British Irish Lions Start Record Eight Irish Against Australia

The British and Irish Lions are set to field a record eight Irish players in their starting XV for the first Test against Australia, reflecting head coach Andy Farrell's reliance on the Irish and Leinster core. Key Irish players expected to start include Tadhg Beirne at blindside flanker, Tadhg Furlong at tighthead prop earning his seventh consecutive Lions Test start, Dan Sheehan at hooker, Joe McCarthy in the second row, and Jack Conan at number 8. The backline is likely to feature Irishmen Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, and Jamison Gibson-Park, while Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones are expected to start at inside centre. England’s Tom Curry is favored for the openside flanker role over Ireland’s Josh van der Flier and Wales’ Jac Morgan, with Bundee Aki possibly losing out to Tuipulotu. Notably, the matchday squad may exclude Owen Farrell and promising young flanker Henry Pollock. This lineup marks the first Lions Test since the 1890s without Welsh representation, underscoring the dominance of Irish players in the squad.