Farrell selects strongest British and Irish Lions squad for Brumbies game to avoid 2013 repeat

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has selected his strongest squad of the Australian tour so far for Wednesday's game against the Brumbies, determined to avoid a repeat of the 2013 loss to the Canberra-based Super Rugby club.

England lock Maro Itoje returns as captain in a second-row partnership with Ireland's Joe McCarthy in a starting lineup that includes a number of first-choice picks for the test squad.

Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell will start against at No. 10 in a halves pairing with Jamison Gibson-Park.

Ireland centers Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose will start in the midfield and Blair Kinghorn will make his first start of the tour at fullback in a back three with Tommy Freeman and James Lowe.

Australia-born Ireland winger Mack Hansen is among the reserves for the game against his old Super Rugby franchise. Joining him on the bench are Englad backrower Henry Pollock and England flyhalf Marcus Smith.

The Brumbies have been the best performing of the Australian Super Rugby clubs, reaching the semifinals last month.

“In 2013 the Brumbies beat the British and Irish Lions in Canberra and this year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby, so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us,” Farrell said. "It will also be a special occasion for Mack Hansen as he returns to his home town and gets the opportunity to play for and represent the Lions against some of his old teammates.”

The Brumbies will be well below full strength, with players involved in the Australian team preparing for the three-test series that starts July 19.

Prop Lington Ieli, flanker Rory Scott, scrumhalf and captain Ryan Lonergan, center David Feliuai and winger Corey Toole will all start after being involved in the Wallabies camp before being released to train with the Brumbies last week.

The Lions are 3-0 since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin before the traveling Down Under for their nine-game tour.

After wins over Western Force in Perth, Queensland Reds in Brisbane and New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney, the Lions will play the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday before taking on the combined AUNZ invitational squad on Saturday in their final preparation for the test series.

Squads:

British and Irish Lions: Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Tommy Freeman (England), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), James Lowe (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Jack Conan (Ireland), Tomm Curry (England), Ollie Chessum (England), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England). Reserves: Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Henry Pollock (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Marcus Smith (England), Mack Hansen (Ireland).

Brumbies: Andy Muirhead, Ben O'Connell, Ollie Sapsford, David Feliuai, Corey Toole, Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan (captain); Tuaina Taii Tualima, Rory Scott, Tom Hooper, Cadeyrn Neville, Lachie Shaw, Rhys van Nek, Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli. Reserves: Liam Bowron, Cameron Orr, Feao Fotuaika, Lachie Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Coach of the British & Irish Lions Andy Farrell watches his players warm up ahead of the Lions and Waratahs rugby match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Mack Hansen of the British & Irish Lions attempts veto beat the tackle of Waratahs' Darby Lancaster, right, during the Lions and Waratahs rugby match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Dan Sheehan, right, of the British & Irish Lions is congratulated by teammate Henry Pollock after scoring his team's first try during their rugby match against the Western Force in Perth, Australia, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Finn Russell of the British & Irish Lions takes a shot at goal during their rugby match against the Western Force in Perth, Australia, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Maro Itoje of the British & Irish Lions is tackled by a defender during their game against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A man handed an illegal prison sentence years longer than the maximum penalty for his crime has been granted clemency by Mississippi's governor, weeks after the man's brother received clemency in a similar case.

Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday that he was granting clemency to Maurice Taylor. The man's brother, Marcus Taylor, received clemency earlier this month from the governor for another illegal sentence.

In February 2015, both brothers accepted plea bargains and pled guilty to conspiracy to sell a Schedule III substance.

At the time, the maximum penalty for conspiracy to sell a Schedule III substance was five years. Yet Maurice Taylor was sentenced to 20 years in prison with five years suspended, and Marcus Taylor to 15 years.

“Like his brother, Maurice Taylor received a sentence more than three times longer than allowed under Mississippi law,” Reeves wrote in his announcement. “When justice is denied to even one Mississippian, it is denied to us all.”

In May, the Mississippi Court of Appeals had ruled that Marcus Taylor’s sentence was illegal, but did not commute his sentence because Taylor had missed the deadline to apply for post-conviction relief. After rehearing that case in November, the court reversed course and ordered his release.

In Wednesday's order, Reeves wrote that Maurice Taylor's post-conviction counsel contacted his office for the first time a few weeks ago, providing legal documents in his case. Maurice Taylor must be released within five days, according to Reeves’ order.

The Associated Press was not immediately able to identify and contact Maurice Taylor's post-conviction counsel.

The brothers are the only people to receive clemency from Reeves.

FILE - Republican Gov. Tate Reeves responds to a reporter's question during a news conference Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)