Lions vs Australia LIVE: First Test rugby score, lineups, stats & updates
Summary
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First Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane
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Lions heavy favourites to win three-Test series
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Eight Ireland players in Lions starting XV but no players from Wales
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Australia fly-half Tom Lynagh, son of Wallaby great Michael, makes first start
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Post-match reaction and analysis on BBC iPlayer stream, Radio 5 Live and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast
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Get involved: #bbcrugby, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Live Reporting
Alastair Telfer
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Will experience prove pivotal?published at 10:48 British Summer Time
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Jordan Butler
BBC SportNot only has Andy Farrell named a powerful and physical looking Lions team for the opening Test, but they are also very experienced, particularly when compared to their Australian hosts.
Farrell’s 23-man squad has amassed 1,189 Test caps – a figure which does include Lions appearances – with 819 caps shared between the starting XV and 370 among the replacements.
By comparison, Australia possesses 641 – a vast 548 fewer than the visitors and a figure that appears even more stark when you consider that 23% of the Wallabies’ tally belongs to one man, veteran loose-head prop James Slipper.
The 36-year old is set to take part in his 145th Test and extend his record as the nation’s leading appearance maker.
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‘Lions to win by five points’published at 10:47 British Summer Time
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Jamie Roberts
Former Wales international, speaking on BBC’s Rugby Union WeeklyI would have gone Wallabies by one or two but I think those injuries to Will Skelton and Rob Valetini are significant and the Lions will have too much power up front.
Lions to win by five points and win the series 2-1.
And his standout Lion?
H’’s shown enough form on this tour, I’m going Huw Jones. I think this is the day he becomes one of the great 13s.
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Best predicts Lions winpublished at 10:44 British Summer Time
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Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport at Suncorp StadiumSometimes you just don’t know who you’ll bump into and where…
In the lift at the Suncorp Stadium heading up to the press box was former Ireland captain Rory Best.
He’s predicting a 10-point win for the Lions, or 25-15, when I pushed him for a scoreline.
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‘Australia win 2-1’published at 10:42 British Summer Time
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Ex-Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia joined the Rugby Union Weekly podcast this week and gave his prediction for the Test series.
“I look at that Lions team on paper and I think – what a team,” said Genia.
“There are world-class players all across it but I do give us a chance. I think we have some athletes in our team that can really challenge this Lions team and if we can create some time and space for them we can get in the game.
“Whoever wins the first Test will win the series because you gain confidence and rhythm for the remaining games.
“Australia win 2-1. We win the first and third Tests.”
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get involved Get Involvedpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time
#bbcrugby, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Predictions, please.
Get the exact result correct and you can frame that text.
Use the usual methods above, and don’t forget to include your name.
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Every Man Jacpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport at Suncorp StadiumThere may be no Welshman on the pitch in a Test for the first time since 1896 but there are plenty in the stands.
They’ve arrived in their droves from Wales in good spirits to support their man Jac Morgan who missed out on back-row selection
Bread of Heaven is played to the stadium as the camera picks up Team Jac.
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No Morgan ‘a travesty’published at 10:35 British Summer Time
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Dafydd James
Former Lions and Wales, speaking to BBC SportI didn’t think he’d [Morgan] get in, unfortunately, because unless he was going to start, I didn’t think they were going to put him on a bench, which is a travesty.
But just purely on the basis of there’s so many back-row options there, it didn’t look from the first couple of games that Jac was figuring as his [Farrell’s] main seven, which is bitterly disappointing.
It’s sobering and a sad indictment of the way the game has gone in Wales. Only two players being selected is hard, and you’d have to say on the back of 18 losses we were always going to be up against it trying to get many more players.
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Tom Curry Test-match animalpublished at 10:33 British Summer Time
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Tom Curry, a player who has started three Lions Tests and a World Cup final, has found himself questioned at open-side flanker.
Not because of his ability, but because of his form in comparison to Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier and Jac Morgan, who all miss out on the matchday squad.
