Predicting The Starting British & Irish Lions XV For First Test Against Australia

With less than one month until the first Test match of the 2025 tour of Australia, William Hill have revealed the likeliest starting XV for the British & Irish Lions in Brisbane.

According to the latest sports betting odds following the Lions’ defeat to Argentina on Friday night, Andy Farrell is expected to go fairly heavy on Ireland internationals with seven in the predicted starting line-up for the contest.

Bet on the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia at William Hill.

In addition, four players from England and Scotland are projected to make Farrell’s starting fifteen. As things stand, no Wales player is expected to start the first Test match in Brisbane, according to odds at the time of writing.

Likeliest British & Irish Lions Starting XV For First Test Against Australia

The following Lions XV is based on the current betting markets and implied probability, with several British & Irish Lions specials available to bet on with William Hill. You can read the odds for each player in the starting XV below:

• Prop – Andrew Porter (Ireland) – 4/6
• Prop – Will Stuart (England) – 4/5
• Hooker – Dan Sheehan (Ireland) – 1/12
• Second Row – Maro Itoje (England) – 1/20
• Second Row – Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) – 1/5
• Flanker – Josh van der Flier (Ireland) – 2/5
• Flanker – Tom Curry (England) – 4/7
• Number 8 – Jack Conan (Ireland) – 4/7
• Scrum-Half – Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) – 1/8
• Fly-Half – Finn Russell (Scotland) – 4/11
• Centre – Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland) – 2/5
• Centre – Huw Jones (Scotland) – 4/7
• Wing – Tommy Freeman (England) – 1/5
• Wing – James Lowe (Ireland) – 2/7
• Fullback – Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) – 8/11

Captain Maro Itoje (1/20) is the most likely to take the field in Brisbane, closely followed by hooker Dan Sheehan (1/12). Full-back Blair Kinghorn could face the toughest competition for his starting spot, seeing a challenge from Ireland’s Hugo Keenan.

Ireland are expected to provide the most starters (seven), ahead of Scotland and England (both four), while Welsh duo Jac Morgan (6/4) and Tomos Williams (6/1) are outsiders to take on the Wallabies.

William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: “Excitement is building ahead of The British & Irish Lions’ tour of Australia, and as Andy Farrell’s side head Down Under, our traders have put together the expected starting XV for the first Test in Brisbane.

“Captain Maro Itoje is a nailed-on 1/20 starter, with hooker Dan Sheehan also a shoo-in at 1/12.

“The full-back position looks to be the most tightly contested, between Blair Kinghorn (8/11) and Hugo Keenan (11/10), while there is little to separate Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Tadhg Furlong and Ellis Genge in the front row.

“We expect the Lions to be mainly made up of Irish starters, with no Welsh in Farrell’s first XV,and Scotland and England providing four starters apiece.”

Who Will Start In The Back Row Against Australia?

• Josh van der Flier – 2/5
• Tom Curry – 4/7
• Jack Conan – 4/7
• Ben Earl – 11/10
• Henry Pollock – 6/4
• Jac Morgan – 6/4

Which Players Will Start At Centre Against Australia?

• Sione Tuipulotu – 2/5
• Huw Jones – 4/7
• Bundee Aki – 11/10
• Garry Ringrose – 5/2

Who Will Start At Fly Half Against Australia?

• Finn Russell – 4/11
• Fin Smith – 11/4
• Marcus Smith – 10/1

Who Will Start At Full Back Against Australia?

• Blair Kinghorn – 8/11
• Hugo Keenan – 11/10
• Elliot Daly – 16/1
• Marcus Smith – 20/1

Who Will Start At Hooker Against Australia?

• Dan Sheehan – 1/12
• Luke Cowan-Dickie – 8/1
• Ronan Kelleher – 10/1

Which Players Will Start At Prop Against Australia?

• Andrew Porter – 4/6
• Will Stuart – 4/5
• Tadhg Furlong – 5/4
• Ellis Genge – 5/4
• Finlay Bealham – 15/2
• Pierre Schoeman – 9/1

Which Players Will Start In The Second Row Against Australia?

• Maro Itoje – 1/20
• Tadhg Beirne – 1/5
• Joe McCarthy – 4/1
• Ollie Chessum – 5/1
• James Ryan – 10/1
• Scott Cummings – 20/1

Which Wingers Will Start Against Australia?

• Tommy Freeman – 1/5
• James Lowe – 2/7
• Duhan van der Merwe – 13/8
• Mack Hansen – 5/1
• Elliot Daly – 33/1

*Odds accurate at time of writing – prices subject to change*