Northampton Saints trio Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith have all been named in the starting line-up for the British & Irish Lions as the side take on NSW Waratahs on Saturday (5 July, kick-off: 11am BST).
Scrum-half Mitchell and fly-half Smith both featured for the Lions in their midweek victory over Queenland Reds – where the tourists scored eight tries to run out 52-12 winners – and will form an all Northampton half-back pairing for the second time, having started there together in the Lions’ opening clash against Argentina.
Meanwhile back rower Pollock will start at No. 6 for the first time in his professional career on Saturday, with the 20-year-old coming into Andy Farrell’s much-changed side in Sydney.
Twelve years ago the Lions beat the Waratahs 47-17 with Leigh Halfpenny contributing 30 of the Lions’ points.
Lions head coach Farrell said: “Congratulations to Tadhg who will lead the side on Saturday night – and also to Blair, Hugo and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts.
“The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”
The game kicks off at 11am (BST) and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
The British & Irish Lions vs NSW Waratahs
Allianz Stadium
Saturday 5 July, 2025
Kick-off: 11am (BST)
15 Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland)
14 Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #867
13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #878
12 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #863
11 Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/ Scotland)
10 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England) #862
9 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England) #860
1 Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland) #868
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England) #851
3 Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #856
4 Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) #838 (c)
5 James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #880
6 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England) #865
7 Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #874
8 Ben Earl (Saracens/ England) #857
Replacements:
16 Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #873
17 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/ England) #859
18 Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #818
19 Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #871
20 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #869
21 Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales) #861
22 Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland)
23 Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
