the starting side, with Rónan Kelleher the only Irish player on the bench.
It will be a landmark day for Tadhg Furlong (above) as he starts his ninth consecutive Lions Test at tighthead, a number which has only ever been bettered by four players in history: Willie John McBride, Graham Price, Tony O’Reilly and Rhys Williams.
Furlong is among an all-Leinster front row, packing down with Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter.
Ryan replaces Ollie Chessum in the second row for his first Lions start, while Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and Tom Curry continue in the back row for the third game in a row.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell are also retained in the half-backs, while Bundee Akki and Huw Jones go again in the centre, with Garry Ringrose ruled out due to concussion.
Last week’s match-winner Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, with Freeman and Kinghorn on the right and left wing respectively.
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Blair Kinghorn; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell.
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Tom Lynagh, Nic White; James Slipper, David Porecki, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Will Skelton; Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
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