Australia's injury woes continue as Pollard steps in for Porecki in third test against Lions

SYDNEY (AP) — Another injury has forced late changes to Australia's lineup for the third rugby test against the British and Irish Lions, with Billy Pollard promoted to start at hooker after David Porecki and Matt Faessler were ruled out of Saturday's match.

Porecki was ruled out Friday with a leg injury, making way for Pollard to move into the starting XV off the bench for his 10th test. Faessler's calf muscle injury meant Brandon Paenga-Amosa had to be drafted in from outside the Wallabies squad assembled in Sydney.

Head coach Joe Schmidt had already unveiled four changes to Australia's starting XV and another two on the bench on Thursday after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend.

Another injury to Porecki compounds the absence of flanker Rob Valetini — who missed the series opener and had a big impact on the second test before leaving at halftime — and veteran prop Allan Ala'alatoa.

“Gutted to lose, I guess, a few, great players ... but we have a lot of confidence," in Paenga-Amosa," Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said at the captain's run on the eve of the test. “Brendan joined us yesterday afternoon, obviously after a bit of a tough Thursday training session.”

Wilson said the 29-year-old Paenga-Amosa, had already played tour games against the Lions and was an experienced Wallaby.

“He’s got a lot of confidence, and he’s coming into the group and he’s fitting very quickly," Wilson said.

Australia hasn't lost three tests in a Lions tour since 1904 and is facing a confident British and Irish squad that is 8-0 in Australia, including victory in the first test in Brisbane, the second test in Melbourne, wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams.

Taniela Tupou was recalled at tighthead and the scrumhalf Nic White is returning for his final international appearance in a reworked Wallabies lineup trying to prevent the British and Irish Lions completing a 3-0 sweep.

Squads:

Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Lynagh, Nick White; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, James Slipper. Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Wiliams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.

British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Tommy Freeman (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Jack Conan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England). Will Stuart (England), Ollie Chessum (England), Jac Morgan (Wales), Ben Earl (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Owen Farrell (England).

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

Fin Smith of the British & Irish Lions, center, chips the ball between First Nations & Pacifika XV's Brandon Paenga-Amosa, left, and Tuaina Taii Tualima during their rugby union match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Referee Andrea Piardi speaks to Maro Itoje of the British & Irish Lions and Australia's Harry Wilson, right, during the second rugby union test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time.

“I was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,” Kershaw said on MLB Network, “so now that it doesn't matter I get to go and be a part of this group.”

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw said. “If anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.”

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.

“I didn't have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again," Kershaw said. “I started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn’t feel terrible, so I think I’ll be OK.”

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.

Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn't anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

“I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,” Kershaw said. “But if that happens, I'll be nervous. I'll be nervous at this point.”

AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)