We have an Australia v British & Irish Lions prediction for you, plus a breakdown of the betting odds, team news and matchups ahead of the first test match of the series.
Buckle up, rugby fans, because the first Test of the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour against Australia is about to light up Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane this Saturday.
Australia’s got flair with rising stars like Nick Champion de Crespigny and Tom Lynagh, backed by a mixed bag of three wins in their last five Tests, but the Lions? They’re coming into this series opener in form, tearing through teams like the Reds and Force with tries galore, though their defence has shown a few cracks.
Find out everything you need to know below for this test.
How to Watch Australia v British & Irish Lions
When is the Australia v British & Irish Lions Test 1?
Date : Saturday, July 19, 2025
Kick-off Time : 11:00 am GMT / 8:00 pm AEST (local time)
TV Channel
UK and Ireland : Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action (rebranded as 'Sky Sports The Lions' for Test weekends)
Australia : Channel 9 (free-to-air for Test matches)
Live Stream
UK and Ireland : Sky Go app (for Sky Sports subscribers), NOW (with a Day or Month pass)
Australia : 9Now (free for Test matches), Stan Sport (ad-free, requires subscription)
Where is Australia v British & Irish Lions Being Played?
Venue : Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
Australia v British & Irish Lions Odds – Test 1
Team | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Australia | 3/1 | 25% |
British & Irish Lions | 1/4 | 80% |
The Draw | 25/1 | 3.8% |
The British and Irish Lions are commanding 1/4 favourites ahead of the first test of this 3-match series against the Wallabies.
Australia, despite home advantage, are 3/1 underdogs going into Saturday’s test match against the touring side.
The draw can be backed at long odds of 25/1.
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Handicap Betting
Australia: +10 – 10/11
British & Irish Lions: -10 – 10/11
Handicap Draw: +10 – 18/1
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Australia v British & Irish Lions Team News
Australia Team News
Starting XV
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
9. Jake Gordon
10. Tom Lynagh
11. Harry Potter
12. Len Ikitau
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
14. Max Jorgensen
15. Tom Wright
Substitutes
16. Billy Pollard
17. Angus Bell
18. Tom Robertson
19. Tom Hooper
20. Carlo Tizzano
21. Tate McDermott
22. Ben Donaldson
23. Andrew Kellaway
Australia has named its team for the first Test against the Lions, with Nick Champion de Crespigny earning the number six jersey, marking his rapid rise after playing in France's Top 14 and returning to the Western Force.
Flyhalf Tom Lynagh, son of former Wallaby Michael Lynagh, starts at number 10, joined by experienced scrumhalf Jake Gordon and hooker Matt Faessler in the starting lineup.
The front row features veterans James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, while Tom Robertson returns as a replacement prop for his first Test since 2022.
British & Irish Lions Team News
Starting XV
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje (c)
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Tom Curry
8. Jack Conan
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
Substitutes
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Andrew Porter
18. Will Stuart
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Ben Earl
21. Alex Mitchell
22. Marcus Smith
23. Bundee Aki
Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions team for the first Test against Australia features a strong Scottish presence in the backline, with Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, and Huw Jones announced to start.
Ireland and England players will dominate the starting lineup and bench. Ireland equalled a record with eight starters, including three substitutes, while England has four starters and five replacements. Notably, no Welsh players, including Jac Morgan, are in the squad, a first since 1896, with Tom Curry securing the number seven jersey.
Australia v British & Irish Lions Preview
Australia’s Form
Australia’s Last 5 Test Results
Australia 21-18 Fiji (July 6, 2025, Newcastle) – Win
A late try by captain Harry Wilson in the 79th minute secured a narrow victory over Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium, overcoming a spirited Fijian comeback led by a stunning try from Lekima Tagitagivalu.
Ireland 22-19 Australia (November 30, 2024, Dublin) – Loss
Australia fell just short against Ireland, who mounted a comeback from an eight-point deficit to win narrowly, exposing the Wallabies' struggles to close out tight matches against top-tier sides.
Scotland 27-13 Australia (November 24, 2024, Murrayfield) – Loss
The Wallabies were outplayed by a strong Scottish side, with Sione Tuipulotu scoring early for Scotland, highlighting Australia's difficulty maintaining defensive solidity.
Wales 20-52 Australia (November 17, 2024, Cardiff) – Win
Australia dominated Wales, with Matt Faessler and Tom Wright scoring hat-tricks, achieving their highest score against Wales in Cardiff despite a red card to Samu Kerevi.
