The head coach has made two changes
Andy Farrell has axed Ireland’s James Lowe and replaced him with Blair Kinghorn on the left wing in one of two changes to the British & Irish Lions team for the third Test against Australia in Sydney.
Lowe has failed to hit top form in the opening two games, coming up with uncharacteristic errors, and is omitted from the tour’s final matchday 23 with Kinghorn promoted from the bench after impressing in the comeback win in Melbourne.
Read more: Everything players and coaches said about that Jac Morgan clearout at end of second Test
The other changes comes in the forwards where James Ryan is rewarded for a monstrous impact in the second half at the MCG with a starting spot in the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje with Ollie Chessum dropping to the bench.
James Ryan and Blair Kinghorn will start for the Lions in Saturday's third Test against Australia
Andy Farrell has made just two changes to his XV but has opted for a 6-2 bench split with Ben Earl coming into the 23#rugbyworld #rugby #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/ESsacX3XQK
— Rugby World (@Rugbyworldmag) July 31, 2025
Ben Earl comes into the matchday 23 with Farrell opting to deploy a 6-2 bench split for the first time on tour as Alex Mitchell and Owen Farrell are the only backs among the replacements.
Tadhg Furlong will make his ninth consecutive Test start, drawing him level with 2021 captain Alun Wyn Jones.
The Lions are bidding to make history as the first team to complete a clean sweep since 1927 in Argentina.
Farrell said: “We have 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 match 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.”
Lions team for third Test against Australia
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #881
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) #858
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #878
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
11. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland) #882
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #879
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #873
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C) #825
5. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #880
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England) #859
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) #875
20. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) #861
21. Ben Earl (Saracens/England) #857
22. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) #860
23. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England) #780
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.