Owen Farrell expected to be left out of Lions squad for first Wallabies Test

Owen Farrell is expected to be omitted from the British & Irish Lions squad to face the Wallabies on Saturday in Brisbane.

Farrell impressed in his first appearance of the tour last week but it is believed Andy Farrell is ready to overlook his son with Marcus Smith the likely beneficiary.

Farrell appeared for 30 minutes off the bench against the AUNZ Invitational XV last Saturday and had a hand in three of the Lions’ tries. Offering cover at inside-centre and fly-half he was tipped to make the Test squad but he is now likely to have to wait for a seventh Lions cap.

With Blair Kinghorn and Mack Hansen nursing knee and foot injuries respectively, and Farrell missing out, Smith is set to profit and be asked to cover fly-half and fullback against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Elsewhere, Tom Curry is expected to feature in the back-row where competition for places is fierce. Curry has not had the most eye-catching tour so far but has key experience having started all three Tests four years ago against South Africa, along with Jack Conan, who is expected to be named at No 8.

Smith’s selection on the bench comes after a rollercoaster season in which he was England’s most creative spark from fly-half during the autumn campaign before losing his place to Fin Smith, moving to fullback and then finding himself on the bench. He has never looked entirely comfortable at fullback but his versatility earned him a place in the initial Lions squad and so far he has appeared in five of the six matches.

Barring a late change of heart, Smith is set to be preferred to Farrell. It may be significant that Smith assumed goal-kicking duties when he and Farrell came on last Saturday.

Finn Russell, who will start at fly-half, will begin as the nominated kicker but without Kinghorn, the Lions need a backup and Farrell has endured problems all season as a result of his groin injury.

Meanwhile, Maro Itoje will win his 100th Test cap and his seventh for the Lions as captain with Farrell expected to rely on a core of his Ireland players including Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Dan Sheehan.