England 37-42 Australia (November 9, 2024, Twickenham) – Win
A last-gasp try from Max Jorgensen sealed a thrilling victory over England, showcasing Australia's attacking flair and ability to capitalise on crucial moments.
Analysis
The Wallabies' recent form, with three wins and two losses in their last five men's Tests, shows a team with potential but inconsistent execution. Their narrow win over Fiji (21-18) in July 2025, their most recent match, revealed resilience but also vulnerabilities, as they nearly squandered a 14-5 halftime lead due to handling errors and a strong Fijian comeback.
Wins against Wales (52-20) and England (42-37) demonstrate offensive firepower and an ability to rip opposing defences apart, but losses to Ireland (22-19) and Scotland (27-13) highlight defensive lapses and struggles against disciplined top-tier teams.
British & Irish Lions’ Form
British & Irish Lions Last 5 Match Results
AUNZ Invitational XV 0-48 Lions (July 12, 2025, Adelaide) – Win The Lions delivered a commanding performance, with Duhan van der Merwe scoring a hat-trick and tries from Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings, Ronan Kelleher, and Henry Pollock, showcasing their attacking depth.
ACT Brumbies 24-36 Lions (July 9, 2025, Canberra) – Win A patchy victory saw tries from Ollie Chessum, James Lowe, Marcus Smith, Garry Ringrose, and Josh van der Flier, but the Lions conceded four tries, indicating defensive areas to address.
NSW Waratahs 10-21 Lions (July 5, 2025, Sydney) – Win
The Lions secured a scrappy win against a spirited Waratahs side, with their attack labouring but their defence holding firm to maintain their unbeaten tour record.
Queensland Reds 12-52 Lions (July 2, 2025, Brisbane) – Win
An eight-try demolition, with Maro Itoje among the scorers, highlighted the Lions' attacking prowess and set a strong tone for the tour.
Western Force 7-54 Lions (June 28, 2025, Perth) – Win
The Lions opened their Australia tour with a dominant eight-try performance, overwhelming the Force and signalling their intent early.
Analysis
The British & Irish Lions are in strong form, maintaining a 5-1 record in their 2025 tour matches so far after a disappointing start to their campaign with a shock loss to Argentina.
Since then, their dominant wins over the Western Force (54-7), Queensland Reds (52-12), and AUNZ Invitational XV (48-0) showcase a potent attack, with players like Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu standing out. However, closer contests against the NSW Waratahs (21-10) and ACT Brumbies (36-24) exposed defensive vulnerabilities, with the Brumbies scoring four tries, suggesting work is needed to tighten up against the Wallabies. The Lions are building momentum but must improve consistency and defensive discipline to be successful against Australia in this series.
Australia v British & Irish Lions Rugby Head-To-Head
All-Time Head-To-Head Record
There have been 9 series played between Australia and the British & Irish Lions, with the Lions winning 7 of those series and Australia winning 2.
In those 9 series, 23 matches have taken place with 17 wins for the Lions, 6 wins for Australia, and 0 draws.
Most Recent Series
The Lions won the most recent series between these two sides 2-1 in 2013. The first two tests were tightly contested, with the Lions winning the first test 21-23 and then losing the second test 16-15. The third and final test was one-sided, however, with the Lions running away with a 16-41 victory.
Australia v British & Irish Lions Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: Australia 17 British & Irish Lions 34
The British & Irish Lions are poised to dominate the first test at Suncorp Stadium thanks to an explosive attack, as seen in thrashings of the Queensland Reds (52-12) and Western Force (54-7).
Australia’s inconsistent form, with narrow wins like 21-18 over Fiji and losses to Ireland and Scotland, suggests they’ll struggle against the Lions’ star-studded lineup, led by Finn Russell and Maro Itoje.
While the Wallabies have home advantage and flair with players like Tom Lynagh and Max Jorgensen, their defensive lapses (e.g., conceding a comeback against Fiji) make a 17-point Lions victory a real possibility in this one, aligning with the -10 handicap (10/11 odds) and their 1/4 favouritism to overpower a spirited but inconsistent Australia.
Best Bet: Dan Sheehan to score the first try (8/1)
Dan Sheehan at 8/1 to score the first try is a high-value choice. The Lions’ hooker, starting in the number two jersey, is a dynamic force in the set-piece and open play, often capitalising on rolling mauls and quick ball from Jamison Gibson-Park.
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