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Itoje back as captain as Lions ring changes for Reds clash / Photo: © AFP
Itoje back as captain as Lions ring changes for Reds clash
Maro Itoje will captain a vastly changed British and Irish Lions team for their second Australian match against the Queensland Reds, with only fly-half Finn Russell retaining his place from the starting XV that crushed Western Force 54-7.
Tour skipper Itoje takes the armband from hooker Dan Sheehan, who is rested for the clash in Brisbane on Wednesday, with the Englishman in the second-row alongside countryman Ollie Chessum.
They will pack down behind a front row of Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and tight-head Will Stuart.
Jack Conan gets his first start of the tour at No.8 and is joined in the back row by Tom Curry and Jac Morgan.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park will make his Lions debut in place of Tomos Williams, who limped off a hamstring injury early in the second-half against the Force in Perth on Saturday.
Hugo Keenan gets the nod at full-back, supported by wings Tommy Freeman and Duhan van der Merwe, while Bundee Aki and Huw Jones form a new centre partnership.
"We know each game on this tour will be a step up from the game before and three more players are set to make their Lions debuts on Wednesday night, so congratulations to those guys," said head coach Andy Farrell.
When the two sides met in 2013, the Lions won 22-12.
British and Irish Lions (15-1):
Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Jac Morgan, Tom Curry; Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje (capt); Will Stuart, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose
L.Nguyen--SFF
