Head coach Andy Farrell has named his team to take on the Wallabies in the highly anticipated first Test of the British and Irish Lions Series in Brisbane.
Saracens and England captain Maro Itoje will lead the side and is partnered at lock by Leinster Rugby and Ireland second row Joe McCarthy.
In the front row, Bristol Bears and England’s Ellis Genge teams up with Leinster and Ireland pair Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.
The backrow sees Leinster and Ireland’s Jack Conan at No.8, Munster Rugby and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne at blindside and Sale Sharks and England’s Tom Curry at openside.
Leinster and Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Bath Rugby and Scotland’s Finn Russell are named as the half-back pairing.
The Glasgow Warriors and Scotland midfield pair of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones line out in the centres. And the Leinster and Ireland duo of Hugo Keenan and James Lowe are joined in the backfield by Northampton Saints and England flyer Tommy Freeman.
“We are entering the business end of the Tour and it is time to put in our best performance to date,” said Farrell.
“We know how motivated the Wallabies 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.”
Back in 2013, the Lions narrowly beat the Wallabies 23-21 and survived a last-minute penalty attempt from Kurtley Beale to secure the victory.
British and Irish Lions – 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Bundee Aki.
