Our British & Irish Lions first test team to face Australia

The Lions will meet Australia in the first test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.

Farrell is due to name his team on Thursday - with selections in the midfield and back-row likely to be the big talking points. 

Ahead of the announcement, our writers have picked the teams they would  want to see taking to the field. 

Gavin Harper

This Lions series has struggled to get going thus far, with limited interest from the Australian public, but it all ratchets up a notch this weekend with the start of the three-match test series. 

The Lions will ultimately only be declared a success if they win the series and momentum could be key. 

Hugo Keenan gets the nod at fullback in my team, primarily because of the injury to Blair Kinghorn and his lack of training time since.

Concussion ruling out Garry Ringrose also made my midfield selection easier, but I would likely have gone for Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu in any case. It is actually the latter who benefits most, as he's not been at his best on tour but will reunite with Jones and Finn Russell, who must start at 10. 

Glasgow Warriors pair Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu could start together in the first Lions test (Image: SNS Group) Up front, Dan Sheehan is a shoo-in at hooker, while Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong are a familiar front-row trio. Captain Maro Itoje is the only non-Irishman in my front five, with Joe McCarthy his second rw partner. 

In the back-row, Ollie Chessum gets the nod ahead of Tadhg Beirne at six. His physicality could be important, while the England forward also gives the Lions another all-important lineout option. I've gone for Jac Morgan and Jack Conan to complete the back-row. 

Owen Farrell may have been a controversial call-up, but he's proven at the very top and would make my bench over Marcus Smith, though reports from Australia suggest the ex-England captain will miss out.

I also feel Ben White has also done enough to win a spot among the replacements after an outstanding display against the AUNZ Invitational. 

Gav's British and Irish Lions team: Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje (captain), Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Ben Earl, Ben White, Owen Farrell

Rob Robertson

The British and Irish Lions should be good enough to beat Australia whatever team they put out.

This side with Finn Russell as playmaker, captain Maro Itoje in the second row, and the Scotland centre partnership of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, would win with ease.

Blair Kinghorn obviously deserves to start at fullback, but as he is likely to be out injured, Hugo Keenan has thankfully improved as the tour has progressed and is looking a safe pair of hands, which he wasn't in the earlier build-up games. Tommy Freeman and James Lowe on the wings can run in the tries.

The best Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe can hope for is a place on the bench, and I don't think he will even get that for the first Test. The only time I expect to see him is in the third Test if the first two have been won and it is a dead rubber.

Duhan van der Merwe faces an uphill battle to make the team despite a hat-trick against the AUNZ Invitational (Image: David Davies) The injury to Ireland's Garry Ringrose that has ruled him out of the first Test makes the centre partnership a no-brainer. Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu start.

The easiest decision for Andy Farrell was to name Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park as the half-back partnership.

Ireland's Dan Sheehan is a stick-on at hooker with Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong either side of him. Itoje and the find of the tour, Joe McCarthy of Ireland, should make up the second row with Itoje.

Ollie Chessum, who gives you an extra decent lineout jumper, Josh van der Flier, and the superb Jack Conan would make up my six, seven, and eight.

The Scots could take up a lot of spaces on the bench with Pierre Schoeman a front row replacement, Scott Cummings covering at lock and hopefully Ben White can get a spot on the bench ahead of England's Alex Mitchell. 

Although the Daily Telegraph claim Marcus Smith will be on the bench, I still think there was a case to be made for Andy Farrell to pick his son Owen, as he can cover at fly-half and centre. 

Rob's British and Irish Lions team: Hugo Keenan (only if Blair Kinghorn not fit), Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan

Replacements: Jamie George, Pierre Schoeman, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock, Ben White, Owen Farrell

Euan Booth Robertson

If he is fit, Blair Kinghorn should start at fullback, with his Scotland team-mates Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu in the centres. 

Tommy Freeman has shown enough form to earn a place on the right wing, with James Lowe in ahead of Duhan van der Merwe on the other side.

Ben White was outstanding against the AUNZ Invitational XV (Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

Ellis Genge gets the nod in my team to start at loosehead prop, while Tadhg Beirne would be at six. 

Euan's British and Irish Lions team: Blair Kinghorn, 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, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Ben White, Owen Farrell, Bundee Aki