James Ryan starts for the third Test against the Wallabies. Alamy Stock Photo

Ryan and Kinghorn start as Farrell's Lions go with 6/2 bench

James Lowe, Joe McCarthy, Mack Hansen, and Josh van der Flier miss out for the final Test.

LIONS BOSS ANDY Farrell has brought James Ryan and Blair Kinghorn into his starting XV for the final Test against the Wallabies on Saturday in Sydney [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports].

Ireland lock Ryan, who impressed off the bench in last weekend’s second Test, comes into the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje, with Ollie Chessum dropping to the bench as Joe McCarthy misses out again due to injury.

Ryan is one of nine Irish starters in the Lions’ starting team.

Scotland international Kinghorn starts on the left wing in place of Ireland’s James Lowe, who drops out of the matchday 23 altogether.

Farrell has opted for a 6/2 split of forwards and backs on the Lions’ bench, with Ben Earl included among the replacements as Josh van der Flier again misses out on selection.

English duo Alex Mitchell and Owen Farrell will cover the backline, with Ireland’s Mack Hansen another who misses out. 

Tadhg Furlong will start his ninth consecutive Lions Test, while Itoje will feature in his ninth consecutive Test, having come off the bench in the first Test on the 2017 tour and started every game since.

Lions:

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Huw Jones
12. Bundee Aki
11. Blair Kinghorn
10. Finn Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. James Ryan
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Tom Curry
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher
17. Ellis Genge
18. Will Stuart
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Jac Morgan
21. Ben Earl
22. Alex Mitchell
23. Owen Farrell

Referee: Nika Amashukeli [GRU].

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