Farrell expects Reds to be ‘huge step up’ for Lions

Tour skipper Itoje takes the armband from hooker Dan Sheehan, who’s rested for the match in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Only fly-half Finn Russell has been retained from the beginning XV that crushed Western Force 54-7 final weekend, a sport that proved expensive for veteran scrum-half Tomos Williams.

The Welshman hobbled off with a hamstring damage which has dominated him out of the remainder of the nine-game tour.

Scotland’s Ben White has been referred to as up in his place with Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park making his Lions debut at scrum-half in opposition to the Reds.

Farrell stated accidents and group modifications had been inevitable on such a decent schedule.

“This is proper touring, isn’t it? Games are coming thick and fast, three games in eight days, and it keeps on rolling after that,” he stated.

“Being adaptable is the key.”

While the Lions had been dominant winners in opposition to Western Force, Farrell is anticipating a more durable project from a Reds group coached by Les Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies boss from Joe Schmidt subsequent yr.

“They’re a great side. I mean, that’s obvious if you’ve watched the games, not just this year, but last year as well,” he stated.

“Les has accomplished a unbelievable job with them to play an incredible model of rugby and are capable of play in many alternative methods.

“So this will be 100 percent a big step up for us on Wednesday night. Any side that Les coaches, he’s always going to be very well prepared.”

Itoje will begin within the second-row alongside fellow Englishman Ollie Chessum.

They will pack down behind a entrance row of Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and tight-head Will Stuart.

Jack Conan will get his first begin of the tour at No.8 and is joined within the again row by Tom Curry and Jac Morgan.

Hugo Keenan will get the nod at full-back, supported by wings Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe, whereas Bundee Aki and Huw Jones type a brand new centre partnership.

When the 2 sides met in 2013, the Lions gained 22-12.

British and Irish Lions :

Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Jac Morgan, Tom Curry; Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje ; Will Stuart, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose

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