Five Lions now in contention for second Test selection
FIGHTING FOR PLACE: Tempers flare between British and Irish Lions' Owen Farrell and First Nations and Pasifika XV's Charlie Gamble.
Starting his first game for the Lions on his fourth tour, Farrell captained the midweek side on Tuesday from inside centre and confirmed his status as a squad leader with an authoritative performance, his short kick over the top providing midfield partner Jamie Osborne with the assist for the second try of the night.
It could have been enough to oust Marcus Smith as the back-up playmaker, able to play 10 and 12.
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After missing the first Test due to a concussion, the outside centre was forced to play longer than anticipated off the bench after replacing injured wing Darcy Graham on 16 minutes.
Pushing starting 13 Jamie Osborne out to cover Graham’s right wing position, Ringrose immediately dovetailed well with Owen Farrell, sharp in attack, solid in defence.
Ringrose could be in line to replace Huw Jones as the starting outside centre or join Farrell on the bench, the Irishman able to cover 13 and the wings.
The Toulouse and Scotland full-back was making his first appearance in nearly two weeks having sustained a knee injury against the Brumbies in Canberra and it was a mixed bag of a performance.
Was he the focus of Farrell’s criticism of playing “exhibition match” rugby after having two passes intercepted, one of them leading directly to a First Nations & Pasifika try?
Perhaps there is still a way into the Test mix, if not by ousting 1st Test full-back Hugo Keenan then by starting on the left wing, or stealing ahead of Ringrose as the Lions no. 23.
The three-time Lions tourist may have leapfrogged Ronan Kelleher for the back-up hooking role behind Dan Sheehan thanks to his superior lineout throwing.
The lineout against the First Nations & Pasifika was not perfect, with three lost from a total of 26 thrown and playing 73 minutes before being replaced may count against the England Test centurion.
The Welsh flanker whose omission from the first Test matchday squad caused a beleaguered rugby nation to wail in despair got a second bite of the cherry from blindside rather than openside at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday in a back-row alongside fellow Test hopefuls Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock.
His withdrawal from the fray after just 50 minutes suggested there may be plans being made for Morgan’s involvement this Saturday at the MCG.
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