Australia v Lions preview, teams and how to follow

The Lions are the current holders of the Tom Richards Cup following their 2-1 series win on their last tour in 2013

Australia v British and Irish Lions - first Test

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Date: Saturday, 19 July Kick-off: 11:00 BST

Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app with post-match analysis on iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live and Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

The British and Irish Lions face Australia in Brisbane on Saturday in the opening match of a three-Test series.

The tourists are unbeaten on Australian soil this summer following victories over Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, Brumbies and an Invitational AU & NZ side.

Andy Farrell's side will be looking to emulate the series win on the last Lions visit Down Under in 2013.

For team news, the Wallabies form and how to follow the game on BBC Sport - here's all you need to know.

Who is in the Australia team?

Australia have named an under-strength pack without powerful lock Will Skelton and flanker Rob Valetini, who both have calf injuries.

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.

Former Australia hooker Stephen Moore says the hosts are short on cover in that position.

"Since Stephen Larkham retired in 2007 we haven't had an out-and-out world class number 10," Moore told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"Joe [Schmidt] will try to make sure Lynagh's job is kept as simple as possible but 10 is a gap for us."

Harry Wilson will captain the Wallabies from number eight, while Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will pair up in the second row.

In midfield, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Len Ikitau continue their exciting centre partnership.

How is the Wallabies' form?

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.

Schmidt's side showed shoots of recovery after a disappointing 2024 Rugby Championship with impressive autumn victories over England and Wales before ending their European campaign with defeats by Scotland and Ireland.

Despite missing key players, former Australia scrum-half Will Genia says the hosts can still claim a famous series win.

"I look at that Lions team on paper and I think – what a team," Genia told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"There are world-class players all across it but I do give us a chance. 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.

"I think Australia win 2-1 with victories in the first and third Tests."

Lions team news

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 player 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.

Henry Pollock also misses out on selection in the matchday squad, with England pair Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl providing back row cover on the bench.

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.

Ireland have eight starters, equalling the record of most Ireland players to start a Lions Test - with seven of them from Leinster. England have four in the starting XV and Scotland have three.

Where is the match being played?

The opening Test of the three-match series takes place at the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Genia says Brisbane "feels like home" for the Wallabies.

"I'd say it's the unofficial home of rugby in Australia," Genia told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.

"Having played there myself it has a different feel about it. Even the boys from Sydney and the Brumbies [Canberra] have the same feeling.

"It feels like a home ground for us so that will add a bit of confidence to the boys heading into the game."

The Lions thumped Queensland Reds in their second tour match on Australian soil at the Suncorp earlier this summer.

In the victorious 2013 series, Brisbane also staged the first Test, which the Lions won 23-21.

How can I follow the match?

You can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up starting from 10:00 BST.

There will also be post-match reaction and analysis on BBC iPlayer and via Radio 5 Live and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, which is now producing daily episodes.

You can also follow BBC Sport's dedicated British and Irish Lions page for updates from our reporters in Australia.

The game is being shown live on Sky Sports.

Line-ups

Australia: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter; Lynagh, Gordon; Slipper, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Frost, Williams, De Crespigny, McReight, Wilson (capt).

Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Hooper, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson, Kellaway.

Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Tuipulotu, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Genge, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje (capt), McCarthy, Beirne, Curry, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Aki.

Who are the match officials?

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)

Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)

Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (Ita)

TMO: Richard Kelly (NZ)

Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Eric Gauzins (Fra)