British and Irish Lions squad for second Wallabies Test - Owen Farrell on the bench

RUCK’s Lions content is powered by ISUZU.

While the results may be in their favour, the performances have left much to be desired. Andy Farrell’s side have yet to fully hit their stride, and the lack of cohesion and sharpness on display has given the coaching staff plenty to ponder.

Injuries are still a factor, with a couple of key players working their way back to fitness, while several fringe players made strong cases for inclusion during the midweek fixture. There will be plenty of selection headaches, and Farrell and his coaching team will have to weigh form and tactical balance as they piece together a team capable of stepping up a gear.

Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.

With all of that in mind, here is Ruck’s predicted Lions squad for the all-important and potentially decisive second Test.

Hugo Keenan had a poor game in the first Test, and Kinghorn proved his fitness midweek with a full 80-minute stint, so this seems like a logical decision for Farrell. The Scot had a solid game against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, although his loose pass did set up FNP's first try. Keenan was defensively poor against the Wallabies but showed some promise in attack; however, it wasn’t convincing enough to fend off Kinghorn now that he’s back.

He wasn’t at his absolute best on Saturday, but he has enough credit in the bank and clear quality to retain his spot—unless there's a major selection surprise. It’s a shame Darcy Graham got injured midweek, as he was off to a strong start and could have caused a selection headache.

Jones was effective for the Lions, and it seems counterproductive to break up the 'Huwipulotu' partnership that worked well in the first Test. He scored a disallowed try and was dangerous in attack but still has more to offer.

Tuipulotu finished his try brilliantly and had a very strong performance on Saturday. It would be hugely surprising if Farrell opted to change this position. Owen Farrell led well from 12 midweek but didn’t do enough to displace Tuipulotu from the starting XV.

James Lowe was extremely poor against the Wallabies, and while Van der Merwe didn’t shine against FNP, Farrell may opt for a change out wide. Lowe’s kicking and aerial game—usually strengths—were both off. At his best, Van der Merwe is almost unstoppable, which could make this a bold but smart selection. He also has better cohesion with the Scots around him.

Russell played very well, dictating the tempo of the game and keeping the Wallabies’ defence guessing with quality kicking and a beautiful pass for Tuipulotu’s try. He's almost undroppable and gave no reason to be left out.

He had a relatively quiet performance against the Wallabies but did enough to keep the shirt. He’ll want to step up, but his starting spot seems safe.

Ellis Genge struggled slightly at scrum time, so moving him to the bench and unleashing him against tired Wallabies could be wise. Genge didn’t have a poor game, but given the competition for the shirt, Porter looks like the logical starter.

Sheehan put in a strong shift, combining accurate lineout throwing with dynamic play around the pitch. He scored a try, as he often does, and is almost guaranteed to start.

Furlong did just enough to keep his place. Starting with an all-Irish front row might boost cohesion at scrum time, making his inclusion practical as well as justified.

As captain and the first name on the team sheet, Itoje wasn’t at his best but won’t be dropped.

Joe McCarthy had an outstanding game but appears to be injured for the second Test. If fit, McCarthy should start, with Chessum moving to the bench. It doesn’t make sense to move Tadhg Beirne after his outstanding performance at six, so Chessum fits naturally into the second row.

Beirne had an incredible game on Saturday and won't be dropped after rewarding Farrell’s faith.

Like Beirne, Curry silenced critics with an exceptional performance. His place in the starting lineup is secure.

The only real challenger at No.8 is Ben Earl, who was solid but not standout off the bench against both the Wallabies and FNP. Conan was quiet but dependable.

An all-English front row coming off the bench could be a real weapon. Jamie George’s consistent lineout throwing would be ideal late in the game, and the power of Ellis Genge and Will Stuart against tired opposition could be too much for Australia to handle. Scott Cummings is next in line at second row if Joe McCarthy is unavailable. Ben Earl covers both seven and No.8, with Chessum and Beirne both capable of slotting in at six.

If Mack Hansen is fit, he offers a solid back-three option off the bench. That would allow Owen Farrell to step into fly-half or inside centre, freeing the team from relying on Marcus Smith's fullback versatility. Farrell showed leadership and composure midweek and could be a key figure again.

16. Jamie George
17. Ellis Genge
18. Will Stuart
19. Scott Cummings
20. Ben Earl
21. Alex Mitchell
22. Owen Farrell
23. Mack Hansen