Australia vs British and Irish Lions Predictions, Betting Tips and H2H 19/07/2025

Australia vs British and Irish Lions Preview

After several warm-up games, the British and Irish Lions will begin their tour down under with a clash against the Wallabies in Brisbane. Andy Farrell’s men will face Australia at the Suncorp Stadium at 8 pm AEST, which is 11 am BST on Saturday, July 19. 

The British and Irish Lions last toured Australia in 2013. The visitors walked away with the more successful side winning twice in a three-game test series. Once again, the Lions enter this match as heavy favourites. However, injuries have impacted their preparation, and there’s a sense that Farrell still doesn’t know his strongest team. Meanwhile, his opposite number, Joe Schmidt, is a wily operator. There are so many fascinating storylines before this box-office clash.

Australia vs British and Irish Lions Predictions

Predicted Score: Australia 22 – 30 Lions

Our most accurate rugby predictions this week see the Lions to win this game and the series overall. It’s no surprise that Farrell has delved heavily into his Irish squad. We expect many of the Boys in Green to start, which is bad news for Australia. They will play with cohesion and know each other very well. 

The British and Irish Lions enter a new era with Andy Farrell taking the reins from Warren Gatland as head coach. The Ireland boss has an enviable squad to choose from with outstanding depth. The Home Nations and Ireland are all enjoying good form at the moment, with even Wales ending their losing streak. Meanwhile, Australia is in a period of transition under Joe Schmidt. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAOOnAUC-x8

Many experts believe there isn’t much between these teams. However, the Lions have an apparent advantage at halfback with the combination of Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell. It’s a tantalising pairing on paper, but only time will tell if they quickly develop chemistry. It’s worth noting that Owen Farrell could also play a key role in this game as the most likely replacement for Russell. 

However, the Lions will be most vulnerable in this game. We predict that Australia will attack the Lions aggressively like the Waratahs. This is their best chance of winning in this series, and it could be a close game. They also have superb experience and leadership across their squad, with veteran fly-half James O’Connor a standout. He is one of only two players on the Wallabies with experience of playing against the Lions. 

One of the big questions before this game surrounds Rob Valetini’s fitness. He remains an injury doubt ahead of this game and would be a massive loss. His presence instantly makes this game more competitive because he’s arguably Australia’s only truly world-class player. However, don’t underestimate the Wallabies’ motivation to win in front of their home fans.

Beautiful Brisbane is open for Lions business 🦁🙌

The countdown to the 1st Test is ON ⏳#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/8a4H9HrkwG

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 16, 2025

Everybody knows that Farrell loves Connacht wing Mack Hansen. However, the Irish international is likely to miss this game with a foot problem. Garry Ringrose is also out with a concussion. Tommy Freeman and Huw Jones will likely benefit from their misfortune. We expect Leinster star Hugo Keenan to start at halfback, where he is a classy operator. 

The Lions have so many talented attackers. That’s why we predict they will have too much firepower for Australia. They are prohibitive favourites on our sports betting platform. There is a chance that the Lions won’t be at their peak yet, but we still believe it is theirs to win. Farrell’s side will look very similar to the one that defeated the Brumbies in Canberra last week.

Players To Watch

• Jamison Gibson-Park (Lions, scrum-half): Gibson-Park is the second-best scrum-half in the world after Antoine Dupont. He is the key cog in the Irish team, and Farrell will hope he can have the same influence for the Lions. His kicking is outstanding, while his calmness under pressure is remarkable. Australia must nullify him if they want to win this game, but that’s easier said than done. 
• Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii: (Australia, wing/centre): This could be a breakout series for Aukuso-Suaalii, who is already one of the most highly-touted prospects on the planet. The Waratahs’ star is only 21 but has superstar potential. It’s crazy that he only made the move from the NRL in 2023. Aukuso-Suaalii possesses insane athletic gifts and could be the man to reignite Australia’s love for rugby union. He’s back in action after recovering from a fractured jaw.

Australia vs British and Irish Lions Betting Tips

• Winning Margin – Lions by 8 to 14: We predict that the Lions will win this game by at least 8 points. Australia may make this a close game in the first half. But the Lions have too much stardust across their lineup. Finn Russell’s kicking has been on point throughout the last few tests. Meanwhile, the Lions have outstanding depth on the wing. An 11/4 bet on the Lions makes sense with €10 making a €27.50 profit.
• Match Result & Total Points – Lions/Over 50.5: Betting on the Lions tour reveals many options as they are a heavy 1/4 favourite to win this game overall. A more lucrative way to back them to win could be combining the result with an over/under bet. It’s 11/10 for Andy Farrell’s men to win and the game to finish with more than 50 combined points.
• Handicap – Australia +4: Handicap betting is another great way to boost your odds. We’re expecting Australia to start fast and put the Lions under pressure. This wager is available at 8/5 on the betting site and could be a great selection. A successful €10 stake would make a €16 profit. 

As this is the first game of the test series, it could be cagey as each side feels its way into the match. Don’t forget to check the live betting odds too, because one sin bin or injury could instantly change this game!

Your 36 Wallabies preparing for the British & Irish Lions Test series.#Wallabies #LionsTour2025 pic.twitter.com/1xVnhtL1EM

— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 11, 2025

Australia vs British and Irish Lions Head-to-Head and Key Stats

The British and Irish Lions have faced Australia in nine series since 1899. The Northern Hemisphere outfit has dominated this rivalry with seven victories to Australia’s two. Meanwhile, the Lions have won 17 of the 23 Test games compared to the Wallabies’ six. Australia’s last overall series victory over the Lions came back in 2001. That was their first success since 1930. 

It’s fair to say that history is on the Lions’ side for anyone considering a rugby bet. These sides went head-to-head again in 2013 in their most recent meeting. The Lions eked out this series as 2-1 victors, with Australia winning the second game. Interestingly, that victory for the Wallabies came at the Suncorp Stadium, so perhaps this is a good omen. Don’t underestimate the weight of the shirt on these players, even though they’re completely different sides now. 

The Lions enter this clash in decent form after winning their past five warm-up games in Australia. They smashed an AUNZ invitational side 48-0 and believe they can achieve a rare sweep. The Lions also beat Super Rugby sides, including the Reds, Waratahs, and Brumbies. Their loss against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium feels like a long time ago, and now they’re a settled outfit. 

Joe Schmidt’s men have only had a single warm-up before this series. They had a tough meeting with Fiji and only stole the game at the death. After racing into a 14-5 halftime lead, they allowed the Fijians to bounce back. Harry Wilson’s score sealed a morale-boosting win but also left them with questions to answer. 

Nonetheless, it means that Australia has now won four of their past five games. These include massive victories over England and Ireland. Australian rugby has been in the doldrums for much of the past five years, but now they’re finally casting off that shadow. A victory over the Lions would settle many of their doubters. 

Andy Farrell also has plenty of doubters. The Ireland boss underwhelmed at the World Cup with his side. However, his Six Nations record is excellent. The number of Irish players in the squad is in double figures, with injuries likely to increase their presence. We expect up to eight of the best Irish rugby players to start this opening match.