Owen Farrell named on bench for revamped Lions in second Test / Photo: William WEST - AFP
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Owen Farrell named on bench for revamped Lions in second Test
Owen Farrell was named Thursday on the bench as the British and Irish Lions made seven changes to their matchday 23 for the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Lock Ollie Chessum, prop Andrew Porter and centre Bundee Aki all come into the starting side in place of Ellis Genge, who drops to the bench, Sione Tuipulotu and Joe McCarthy, who are both injured.
McCarthy limped off with a foot injury in the Lions' 27-19 win in Brisbane last Saturday.
Owen Farrell was overlooked for the opening Test, but captained the side against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.
He delivered an influential performance in his first full 80-minute game since April.
Farrell replaces Marcus Smith, who was available for selection having passed a head injury assessment after coming on as a substitute against Pasifika.
Ireland's Hugo Keenan retained his spot at full-back, with Scotland's Blair Kinghorn named as a replacement having proved his fitness against Pasifika.
Wing Mack Hansen was touted as a strong contender for the bench, but has a foot injury.
After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, the Lions have won all seven games since arriving in Australia.
Head coach Andy Farrell’s side can clinch a first Lions series win in 12 years with a game to spare at the MCG, where a crowd of 90,000 is expected.
The Lions are coming off a bruising 24-19 win over the Pasifika side and are bracing for another physical contest with wet weather forecast for the second Test.
"We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team," said Andy Farrell, who is Owen's father.
"Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week."
British and Irish Lions (15-1):
Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Tadhg Beirne; Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje (capt); Tadgh Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn
D.Khalil--SF-PST