Lions wary of Reds' brains trust as 'big step up' awaits in Brisbane

Andy Farrell is playing all of his injury-hit British and Irish Lions cards in expectation of a sterner test in their second tour hit-out in Brisbane.

Scrumhalf Tomos Williams will fly home with a series-ending injury, while captain Maro Itoje will feature for the first time against the Queensland Reds on Wednesday.

Williams hurt his hamstring in Saturday’s dominant 54-7 defeat of the Western Force and on Monday was ruled out of the nine-game tour.

Scottish No.9 Ben White has been drafted into the squad and will join the side in Brisbane, where gloomy weather welcomed them ahead of the Suncorp Stadium clash.

Reds coach Les Kiss cut his teeth coaching for more than two decades in Australia, South Africa, Ireland and England before returning to Ballymore last year.

“This will 100 per cent be a big step up,” Farrell said.

“Any side Les coaches is always going to be very well prepared.

“They’re a great side and that’s obvious if you’ve watched them …  it’s a great brand of rugby and they’re able to play in many different ways.”

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Farrell has made 14 changes to the team that thrashed the Force and by Wednesday will have used all but two members of his 38-man squad.

English lock Itoje will be joined in the second row by countryman Ollie Chessum, while Irish fullback Hugo Keenan and halfback Jamison Gibson-Park will both earn Lions debuts in Brisbane.

Finn Russell retains the No.10 after a sizzling showing in Perth, while Auckland-born Irish centre Bundee Aki will make his first tour appearance.

Firebrand English prop Ellis Genge has been named on the bench while No.8 Jack Conan gets his chance in a new-look backrow.

“That’s gone. We’ve been a squad now for a couple of weeks, so it’s the British and Irish Lions, that’s it,” Farrell said of moving away from country-based combinations at the selection table.

“I’ve got all these plans (for the first Test), shuffling them around all the time just because of the nature of sport.”

Former Test fullback Jock Campbell will captain a Reds team that welcomes Wallabies hopefuls Matt Faessler, Seru Uru and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto back from injury.

Test centres Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook will combine in the midfield, while in-form Kalani Thomas will start alongside Harry McLaughlin-Phillips in the halves.

Former All Blacks prop Aidan Ross, who played for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby final this month, will start in the front row while lock Josh Canham will have a point to prove after missing Test squad selection.

“In this match, we have to be very good at the breakdown and aerially. They’ve shown their attacking side too,” Kiss said.

“We have to meet those challenges, but we’ll put our brand of rugby out there as well. We’ll keep backing ourselves.

“Why can’t we put our best foot forward, rip in and see what happens?”

The Lions will play the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, and the first Test is in Brisbane on July 19.

LIONS: Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Bundee Aki, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan. Bench: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose.

REDS: Aidan Ross, Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Seru Uru, John Bryant, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell. Bench: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Sef Fa’agase, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Connor Vest, Louis Werchon, Isaac Henry.