<p>The Lions are on their way Down Under!</p> <p>For the first time in 12 years, the British and Irish Lions are heading back to Australia for a three-Test series against the Wallabies.</p> <p>It’s always a big occasion when the Lions come to town, with the prestige and gravitas of the series and the red jersey elevating the meaning for the touring players that take the field.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for the home country? Well, It’s a chance for the often struggling Wallabies to test their mettle against the collective best of the British Isles.</p> <p>Set to arrive in Australia next week, the Lions will play a carnival of games against the Wallabies, a match against each of the four Australian-based Super Rugby Franchises, and matches against a combined Australia &amp; New Zealand invitational 15 and a Pasifika &amp; First Nations 15.</p> <p>What should we expect from the tour? Do the Wallabies stand a chance? For all the latest news, fixtures, squad news, tips, and analysis, catch our Wallabies vs Lions series prediction and preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Australia vs British and&nbsp;Irish Lions Squads</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Australia (Predicted Squad)</h3> <p><strong>Forwards: </strong>Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crispingy, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggor, Billy Pollard, Dave Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Carlto Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson</p> <p><strong>Backs:</strong> Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>British &amp; Irish Lions</h3> <p><strong>Forwards: </strong>Maro Itoje (England, captain), Finlay Bealham (Ireland)*, Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Ollie Chessum (England), Jack Conan (Ireland), Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Tom Curry (England), Ben Earl (England), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England), Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Henry Pollock (England), Andrew Porter (Ireland), James Ryan (Ireland), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland)</p> <p><strong>Backs:</strong> Bundee Aki (Ireland), Elliot Daly (England), Tommy Freeman (England), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Huw Jones (Scotland), Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Gary Ringrose (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Fin Smith (England), Marcus Smith (England), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Tomos Williams (Wales)</p> <p><em>*Finlay Bealham was added to the squad to replace Zander Fagerson</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Australia vs British and&nbsp;Irish Lions Prediction and&nbsp;Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Series Preview</h3> <p>This is the series that every player wants to play in.</p> <p>For Australians, this happens once a generation that the Lions come to town, so it’s the biggest series one could ever play in throughout their career spans.</p> <p>And for the tourists? You’re either a Lions player or you never were, Which spells trouble for the Wallabies because they will be just as wired up to perform.</p> <p>The last time the Lions played was in 2021 in a behind closed doors series against the Springboks due to the COVID pandemic. So, expect the stands to be packed to the rafters here in a great spectacle.&nbsp;</p> <p>This will be the Wallabies last series of matches under head coach Joe Schmidt before Les Kiss takes over. With positive results under Schmidt, and with the Kiwi’s extensive knowledge of northern hemisphere rugby, could be the key to giving the Wallabies the upper hand, and sign off his time with the team with a bang.</p> <p>All Aussie players have finished their Super Rugby commitments for the year, but Lions coach Andy Farrell won’t get a look at his best XV until they get to Australia, wih several stars set to miss the send off/ warm up match with the Pumas in Dublin due to Top 14 commitments.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Lions have won all three Tests they have previously played in Brisbane, so they have a perfect opportunity to get off to a winning start.&nbsp;</p> <p>They have never won in Melbourne where the second Test match is taking place…. Which could set us up for an epic decider in Sydney.</p> <p>All three previous Lions series against Australia have finished 2-1 to the tourists.&nbsp;</p> <p>It would take something remarkable for Australia to turn the tide, especially with the team the way it is at the moment, so we’re thinking that’s likely going to be the case again.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-union/lions-tour/lions-tour-8843320">Lions 2 - 1 Australia</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Leading Try Scorer</h3> <p>With two relatively inexperienced squads, it’s hard to find a bankable try scorer across the series, especially as we are anticipating a heavy squad rotation for both sides.</p> <p>One man who has made a habit of scoring whenever he is wearing the Gold jersey is Andrew Kellaway. Either out on the wings or manning the fullback position, he tends to cross over often enough to remain a threat to the opposition. He’s our pick for leading try scorer.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-union/lions-tour/lions-tour-8843320">Andrew Kellaway</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Player of the Series</h3> <p>English playmaker Marcus Smith is in the midst of a great run of form for his club Harlequins back home. Regularly wearing the England no 10, he’ll shift to the back to make room for Scottish star Finn Russell to likely take the 10 jersey, but that should open his game up further.</p> <p>Patrolling the back and being able to dictate play and manage the game, will set him on course for a big series. He’s our pick for player of the series.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-union/lions-tour/lions-tour-8843320">Marcus Smith</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>How to Watch the British and&nbsp;Irish Lions Tour of Australia 2025</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Every game of the British &amp; Irish Lions tour of Australia will be shown live and ad-break free on Stan Sport.</p> <p>Every Test match between the Lions and the Wallabies will be shown on Channel Nine.&nbsp;</p> <p>This includes the Wallabies pre-Lions Test against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, July 6th</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>British &amp; Irish Lions 2025 Australian Tour Fixtures</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Western Force v British &amp; Irish Lions at 5:45 pm AWST on Saturday, June 28 at Optus Stadium, Perth</p> <p>Queensland Reds v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday, July 2 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane</p> <p>New South Wales Waratahs v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday, July 5 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney</p> <p>ACT Brumbies v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Wednesday, July 9 at GIO Stadium, Canberra</p> <p>AUNZ Invitational XV v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday, July 12 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide</p> <p>Wallabies v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday, July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane</p> <p>First Nations &amp; Pasifika XV v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Tuesday July 22 at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne</p> <p>Wallabies v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday, July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne</p> <p>Wallabies v British &amp; Irish Lions at 7:45pm AEST on Saturday, August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney</p>