The time has finally come for the 1st Test of the British & Irish Lions 20205 tour of Australia. After losing to Argentina in Dublin before heading down under, the Lions have slowly been growing together as a force to be reckoned with.
The standard of opposition has been spotty, which might be putting it kindly, but their 48-0 win over an Invitational AU & NZ XV last weekend was a clear warning that they are ready to take on the Wallabies.
Australia VS British & Irish Lions 1st Test Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Australia VS British & Irish Lions 1st Test Date: Saturday, July 19
BetXchange Australia VS British & Irish Lions 1st Test Odds:
History
It is safe to say the Lions would have wanted more of a test from the Aussie Super Rugby franchises. Andy Farrell’s major challenge has been blending the combinations of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Jac Morgan to create a team that knows and executes its game plan on Test Saturdays.
Australia has only ever won two series against the Lions. They won 1-0 when the Lions toured Australia and New Zealand in 1930 and 2-1 in 2001 in a fractious and woefully organized Lions tour.
The Lions last toured Australia in 2013. That series ended with a Lions win. The tourists won the first Test 23-21, Australia fighting back to win the second 16-15, and the Lions rallied to blow out their hosts 41-16 in the third Test.
Australia
Australia will be down several of their key players for the first Test. This is a worry, given that their lack of strength in depth is glaringly evident in key places in their 23.
Head coach Joe Schmidt already knew he would be without starting fly-half Noah Lolosei for the series after he underwent neck surgery on an injury picked up in the Wallabies’ lone warmup game against Fiji.
News that lock Will Skelton and blindside Rob Valetini are also out of the first Test with calf injuries compounds Schmidt’s selection issues. The result is a debut handed to No. 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, as he completes a backrow alongside veterans Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson.
British & Irish Lions
As with any British & Irish Lions tour, the head coach has plenty of options when naming his Test side. Farrell has some players locked in from day one, such as lock and captain Maro Itoje, hooker Dan Sheehan, and No. 8 Jack Conan, while other decisions in the 23 went down to the wire.
The biggest questions will be the all-Scottish midfield and the Englishman in the back row. Farrell opted for the center duo of Sione Tuipolotu and Huw Jones, with Tuipoloti preferred over Irishman Bundee Aki. Paiting Tuipolotu with Jones and Finn Russell certainly makes sense from a combination perspective, with Aki poised to lend heft from the bench.
Tom Curry’s inclusion over the impressive Morgan at openside is another decision that Farrell will hope he has made wisely.
Best Bets
There is a worry this could get ugly. The line is 9.5 points, but if the Lions click, they could sail past that mark. The most significant mismatch on the field is in the halves, and I expect Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park to take over this Test. Lions by at least two tries and maybe a whole heap more.
