Summary

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 19 July

    #bbcrugby, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

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    Get the exact result correct and you can frame that text.

    Use the usual methods above, and don't forget to include your name.

    Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell in positive moodImage source, Getty Images
  2. Every Man Jacpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Lauren Jenkins
    BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium

    There 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.

    Team Jac Morgan
  3. No Morgan 'a travesty'published at 10:35 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Dafydd James
    Former Lions and Wales, speaking to BBC Sport

    I 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.

    Jac MorganImage source, Getty Images
  4. Tom Curry Test-match animalpublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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?

    Tom CurryImage source, Getty Images
  5. Team news - Lionspublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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.

    Lions line-up
  6. 'Wallabies by one or Lions by 19' - Tim Horanpublished at 10:27 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Lauren Jenkins
    BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium

    Lions fansImage source, Getty Images

    Today'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.

    Lions fansImage source, Getty Images
  7. Sea of red incomingpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Lions fansImage source, Getty Images
  8. Where would a Wallaby win rate in the Schmidt hall of fame?published at 10:23 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Tom English
    BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium

    Ireland 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.

    Jonathan SextonImage source, Getty Images
  9. Where would a Wallaby win rate in the Schmidt hall of fame?published at 10:20 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Tom English
    BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium

    Joe SchmidtImage source, Getty Images

    Through 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.

  10. Master v apprenticepublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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?

    Former New Zealand assistant coach Joe Schmidt, left, and Ireland head coach Andy Farrell before the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalImage source, Getty Images
  11. How is the Wallabies' form?published at 10:16 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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

    Harry Wilson scores a tryImage source, Getty Images
  12. One to watch - Tom Lynaghpublished at 10:13 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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.

    Tom LynaghImage source, Getty Images
  13. Team news - Australiapublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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.

    Australia line-up
  14. Fans soak up atmosphere in Brisbanepublished at 10:08 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Nigel Ringland
    BBC Sport at Suncorp Stadium

    About 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

  15. The slip....published at 10:06 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    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.

    Kurtley Beale slipsImage source, Getty Images
  16. The Lions tour so farpublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    Played six, won five, but since the opening match against Argentina in Dublin, the Lions have won five straight games where the result has never been in doubt.

    With some Australia Test players not made available for their teams, the opposition hasn't been of the highest standard but the Lions have still got the job done.

    12 July - Invitational AU & NZ 0-48 Lions, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)

    9 July - ACT Brumbies 24-36 Lions, Canberra (GIO Stadium)

    5 July - NSW Waratahs 10-21 Lions Sydney (Allianz Stadium)

    2 July - Queensland Reds 12-52 Lions Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)

    28 June - Western Force 7-54 Lions Perth (Optus Stadium)

    20 June - Lions 24-28 Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium)

  17. Lions, Lions, Lionspublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 19 July

    Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)

    The time has finally arrived as the British and Irish Lions face Australia in the first Test in Brisbane.

    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.

    None of that matters now, it is all about the Test series.

    Can Andy Farrell's side emulate 2013 and win the first Test against the Wallabies?

    Captains pose with the trophyImage source, Getty Images