Jac Morgan will be preparing for one of the most important games in his career on Saturday when he makes his fourth appearance in a British & Irish Lions shirt against the AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide.
The Wales captain will get one last chance to push his credentials for inclusion in the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane when he teams up with Henry Pollock and Ben Earl in another new-look back row trio for the tourists.
To date, Morgan has joined England’s Tom Curry as twin flankers and replaced Ireland’s Josh van der Flier in the win over the Waratahs.
Lions Back Row Combinations (6,7,8)
v Argentina: Tom Curry, Jac Morgan (Henry Pollock 49), Ben Earl
v Western Force: Tadhg Beirne (Jack Conan 48), Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock
v Queensland Reds: Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan
v NSW Waratahs: Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier (Jac Morgan 60), Ben Earl
v Brumbies: Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry (Josh van der Flier 50), Jack Conan
Morgan was named as the man of the match in the win against Queensland Reds in Brisbane and will need a similar performance in Adelaide against a powerful back row trio for the combined side.
Shannon Frizell and Hoskins Sotutu are both All Blacks, while Pete Samu is a 33+ cap Wallaby.
“We’re in a great position just over a week out from the first Test. The players now have another chance to put in a strong team performance and put a hand up for selection for the Test matches against the Wallabies,” said Lions head coach Andy Farrell.
“The art of this stage of the tour is mentally being as switched on as you possibly can for everyone because of the nature of the preparation.
“There is not much training you can do.
"Les Kiss has assembled a strong squad with lots of international experience in the AUNZ XV and we know that he will have them well organised. They will bring a lot of physicality to the contest.”
READ MORE: Last Chance Saloon For Jac Morgan As Lions Prepare For Australia Test Series
Farrell has picked his son, Owen, among the replacements as he eyes up another Lions appearance on what is now his fourth tour after being called up as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly.
Farrell senior has also invited Ireland’s Jamie Osborne to head down under to provide emergency cover for Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, who picked up a first half knock against the Brumbies and is currently undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, Australia coach Joe Schmidt has called up experienced fly-half James O'Connor into his squad for the three tests after losing Noah Lolesio for the series.
Lolesio required neck surgery after suffering whiplash in the victory over Fiji last weekend so 35-year-old O'Connor gets a second shot at facing the Lions after starting at fly-half in all three tests in 2013, when Australia lost 2-1.
READ MORE: Lions Legend Ian McGeechan Backs Jac Morgan For Test No.7 Spot
Powerful lock Will Skelton and loose forward Rob Valetini, who both missed the Fiji game because of calf injuries, were included, as was hooker Dave Porecki despite suffering a concussion in the last-gasp victory over the Pacific islanders.
"We know that the Lions are going to bring power and strength and depth and an ability to play at a pace that we've seen just unpick teams, particularly in that last quarter," Schmidt said in Brisbane, where the series kicks off on July 19.
"That's going to be a real challenge for them. So I challenge them and congratulate them, and I can't wait to get started working with them."
READ MORE: Joe Schmidt Sees “Promising Signs” As Wallabies Begin Road To Lions Showdown
British & Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (captain), Henry Pollock, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl
Reps: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell
International AUNZ XV: Shaun Stevenson (NZ); AJ Lam (NZ), Ngani Laumape (NZ), David Havili (NZ), Marika Koroibete (Aus); Tane Edmed (Aus), Folau Fakatava (NZ); Aidan Ross (NZ), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Aus), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (NZ), Angus Blyth (Aus), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Aus), Shannon Frizell (NZ), Pete Samu (Aus), Hoskins Sotutu (NZ)
Reps: Kurt Eklund (NZ), Josh Fusitua (NZ), George Dyer (NZ), Matt Philip (Aus), Joe Bria (Aus)l, Kalani Thomas (Aus), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Aus), Jock Campbell (Aus)
