As expected, Ireland have four representatives in the Lions team to face Australia in the first test on Saturday, but there is no room for Sean O’Brien or Conor Murray in the matchday 23.
Paul O’Connell, Jamie Heaslip, Jonathan Sexton and Brian O’Driscoll have all been named in a starting XV in which the inclusion of Alex Corbisiero in the front row is the only real surprise given that the English prop was only summoned as a late replacement for the injured Cian Healy.
With eight starters in total, the team has a distinct Welsh influence running through it and will be captained by Sam Warburton, in Corbisiero, Tom Youngs and Tom Croft there are three English representatives, while Sean Maitland is the only Scottish representative in the matchday squad.
Despite decent showings on tour so far, there is no room for either Conor Murray or Sean O’Brien in the squad for the clash at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, while fellow Irish Lions Rob Kearney, Rory Best and Simon Zebo have also been left out, as has Tommy Bowe, who is still recovering from a hand injury sustained against the Queensland Reds earlier in the tour.
Lions team to face Australia: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Brian O’Driscoll, Jonathan Davies, George North; Jonathan Sexton, Mike Phillips; Alex Corbisiero, Tom Youngs, Adam Jones; Alun-Wyn Jones, Paul O’Connell; Tom Croft, Sam Warburton, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Sean Maitland
Lions coverage on JOE brought to you in association with Kellogg’s, official cereal & snack provider to the IRFU.
