Blair Kinghorn and James Ryan have been promoted into an otherwise unchanged Lions starting XV for the third Test against Australia here at Accor Stadium on Saturday.
Head coach Andy Farrell has opted to retain the vast majority of those players who started at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Saturday, as the British and Irish tourists edged out the Wallabies 29-26 to win the series with one match to go.
There was speculation that Farrell may choose to freshen-up his side or offer chances to other players who have had limited roles in the Tests, but instead he has put his faith in most of the same men to go again, in the quest for a 3-0 whitewash.
That was always the ambition for this 2025 crusade; for the Lions to earn a series clean sweep and to win every match they played Down Under.
Now that they are within reach of that objective, Farrell has shown his laser focus on completing the quest by demonstrating utter ruthlessness as a selector.
He has not been swayed by sentiment; this is a statement that the Lions are back in business mode – after their protracted celebrations – and are going for the jugular.
Blair Kinghorn (right) is one of two changes to the Lions’ starting XV for the third Test against Australia
James Ryan is the only other alteration in an otherwise unchanged squad from the second Test
Head coach Andy Farrell has opted to retain the vast majority of those players who started at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Just two starting changes is a very modest reshuffle in the circumstances. Kinghorn plays full-back for Scotland but he has been picked on the left wing for this game, having often operated there for Toulouse.
He is a supreme asset as a runner, commanding aerial presence, kicker and distributor, and after a glittering cameo last weekend he is deservedly included at the expense of James Lowe, who has been a shadow of his normal self on this trip.
The other alteration is in the second row, with Ryan preferred to England’s Ollie Chessum, to partner captain Maro Itoje.
The Leinster lock had not been a stand-out figure in the tour matches leading up to the series, but he was another who made a positive impact off the bench at the MCG and he is among the Irish stalwarts well known and trusted by Farrell.
Ryan’s provincial and Test team-mate, Joe McCarthy, is not in the match-day 23, which suggests he has not recovered from a foot injury.
Chessum is among the replacements this time but instead of an outside back filling the void left by Kinghorn’s elevation, Farrell has opted for a six-two bench split.
Ben Earl will act as additional back-row cover but also has the ability, at a push, to be deployed in midfield, in an emergency.
Owen Farrell will once again be primed to come on at 10 or inside centre, as required.
After their protracted celebrations the Lions are full focused on sealing a series sweep of Australia
His father set the scene for the final act in Australia, saying: ‘We’ve put ourselves in a great position to finish this tour with our best performance to date and create our own piece of history.
‘Last weekend’s Test in Melbourne was an incredible spectacle and illustrated how special Lions tours are and what they mean to both the players and the supporters.
‘We are expecting another epic battle this weekend against a Wallaby side that showed their quality last week.’
