Pundits make picks for British & Irish Lions first Test against Australia - do you agree? Does Owen Farrell make the cut? Who will win? Vote now
Updated 17/07/2025 at 06:08 GMT+1
The first British & Irish Lions Test against Australia is looming, and TNT Sports' pundits have been naming the XVs they want to see in Brisbane. After racking up the points and victories so far down under, it's time for the serious business to begin, as Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt send their sides out to do battle at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. Choose whose team you prefer below.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
After four long years, this Saturday finally brings the beginning of another British & Irish Lions Test series, as the class of 2025 eye their place in history.
Lying in wait are Australia in Brisbane, with the Suncorp Stadium set to be a sea of gold and red for the first Test.
With no midweek fixture, the curtain-raising matches are done, and Andy Farrell is slowly inking his starting side onto paper.
Will 10, 12 and 13 be an all-Scottish axis? Can Blair Kinghorn recover from injury? And could England's Ben Earl or Tom Curry get a starting spot in the back row?
Ahead of the squad announcement this Thursday, we caught up with a panel of TNT Sports' pundits, asking them for the XVs they would like to see take the field on Saturday.
Here is what they said - below, you can decide whose lineup you agree with the most!
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Sam Warburton
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Ben Earl
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Ben Earl
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
Brian O'Driscoll
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Maro Itoje
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Ben Earl
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Maro Itoje
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Ben Earl
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
Brian added that Owen Farrell was very close to starting as his 12...
Ugo Monye
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Ben Earl
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Ben Earl
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. Mack Hansen
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Blair Kinghorn
10. Finn Russell
11. Mack Hansen
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Blair Kinghorn
Ben Kay
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Maro Itoje
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Jack Conan
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Maro Itoje
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Jac Morgan
8. Jack Conan
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Hugo Keenan
David Flatman
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Tom Curry
8. Jack Conan
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
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. Blair Kinghorn
10. Finn Russell
11. James Lowe
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
14. Tommy Freeman
15. Blair Kinghorn
With our pundits' teams named, it's time to cast your vote.
First Test prediction
And finally...
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