These are your rugby headlines on Friday, July 18 The Wallabies have been robbed of their best player through injury for the first Test against the Lions in Brisbane, but in his place, they will hand a debut to a 29-year-old "psycho" who spent a few years honing his craft in France. The loss of two-time reigning John Eales Medalist Rob Valetini is undoubtedly a blow for Australia, but they have turned to a man with a remarkable story to fill the void. Western Force back-row Nick Champion de Crespigny will start on the blindside at Suncorp Stadium for his Test debut. “He’s a psycho,” Australia flanker Fraser McReight said of his new back-row colleague. “He loves contact.” Expanding on the loss of Valetini, McReight added: “I think we just have full confidence in Nick and what he brings. "He’s a psycho, he’s ready to go. Obviously disappointed to come back with Bobby, but again, super excited to play with Nick and obviously Carlo [Tizzano]. “He loves that physical nature of the game, which is great. As a back row companion, when you see someone lining up the attack with his defence [it’s exciting]. "I haven’t yet played with him, so I see this at training, heard all the stories from the Force boys, so super excited to see it in person. “Definitely on the pitch (he's a psycho). Off the field, he’s a great man. Once he crosses that white line, he’s a different beast.” Despite his on-field abrasiveness, the Western Force flanker holds an honours degree in economics. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. His grandfather, Rafe de Crespigny, is a renowned historian who has been honoured for his services to Australian society in Asian studies. His cousin Richard also became well-known in 2010, landing a Qantas flight after it experienced uncontained engine failure. Now, after years of toiling, the former Australian Youth Olympic rower will get his chance to shine. It wasn't a straightforward path to the Wallabies jersey. Having come through Sydney University - winning a title with them every year between 2015 and 2018 - he struggled to find a Super Rugby side. Despite being on the fringes of the Rebels and Waratahs, he took the plunge and moved to France to play with Castres. While in France, he helped the club finish first in the Top 14 in their first season, eventually losing out to Montpellier in the final. Eventually, he decided to head back Down Under, joining the Force to try achieve his dream of playing for the Wallabies. “We certainly knew a fair bit about Nick,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said after naming his team. “I keep an eye on the Top 14. "Having coached there many years ago, obviously Nick was playing for Castres and they’d been a high-performing team in the Top 14. "So when he decided to come back, he was immediately on the radar. Not necessarily right in the middle of it, but he was on the periphery of it. “Then he tended to just get a little bit closer as the Super Rugby season wound on. He’s got a good profile in the air, he’s quick in the air, he is really consistent around his tackle and tackle recovery, and really consistent around his ball carry and his support play. "He’s a good package for us, we think, and we’re excited that he’s going to get an opportunity.” Former Lions captain Sam Warburton says he understands why Wales skipper Jac Morgan has missed out on selection for the first British and Irish Lions Test against Australia – despite initially backing him to start. Writing in his Times column, Warburton revealed that his predicted back row for Saturday’s series opener in Brisbane had included Morgan alongside Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl. But after seeing head coach Andy Farrell opt for Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan, the ex-Wales flanker believes the decision makes sense. “For Saturday’s first Test I had originally predicted a back row of Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan and Ben Earl,” Warburton wrote. “But now when I look at the selection of Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Jack Conan, I realise why Andy Farrell has made that call.” Warburton, who captained the Lions in 2013 and 2017, said Farrell’s choice underlined the quality and depth at his disposal — and stressed how crucial previous Lions experience is in a Test environment. “They are all high-quality players, as are those such as Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock who have missed out,” he said. “The truth be told, you would not have any worries about playing any combination of them, with readers of this column being well aware of how much I rate Curry, but Lions’ Test experience is so vital.” Morgan, the only Welsh player on tour, now faces a waiting game for his shot in the Lions Test arena, with Warburton’s comments echoing those of Warren Gatland — who has also urged the 25-year-old to stay ready . By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Brisbane Johnny Sexton insists Finn Russell’s “flash” skills are matched by the defensive steel needed from the British and Irish Lions fly-half to weather the storm coming his way in Brisbane. Russell pulls the strings in Saturday’s first Test as the Lions look to take an important first step towards claiming their first series victory since touring Down Under in 2013. The Scotland playmaker was famously described as “flashy” and a “media darling” in Sexton’s autobiography, but the Ireland great has been won over by his former rival since working with him in his capacity as Lions kicking coach. “Finn’s still flash! He’d hate it if I said he isn’t,” Sexton said. “But in the last couple of years he’s come into his own as a 10 and he’s been able to manage a team because ultimately that’s his main job. And then his brilliance will come out once he’s into the game. “He’s probably been our best defender in the backline on this tour so far. You always knew that was in there because he’s a feisty guy. “Physically he doesn’t look that big, but he’s fronted up big time on this tour and made a lot of impact tackles. We’ll need him to do that against Australia because they’ll be coming down his channel. “I’m sure (Australia coach) Joe Schmidt will have a plan for him because he’ll know how integral he is to our team and I’m sure he’ll be doing everything to cut him off.” Russell plays with a smile on his face, reacting to mistakes with a grin and shrug of the shoulders, but the 32-year-old magician is operating at the peak of his powers having recently steered Bath to the treble. “Finn has been relaxed as always, you wouldn’t know it’s the week of a Test. You can see the work he does, though,” Sexton said. “You have a perception of him from the outside and I would have had the same, in terms of he is a relaxed guy and just takes things in his stride. But he does a lot of work behind the scenes. “In the last couple of years he’s really matured as a player. Bath getting to finals, winning trophies – you can’t do that if you’re just that kind of mercurial 10. “You’ve seen that now this year. He’s got his team over the line and he’s won a few trophies and he’s carried that form into here.” The Lions are heavy favourites to seize an early lead in the series at Suncorp Stadium, but Sexton insists victory is not a foregone conclusion. “We don’t pay too much attention to the bookies’ odds or what people are saying. We’re just concentrating on putting a great performance out there,” the former Lions playmaker said. “That’s what will be needed – a great performance, not a good performance, to beat this Australian team. “They’re a proud nation, they’re a top-class team, they’re well coached, and we need to get the best version of ourselves out there.”