Tommy Freeman starts on the wing with Alex Mitchell on the bench for the British and Irish Lions, as the pair of Northampton Saints feature in the first Test against Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday (19 July, kick-off: 11am BST).
Freeman makes his fourth start of the tour and his third appearance on Australian soil as he starts at wing against the Wallabies – having already bagged two tries in the famous red jersey.
Meanwhile Saints teammate Mitchell has been involved in every game for the Lions so far – scoring two tries of his own – and begins Saturday’s clash amongst the replacements.
“We are entering the business end of the Tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,” said British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell.
“We know how motivated the Wallabies will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.
“It is a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.
“We have seen a flood of Lions supporters on the streets of Brisbane this week and we are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red in the stands of the Suncorp Stadium cheering on the team.”
The game kicks off at 11.00am BST/ IST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland as well as on talkSPORT.
Australia v British and Irish Lions
Saturday 19 July
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 11am (BST)
15 Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #881
14 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) #858
13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #878
12 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #863
11 James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #870
10 Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #879
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England) #859
2 Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #873
3 Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C) #825
5 Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #871
6 Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
8 Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16 Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864
17 Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877
19 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) #875
20 Ben Earl (Saracens/England) #857
21 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) #860
22 Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855
23 Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
