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Irish Examiner

Australia v Lions: first Test minute-by-minute live updates

Australia 0 Lions 0 10:29am: Can't remember a contest so weighted in the Lions' favour. A win is the minimum objective. In truth, Lions are 10-12 point favourites. Mick Cleary 10:28am: Ronan O'Gara wonders if the Lions are rolling the dice by not having Owen Farrell on the bench. "I think the call for back up ten had to be Owen Farrell," ROG said in his Irish Examiner column. "The Lions can't afford to lose Finn Russell early. The Wallabies will be licking their lips if that scenario arises." Lions, Ireland and Munster forward Tadhg Beirne ahead of the first Test against Australia. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan 10:27am: Nothing like the opening vibe of a Lions series. Gabba in 2001 still sends shiver down the spine, the night the Sea of Red flooded into town. Looks like a repeat show in 2025. Mick Cleary 10:26am: "Winning the opening Test is key as it keeps you in the fight to the final whistle on the last day of action," says Donal Lenihan, someone intimately familiar with the Lions. "That's the clear goal for the Lions. Given the list of injuries the Wallabies have had to cope with, Schmidt may have to settle for a competitive performance in the hope that the cavalry return next week in time to keep the series alive." You can read Donal's column here. 10:25am: We're 30 minutes from kick-off of the first of three Tests between the Lions and Australia. BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: H Keenan (Ireland); T Freeman (England), H Jones (Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), J Lowe (Ireland); F Russell (Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Ireland); E Genge (England), D Sheehan (Ireland), T Furlong (Ireland); M Itoje (England) – captain, J McCarthy (Ireland); T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Conan (Ireland). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland), A Porter (Ireland), W Stuart (England), O Chessum (England), B Earl (England), A Mitchell (England), M Smith (England), B Aki (Ireland). AUSTRALIA: T Wright; M Jorgensen, J-A Suaalii, L Ikitau, H Potter; T Lynagh, J Gordon; J Slipper, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa; N Frost, J Williams; N Champion de Crespigny, F McReight, H Wilson - captain. Replacements: B Pollard, A Bell, T Robertson, T Hooper, C Tizzano, T McDermott, B Donaldson, A Kellaway.