Eight Irish players to start Lions first test against Australia
Michael Bolton
Andy Farrell has named eight Irish players to start the first test for the British and Irish Lions against Australia on Saturday.
Maro Itoje captains the side, and is joined in the second row by Joe McCarthy, with Tadhg Beirne named at blindside.
England's Tom Curry starts at openside with Jack Conan named at number eight. There is no place in the squad for Josh Van Der Flier.
In the front row, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong will join England's Ellis Genge.
Jamison Gibson-Park will join Finn Russell as the half-back partnership, with Marcus Smith named as the replacement out-half.
The scottish centre partnership of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will start the game, with Bundee Aki on the bench.
Hugo Keenan is named at full-back, with James Lowe and Tommy Freeman on the wings.
Andy Farrell, said: “We are entering the business end of the Tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date.
“We know how motivated the Wallaby team will be and we know they are a well organised and dangerous side.
“It is a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the Test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday night.
“We have seen a flood of Lions supporters on the streets of Brisbane this week and we are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red in the stands of the Suncorp Stadium cheering on the team.”
British and Irish Lions team: H Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); T Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), H Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), J Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); F Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), J Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); E Genge (Bristol Bears/England), D Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), M Itoje (Saracens/England) (C), J McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), T Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), T Curry (Sale Sharks/England), J Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).
Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), A Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), W Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), O Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), B Earl (Saracens/England), A Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), M Smith (Harlequins/England), B Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland).