Owen Farrell drops to the bench as British and Irish Lions reshuffle midfield for massive second Test in Melbourne

With the series on the line and a roaring 100,000-strong crowd expected at the iconic MCG, the British & Irish Lions have made some bold last-minute changes to their team sheet.

Injuries in the midfield have forced head coach Andy Farrell to reshuffle his line-up ahead of this weekend’s potential series decider against the Wallabies.

Late Injury Blows Force Midfield Overhaul

Two key names—Sione Tuipulotu and Garry Ringrose—have been ruled out.

Tuipulotu has a tight hamstring, and Ringrose is sidelined due to concussion protocols.

As a result, Bundee Aki and Huw Jones will step in to form the new centre partnership.

This means that Owen Farrell, who was initially tipped for a starting role, will now come off the bench.

Tuipulotu, unfortunately, drops out of the matchday squad altogether, making room for Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, and Blair Kinghorn to serve as the backline cover among the replacements.

Irish Influence Runs Deep in Starting XV

Farrell’s selections have leaned heavily into Irish talent—with nine Irish players making the starting line-up.

One notable change sees prop Andrew Porter getting the nod ahead of England’s Ellis Genge.

In the second row, Ollie Chessum replaces Joe McCarthy, who is unavailable due to injury.

The overall feel of the team suggests a physical, experienced pack backed by flair out wide—a classic Lions blend heading into a cauldron of noise in Melbourne.

Coach Farrell: “We Need to Be Better Than Last Week”

Speaking ahead of the match, Andy Farrell acknowledged the pressure and the scale of the occasion.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good spot after the First Test,” he said, “but we all know the Wallabies will come back firing.

Everyone saw their talent on display in Brisbane, and we’ll need to raise our game.”

Farrell also highlighted the special nature of the moment:

“Playing in front of 100,000 fans at the MCG—it’s the kind of thing that makes a Lions Tour so unforgettable.

I’ve no doubt our travelling fans will make themselves heard.”

Starting XV Breakdown

Here’s how the Lions will line up:

Backs:

• 15. Hugo Keenan (Ireland)

• 14. Tommy Freeman (England)

• 13. Huw Jones (Scotland)

• 12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)

• 11. James Lowe (Ireland)

• 10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

• 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)

Forwards:

• 1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)

• 2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)

• 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

• 4. Maro Itoje (England) – Captain

• 5. Ollie Chessum (England)

• 6. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)

• 7. Tom Curry (England)

• 8. Jack Conan (Ireland)

Powerful Bench Ready to Make an Impact

Replacements:

• 16. Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)

• 17. Ellis Genge (England)

• 18. Will Stuart (England)

• 19. James Ryan (Ireland)

• 20. Jac Morgan (Wales)

• 21. Alex Mitchell (England)

• 22. Owen Farrell (England)

• 23. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

With a blend of firepower, grit, and experience, the Lions are gearing up for what could be a defining chapter in this tour.

All eyes now turn to Melbourne—can they finish the job or will the Wallabies strike back?