Lions select strong side for Brumbies clash as Test series comes into focus

Andy Farrell has named his strongest British and Irish Lions team yet for their match against the ACT Brumbies, which is shaping up to be a dry run for the first Test against Australia.

Scotland stars Blair Kinghorn and Finn Russell will both start in Canberra on Wednesday.

Maro Itoje leads the side as part of a second-row partnership with Joe McCarthy and across the starting XV there are picks considered first choice, including half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Russell.

Providing X-factor on the bench are back-rower Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are ready to take on the Wallabies on July 19.

Pollock was due to start Saturday’s shaky 21-10 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs but withdrew shortly before kick-off because of a tight calf, an injury that has now healed.

The all-Ireland combination of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose have been chosen in the centres and Kinghorn makes his first start at full-back having joined the squad late because of his Top 14 duties with Toulouse.

Tommy Freeman and James Lowe are the favourites to fill the wings against Australia in Brisbane and both are present, with Mack Hansen adding back-three cover from the bench against his former Super Rugby franchise.

Ellis Genge has been the form loosehead prop on tour while on the other side of the scrum three-times Lions tourist Tadhg Furlong is given another start to develop his match-fitness at the end of a season that has been marred by calf and hamstring injuries. Dan Sheehan is named at hooker.

Normally an unstoppable force, Tom Curry has yet to find his stride Down Under but he is handed the openside duties in a back row that offers an important line-out option in the shape of Ollie Chessum.

Jack Conan is included at number eight and it appears as though Chessum will supply second-row cover in the event of injury to Itoje and McCarthy given flankers Josh van der Flier and Pollock are the inclusions on the bench.

Ireland provide eight players to the starting XV, England five and Scotland two with no place in the 23 for Wales openside Jac Morgan.

The Brumbies are the strongest team the Lions will face in Australia outside of the Tests after reaching the semi-finals of Super Rugby, where they lost 37-17 to the Chiefs on June 14.

“In 2013 the Brumbies beat the Lions in Canberra and this year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby – so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us,” head coach Farrell said.

“It will also be a special occasion for Mack Hansen as he returns to his home town and gets the opportunity to play for and represent the Lions against some of his old team-mates.”

Lions team: B Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), G Ringrose (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England, capt), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).

Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), J van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), H Pollock (Northampton Saints/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), M Hansen (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).