Australia vs British & Irish Lions first Test predictions, betting tips and odds: Lions have to seize huge chance

When and where is the first Australian vs British & Irish Lions Test?

Australia and the Lions will do battle for the first time at the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Saturday July 19

Where to watch first Australia vs British & Irish Lions Test

You can watch Australia vs British & Irish Lions on Sky Sports Action. The match kicks off at 11am.

Best bets for the first Australia vs Lions Test

Lions to win by 11 to 20 points
1pt 12-5 general

Huw Jones to score a try
1pt 2-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Don't miss Graham Woods' series predictions 

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Australia vs British & Irish Lions Test series odds

Here are Sky Bet's latest odds for the British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia:

Series winner & correct score

Odds correct at time of publish

First Test winner and handicap

Odds correct at time of publish

Australia vs British & Irish Lions first Test predictions

Everything about the Lions team that head coach Andy Farrell has selected for Saturday's opening Test match in Brisbane says they are going all out to overpower Australia and they may not get a better opportunity to do just that.

Australia go into the game with just one match under their belts and key players missing, including their first-choice fly-half and two of their strongest forwards. The Lions' whole build-up will have focused on what a huge chance this is. Win the first Test and everything is possible – lose and your back is immediately against the wall.

There doesn't appear to be any great secret about how the Lions intend to play. They have a powerful scrummaging unit, starting Tadhg Beirne at number six adds to their line-out options, and Ellis Genge, Tom Curry and Jack Conan are all strong ball-carriers in the pack. The breakdown is such a key area, especially with a referee from the southern hemisphere where play is much more strictly policed, and Farrell's back-row picks look to have been made with just that battle in mind.

That's not to say there's any shortage of attacking flair, and an all-Scottish playmaking axis of fly-half Finn Russell plus centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones should ensure there is some cohesion. 

Defensive reliability looks to have been the key consideration in selecting the back three, where 2021 Test veteran Duhan van der Merwe misses out despite helping himself of a hat-trick of tries last week.

So against all that, Australia have to steel themselves for a huge physical challenge but without 6ft 8ins lock Will Skelton and powerhouse flanker Rob Valentini. And while they are blessed with plenty of experience in the front row, where props James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa have more than 200 caps between them, their scrum went backwards in clashes with South Africa last year and they face another daunting challenge in this match.

The injury curse extends to fly-half, where Noah Lolesio has been ruled out after being forced off against Fiji two weeks ago. Following that blow, Australia coach Joe Schmidt recalled James O'Connor, who started all three Tests in the 2013 tour but he has chosen not to throw the 35-year-old straight into action and instead has gone for the Queensland Reds' Tom Lynagh.

Lynagh has a famous father in Wallaby World Cup winner and record pointscorer Michael, but he also has just three caps and makes his first Test start.

None of that has been lost on bookmakers, who have pushed the handicap from a general seven points up into double figures. While that margin does look within the Lions' reach, it's hard to see the match turning into a blowout along the lines of their final victory over the Wallabies in 2013, which ended 41-16. 

That was a record score for the Lions but a first Test is sure to be cagey for long periods. The aces that the Lions hold should ensure they can pull clear by the end but backing a winning margin of 11 to 20 points may offer more value than a handicap bet.

Hooker Dan Sheehan is right at the head of the tryscorer markets along with the Lions' wingers. All are around the even-money mark to get on the scoresheet but the best tryscorer bet could be centre Jones, who has looked sharp in attack and has three tries to his name already, two against the Waratahs and one against the Reds.

Australia vs British & Irish Lions team line-ups

Australia: 15 Tom Wright; 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter; 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon; 1 James Slipper, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson.

Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway. 

British & Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Ellis Genge,  2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Joe McCarthy, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Bundee Aki 

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2025 British & Irish Lions Tour schedule

Here is the full itinerary for the British & Irish Lions Tour:

2025 British & Irish Lions squad in full

Forwards: Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Scott Cummings, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Furlong, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier.

Backs: Bundee Aki, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Hugo Keenan, Blair Kinghorn, James Lowe, Alex Mitchell, Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Finn Russell, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.

Who is the captain of the Lions?

England forward Maro Itoje was named as the captain of the British & Irish Lions at May's squad announcement at the O2 in London. He is the first English captain of the Lions since Martin Johnson led them on the 2001 tour down under and only the third in 89 years.

Who is the Lions' head coach?

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was appointed as leader of the British & Irish Lions in 2024. Farrell, who enjoyed a stellar career in rugby league with Wigan, is currently the head coach of Ireland, whom he has guided to two Six Nations titles. 

Read more on the Lions tour:

Australia vs British & Irish Lions Test series predictions: Expect a fierce battle for series supremacy 

British & Irish Lions first Test news, reaction & odds: handicap pushed to ten as Farrell goes strong  

USA vs England rugby union predictions: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso looks value to double up in Washington 

New Zealand vs France predictions, betting tips and odds: All Blacks ring changes for final clash 

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