The British and Irish Lions face Australia in Brisbane on Saturday
Andy Farrell has named his starting XV for the first Lions Test against Australia on Saturday in Brisbane, including eight Irish starters.
Tadhg Beirne is the most notable inclusion in Farrell’s side, with Ollie Chessum missing out at blindside flanker, while Tom Curry won the open side flanker position.
Farrell, who has been criticised for favouring his own trusted players throughout the tour, has broken a record with the number of Ireland players named.
The eight starters rank as the highest number of Ireland players in a Lions Test XV ever, breaking the record of seven from the 2009 second Test against South Africa.
And incredibly, with Jac Morgan missing out, there will be no Welsh player in the side for the first time since 1899.
It has been a long build up to opening game against the Wallabies and things have not always gone the way of the Lions.
After defeat in Dublin to an impressive Argentina side, the Lions have won all of their warm up games in Australia with some big scores against Western Force and Queensland before closer games against Waratahs and ACT Brumbies.
Andy Farrell’s side were back to their best in the last run out against an invitational Australia and New Zealand side with a 48-0 victory that saw the Lions run in eight unanswered tries.
The Wallabies will prove a tougher test at the Suncorp Stadium and fans will be able to watch the match on Saturday 19 July at 11am UK and Ireland time.
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki
