Tommy Freeman injury offers potential chance to Owen Farrell for final British & Irish Lions Test in Australia

React to this story

The British & Irish Lions have been handed an injury blow with the news that Tommy Freeman could miss Saturday's third and final Test against Australia. The England wing is believed to be nursing a back injury, and his potential absence could mean a place in the starting XV for Owen Farrell. Freeman started the first two Tests, helping the Lions to an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

'I thought it was a brilliant clearout' - Farrell discusses Morgan controversy amid 'dream' finale

Video credit: TNT Sports

Tommy Freeman could miss the British & Irish Lions' third and final Test against Australia on Saturday - with Owen Farrell potentially coming into the starting XV.

Wing Freeman started the first two Tests but is believed to be struggling with a back injury.

The Lions expected the 24-year-old to be fit in time to face Australia in Sydney, but he missed the captain's run on Friday.

British and Irish Lions Tour

Daly exit and Farrell arrival: Lions documentary gives inside view on 'rocky road'

01/11/2025 at 09:37

Contingency plans have reportedly been put in place, with Huw Jones potentially moving to the wing and Farrell - son of head coach Andy - starting for the first time in this series.

Lions assistant coach John Dalziel gave an update on Freeman's condition ahead of the match.

"He was just doing the light walk-throughs," he said. "Wingers will do a lot of high-intensity running, so he had the morning off. He’s got to view a stadium which is hopefully going to come to life tomorrow.

"There’s no easy way to be a winger when you are chasing kicks and balls up in the air in the way the first two Tests have gone, so it’s quite easy for those guys to get their metres up."

Series sweep would 'mean the world to us', says Farrell - 'The Lions dream'

Video credit: SNTV

Freeman has played 33 games this season, including both Tests against Australia and the Tour warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin.

Mack Hansen is among the players who could be considered to replace Freeman, although the 27-year-old missed the previous Tests with a foot injury.

James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe could also be considered as options in Freeman's absence.

'Create our own piece of history'

Head coach Andy Farrell has called on the Lions to "create history" by completing a series whitewash in rainy Sydney.

"We have put ourselves in a great position to finish this Tour with our best performance to date and create our own piece of history," he said.

"Last weekend’s Test match in Melbourne was an incredible spectacle and illustrated how special Lions Tours are and what it means to both the players and the supporters.

"We are expecting another epic battle this weekend against a Wallaby side that showed their quality last week."

Australia have an 'incredibly deflated group' ahead of final Lions Test - Schmidt

Video credit: SNTV

Discussing the possibility of a whitewash, Farrell told reporters: "As you can imagine, it means the world. It's something that we promised ourselves that we were going to chase.

"Hopefully, we'll be remembered for the type of rugby that we played and the way that we went about it together. That's it.

"We came here and wanted to win a series. We've achieved that, but we've a massive responsibility to make sure that we finish this off with something that we promised ourselves with.

"So it's a big ask. It's a big ask, but it's something that we're determined to do."

Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and discovery+

Quilter Nations Series

Farrell and Willis miss out on England's 36-man training squad ahead of Quilter Nations Series

19/10/2025 at 20:43

PREM

Getting one over Farrell was big motivation for Quins in derby win - Murley

12/10/2025 at 22:48