Key events
How often do Lions teams lose midweek games?
Not often, as it turns out. Full disclosure, I’ve nicked this from Rugbyworld magazine and Richard Edwards (top work, Rich).
They crunched the numbers and found that a team comprising the best players from four nations usually have the beating of provincial club sides. Who knew?
In 2021 in South Africa the Lions had a win rate of 83% in their warm-ups, winning five and losing once to a South Africa A team in Cape Town.
The 2017 Test series in New Zealand was drawn 1-1 but the dirt trackers midweek struggled with a mere 57% win rate.
In 2013 (Australia), 2009 (South Africa) and 2001 (Australia) it was 86%, in 2005 (New Zealand) it was 78% and back in 1997 (South Africa), in perhaps the most famous of Lions tours, the midweek boys managed to win nine of their 10 warm-up games.
Our man on the ground, Rob Kitson, has been busy down under.
While you sit at your desk and pretend to do some work, why not take a glance at a couple of cracking yarns.
This is the latest Breakdown column looking at five selection posers ahead of the first Test:
One dilemma is at fullback. Keenan is unwell but Kinghorn joins the group after a triumphant Top 14 campaign in France:
One area that seems secure is the the tasty tasty half-back pair:
Team news
This is some outfit that Andy Farrell has assembled.
In fact, it looks like a Test team.
A late change sees the unwell Hugo Keenan switched out for Elliot Daly at fullback. But that’s hardly a downgrade, is it?
Skipper Maro Itoje completes an all-England second row and the halfbacks could be the most exciting pair in the game (with the possible exception of a couple of French fellas).
The Reds, who finished fifth in Super Rugby, have nine Australians and two former All Blacks in their ranks. Six Wallabies, though, including flanker Fraser McReight, scrum-half Tate McDermott and fly-half Tom Lynagh, are missing as they are being held back for Australia’s Test match against Fiji on Sunday.
Lions: Daly; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Van der Merwe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, Curry, Morgan, Conan
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Bealham, Ryan, Earl, Mitchell, F Smith, Ringrose
Reds: Campbell (capt); Anderson, Flook, Paisami, Ryan; McLaughlin-Phillips, Thomas; Ross, Faessler, Toomaga-Allen, Canham, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Bryant, Brial.
Replacements: Nasser, Blake, Fa’agase, Smith, Blyth, Vest, Werchon, Henry
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
The Lions have made their way across the great deserts of Australia and landed in Queensland.
They pasted the Western Force last week but I think the Reds will offer a sterner challenge.
The tourists should still have more than enough for a comfortable win and have named a formidable team (more on that in a bit).
But beyond the result, big Faz will be keeping a keen on eye on some combinations. These tune-ups only matter if a couple of cogs can turn together and everyone stays fit.
Of course, no one wants to lose a midweek game. A poor show here and a chance of a Test cap might fade away for a couple of players.
How will they get on today? Let’s find out together!
Kick-off is at 11am UK time, 8pm in Queensland.
Teams and other updates to come.
Fancy writing in? I’d love to hear from you.
