The British and Irish Lions will face the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 8, 2023, without the presence of coach Andy Farrell‘s son, Owen Farrell. Despite being a four-time tourist, Owen is expected to be left out of the squad for the series opener. Meanwhile, the Wallabies are poised to make history with Tom Lynagh set to wear the No.10 jersey, 36 years after his father, Michael Lynagh, donned the same number against the Lions.
Squad announcements are anticipated on Thursday afternoon, but sources suggest that Andy Farrell will opt for countryman Marcus Smith in place of Owen on the bench. Owen was a late addition to the squad following an injury to Elliot Daly, which ruled him out for the tour. Despite not having played international rugby for nearly two years and facing a challenging season with Racing 92 in France, he made a strong impression during the Lions’ recent match against the AUNZ Invitational XV.
Wallabies lock Will Skelton, who has played alongside Owen at Saracens, expressed his confidence in the 31-year-old. “I’d pick him. It’s not my job, but I know how much of a competitor he is,” Skelton stated. He highlighted Owen’s performance over the weekend, indicating that his experience and high standards are assets for any team. Despite this, reports indicate that Andy Farrell has chosen to rely on Marcus Smith, who can play both flyhalf and fullback.
In terms of team structure, Finn Russell is expected to lead as the No.10 for the Lions, with the Irish duo of Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan filling the No.9 and No.15 positions, respectively. Russell will be supported in the centres by Scottish teammates Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones. Notably, flanker Henry Pollock, who has only one Test under his belt, has reportedly missed out on a place on the bench.
Tom Lynagh, who was born in Italy and raised in England, made the move to Australia in 2021 after finishing school. Under the guidance of Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss, he has established himself as a key player for the Queensland Reds over the last two years. Despite only having three Test appearances, he is set to partner with veteran scrumhalf Jake Gordon in what promises to be an exciting new halves pairing for the first Test.
Michael Lynagh, a celebrated figure in Australian rugby, led the Wallabies to a World Cup victory and was pivotal in their historic matches against the Lions. If Tom takes the field, they will become the first father-son duo to represent the Wallabies against the Lions in 126 years of touring history.
As the Wallabies prepare for this momentous occasion, Skelton is set to return after missing the team’s recent lead-in Test. In contrast, influential backrower Rob Valetini is less likely to return, which poses challenges for the team’s ball-carrying capabilities. Reds hooker Matt Faessler, who made headlines for scoring a hat-trick in his last Test appearance, is also expected to make a comeback after recovering from a hamstring injury.
With the stage set for an exhilarating encounter, both teams will finalize their rosters, building anticipation for a historic clash in Brisbane.