Andy Farrell has opted to back the biggest of big game players.
Can Curry to deliver?
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Team news – Lionspublished at 10:30 British Summer Time
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Tom Curry has won the hotly contested battle for selection at open-side flanker.
The England back row beat fierce competition from Wales’ Jac Morgan and Ireland’s former world player of the year Josh van der Flier to line up alongside Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan in the back row.
Morgan’s omission means for the first time since 1896 there is no Welshman in the squad for a Test against traditional opponents Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.
Farrell has named an all-Scotland midfield with Finn Russell steering the attack from fly-half and Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones pairing up in the centre.
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Aki.
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‘Wallabies by one or Lions by 19’ – Tim Horanpublished at 10:27 British Summer Time
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Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesToday’s the day. It’s just over two weeks since we were in Brisbane to watch the Lions take on the Queensland Reds and the city has been transformed.
‘The Lions, what team are they?’ was the general reply by locals then. Now, there is surely not a soul in Brisbane who could have the same reaction. The city is red; cubs on shoulders, kilts galore, couples who tell me the opportunity to tour with the Lions has been eight years coming.
There is a healthy splatter of gold too. One man who’s lifted two World Cups wearing gold is former Wallaby Tim Horan, gripped by Lions fever from the crack of dawn.
”How good will tonight be?’ he tells me. ”I’m going Wallabies by one or Lions by 19.”
“If the Lions hit their straps – Finn Russell will be man of the match and Tom Curry will have played a ripper.”
The stage is set, there are locals strumming guitars from their front gardens on Caxton Street and the Lions travelling support is confident, if slightly wary.
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Sea of red incomingpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time
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Where would a Wallaby win rate in the Schmidt hall of fame?published at 10:23 British Summer Time
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Tom English
BBC Sport at Suncorp StadiumIreland 40 New Zealand 29, Chicago 2016: Historic, emotional, unbelievable. Ireland had tried and failed to beat the All Blacks for 111 years, but Schmidt masterminded a wondrous victory. His gameplan was genius and the execution on the field was just mesmeric.
England 15 Ireland 24, Twickenham 2018: A St Patrick’s Day Grand Slam achieved in the most riotous way. Ireland simply blew England away in a first half that virtually guaranteed the Slam. England fought back but too little, too late. Ireland were irresistible
Northampton 22 Leinster 33, Cardiff 2011: Dead and buried at half-time in the European Cup final, Schmidt’s boys, inspired by the majestic Sexton, fought back from 22-6 to win an absolute stunner at the Millennium
South Africa 20 Ireland 26, Cape Town 2016: CJ Stander was sent-off in the first half but still Schmidt’s team prevailed. An astonishingly brutal Test and a first ever Irish win on South African soil.
Ireland 16 New Zealand 9, Dublin 2018: Jacob Stockdale’s try saw Schmidt beat the nation of his birth for a second time but for the first time in Dublin. The scenes were something to behold.
Australia 16 Ireland 20, Sydney 2018: Not since Ollie Campbell’s team of 1979 had Ireland won a series on Australian soil, but in this third Test they pulled it off. Johnny Sexton’s boot and a brilliant defensive effort saw them through
France 13 Ireland 15, Paris 2018: Arguably the single greatest passage of play under Schmidt. Ireland were trailing and needed a three-pointer, They were miles away from the French posts but coldly, clinically and wonderfully they worked their way downfield to give Sexton a long drop at glory, which he took. Without this, there would have been no Grand Slam against England. A storied day in the Schmidt pantheon
Is there to be an addition to the list today? If there is then the ground under our feet in Brisbane is going to shake.
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Where would a Wallaby win rate in the Schmidt hall of fame?published at 10:20 British Summer Time
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Tom English
BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesThrough his trophy-laden days coaching Leinster and Ireland, Joe Schmidt gave a very convincing impression of a man who could walk on water.
European Cups, Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam, a first (and second) win over New Zealand, a first ever win in South Africa, a first series win in Australia in 28 years, a world ranking of one for the first time. Once upon a time in Ireland it was ‘In Joe We Trust’. Now, for some, it might be a case of ‘In Joe We Fear’
How would you rank all his big individual wins and all his coaching masterclasses – and where would a Wallaby victory over the overwhelming favourites, the British and Irish Lions, rate in the Schmidt hall of fame?
Frankly, as a coaching achievement against all odds, it would probably rank number one if it happens, but the competition is stiff.
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Master v apprenticepublished at 10:18 British Summer Time
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Joe Schmidt brought Andy Farrell into his Ireland coaching staff in 2016.
Farrell needed picking up after disappointment with England at a home World Cup in 2015.
Schmidt did just that and gave the former England assistant coach an opportunity to learn under the best.
Farrell then succeeded Schmidt after the 2019 World Cup.
Will experience play a factor in this one?
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How is the Wallabies’ form?published at 10:16 British Summer Time
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Australia are ranked sixth in the world after captain Harry Wilson’s last-gasp try denied Fiji a famous win in the Wallabies’ only warm-up fixture.
Their last five results:
Australia 21-18 Fiji
Ireland 22-19 Australia
Scotland 27-13 Australia
Wales 20-52 Australia
England 37-42 Australia
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One to watch – Tom Lynaghpublished at 10:13 British Summer Time
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Who watches Queensland Reds regularly? If not, I’ve done my homework on Tom Lynagh.
Tom Lynagh, 22, made his Australia debut last summer against Wales and featured twice in the Rugby Championship.
All those appearances came off the bench to reward his breakthrough season with Queensland Reds.
He has a controlled kicking game and a massive boot that can punish the Lions from long range.
For regular kickers, Lynagh topped the stats in Super Rugby Pacific 2025, kicking at 87.23%, external from the tee.
Given what happened in 2013, Schmidt will need a dead-eye kicker.
Lynagh is a player who will stick to the basics. No flash, but a facilitator for those star backs outside him.
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Team news – Australiapublished at 10:10 British Summer Time
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Australia are without experienced lock Will Skelton and powerful back row Rob Valetini, who both have calf injuries – and that could be crucial to the outcome of today’s match.
Debutant Nick Champion de Crespigny will start at number six, while head coach Joe Schmidt has also handed a first Test start to Tom Lynagh, the son of Wallaby great Michael, in the absence of regular fly-half Noah Lolesio.
“Without Skelton and Valetini, Australia are underpowered and it takes away some of their super strengths,” Ugo Monye, who toured South Africa with the Lions in 2009, told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
“The Lions were favourites before we even saw their squad.
“Now we have seen their team and the Australian team, there is a greater sense of confidence.”
Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Hooper, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson, Kellaway.
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Fans soak up atmosphere in Brisbanepublished at 10:08 British Summer Time
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Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport at Suncorp StadiumAbout a 10 minute walk from the Suncorp Stadium is Caxton Street and it is party central for Lions and Aussie fans.
The atmosphere has been building since just after breakfast this morning in the bars and eateries that line the street which has been sealed off to traffic since 4pm.
Media caption, Watch: Fans soak up atmosphere in Brisbane
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The slip….published at 10:06 British Summer Time
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A repeat of the first Test in 2013 at Suncorp Stadium?
Australia replacement Kurtley Beale missed a penalty with the last kick of the game that would have snatched victory.
The Lions led 13-12 at half-time via George North’s stunning try and two Leigh Halfpenny penalties after a brace of tries for Australia wing debutant Israel Folau.
Alex Cuthbert’s try stretched the Lions’ lead, but two penalties from Beale brought the hosts to within two points.
He had two opportunities to steal victory, but sliced the first wide with five minutes left and then slipped as he connected with his last-minute effort amid unbearable tension.
The Lions won 23–21 and ended up winning the series 2-1.
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