Jac Morgan has been handed a key starting role for the British and Irish Lions in Saturday’s clash against an Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV in Adelaide.
The Wales captain has one last chance to nail down the No.7 shirt and convince head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the Test series against the Wallabies.
Morgan will start in a dynamic back row alongside Henry Pollock and Ben Earl, with Pollock returning to the line-up after being rested as a precaution due to a tight calf in last weekend’s 21-10 win over the Waratahs.
The Wales flanker’s inclusion comes as the Lions seek one final strong performance before the Test opener on July 19.
With one last chance for players to impress before the Test matches begin, Morgan’s selection is the last throw of the dice – not just for him personally, but for Wales to claim one starting place in a team that will otherwise be full if Irishmen, Englishmen and Scots.
The Lions have also revealed they have called up Ireland’s Jamie Osborne to join the squad to provide additional training cover at full-back.
Osborne is currently with the Ireland squad in Portugal and will arrive in Brisbane on Saturday to meet up with the squad.
His summons comes after fears over the fitness of Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn, who picked up a knee injury during the Lions’ 36-24 win over the ACT Brumbies.
"Blair is okay, he's not too bad. He's actually gone for a scan as we speak now, so we're waiting as regards to the news on that, but the same as he always is," said Farrell.
"Like I said yesterday, he's in good spirits, so we'll wait and see what the outcome is of that. I don't think it's as bad as what could have been.
“It was something innocuous really, just a rugby accident that was unfortunate, so fingers crossed when we get back to the hotel that we get some good news."
READ MORE: Lions Legend Ian McGeechan Backs Jac Morgan For Test No.7 Spot
The head coach’s son, Owen Farrell, has been named among the replacements for the Adelaide Oval fixture, marking a possible return to Lions action for the 33-year-old.
The England veteran hasn’t played since suffering a concussion nine weeks ago and last featured in a Test during England’s bronze medal victory against Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The Lions head coach addressed the inclusion of his son, saying: "He's the same as everyone else who has had to get up to speed pretty quickly," Andy Farrell explained.
"Not everyone had to at the start, and a few have come in since. The art of this stage of the tour is mentally being as switched on as you possibly can, for all, not just the lads who are new to the group.
“There is not that much training you can do, the learnings are from the videos of the games and that's the nature of where we are at."
Should Farrell come off the bench, it would be his 19th Lions appearance across four tours.
Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will captain the side once again, with Maro Itoje given a rest.
Beirne partners James Ryan in the second row, with a front row made up of Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart.
Elsewhere in the backline, Ben White and Fin Smith start at half-back, while Scotland duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones line up in midfield.
The back three is an all-action combination of Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and Duhan van der Merwe.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart, 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 6 Henry Pollock, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen Farrell.
Eight All Blacks and six Wallabies feature in the Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV to face the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide.
All Blacks Ngani Laumape and David Havili form the centre partnership with 63-cap Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete on the wing alongside AJ Lam, the only uncapped player in the starting line-up.
Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Ngani Laumape, 12 David Havili, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Folau Fakatava; 1 Aidan Ross, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4 Angus Blyth, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Pete Samu, 8 Hoskins Sotutu.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 George Dyer, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell.
British and Irish Lions
Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV
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