The Lions are coming off the back of a solid win in the first Test against Australia. They now face the First Nations and Pasifika XV in a midweek fixture and will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten run on tour. Below, we look at the match from a betting perspective and offer a few suggested wagers.
British & Irish Lions
The Lions extended their perfect tour record with a 27–19 victory over Australia in the first Test on Saturday. It was their sixth win in a row, and they will be keen to carry that momentum into this midweek clash. Head coach Andy Farrell has named an entirely new starting XV for the match, opting to rest several players who featured over the weekend. Owen Farrell captains the side from inside centre, while Darcy Graham and Jamie Osborne both earn their first Lions caps.
Starting Lineup
15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Jamie George, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 James Ryan, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jac Morgan 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose.
First Nations & Pasifika XV
Like the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV from two weeks ago, the First Nations and Pasifika side is a newly assembled team made up of players from the respective regions. Although they have not played together before, the squad features several experienced names, including Kurtley Beale, who captains the side from flyhalf.
Starting Lineup
15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Kurtley Beale (c), 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Lington Ieli
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Jarrah McLeod
Betting and Verdict
The British and Irish Lions are overwhelming favourites for this match and are trading at 1.01 to win, while the First Nations and Pasifika XV are priced at 29.00. The draw is currently at 121.00.
With a completely fresh lineup, several Lions players will be eager to stake a claim for Test selection, or more realistically be in contention for a call up should there be any injuries to the Test team. The last time the Lions played an invitational side, they delivered a 48–0 win, exposing the lack of cohesion in their opponents. While the Pasifika team will bring flair and physicality, they are likely to struggle against a well-drilled Lions outfit.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, British and Irish Lions [-33.5] at 1.91.
In four of their six matches on tour, the Lions have conceded twelve points or fewer. Only the Brumbies and Australia have managed to breach that mark. This defensive discipline is a hallmark of the Lions setup, and against a side with no shared playing history, it is likely to remain intact.
Suggested Bet: First Nations & Pasifika XV total points under 15.5 at 1.85.
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
