Four Scots to start for British and Irish Lions against New South Wales Waratahs

Four Scotland players have been named in the starting line-up for the British and Irish Lions game against the New South Wales Waratahs.

Andy Farrell has included Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman, Glasgow Warriors duo Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, and Toulouse star Blair Kinghorn in his side for the game being played in Sydney on Saturday.

The Lions are looking to make it three wins out of three down under following victories over Western Force and Queensland Reds.

Munster Rugby and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne will captain the side as Maro Itoje gets the evening off after leading the tourists to victory on Wednesday.

Beirne is joined in the second row by fellow Irishman and Leinster Rugby’s James Ryan.

Schoeman is joined by Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ireland tight-head Finlay Bealham in the front row, and the back row is made up of Henry Pollock at no.6, Josh van der Flier at no.7, and Ben Earl at No.8.

The backline sees the English duo and Northampton Saints teammates Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith at scrum-half and fly-half, with Tuipulotu and Jones in the centres.

Kinghorn and Ireland’s Hugo Keenan will make their Lions debuts and are joined in the back three by Mack Hansen.

Ben White and Scott Cummings have been named among the replacements.

After naming his side, head coach Farrell said: “Congratulations to Tadhg, who will lead the side on Saturday night – and also to Blair, Hugo, and Ben who will all make their Lions debuts.

“The games are coming thick and fast now as we face a Waratahs side who will want to make their mark.”

Meanwhile, Owen Farrell has been called up to replace the injured Elliot Daly.

The Lions are reeling from the news that Daly, one of their form players Down Under, will miss the rest of the tour after sustaining a fractured forearm in the 52-12 victory over Queensland Reds.

Rather than replacing the versatile England star with a similar alternative, such as Wales’ Blair Murray or Scotland’s Tom Jordan, head coach Andy Farrell has turned to his 33-year-old son to fill the gap in his squad.