2025 British and Irish Lions Tour: A Summer Spectacle

Ben Youngs certainly thinks so. In September, England’s record cap holder claimed the Lions should skip Australia and tour South Africa instead. That bright idea came hot on the heels of Los Pumas pouncing on the Wallabies in Santa Fe and beating them by 40 points! 

But nine weeks later, Joe Schmidt’s resurgent Australian team beat England 42-37 in Twickenham. And that’s why the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour promises to be the feel-good hit of the summer. Well, maybe not “feel-good” in the traditional sense. 

History Repeating? 

The underlying data seems to agree with Ben Young’s assertion. Andy Farrell has been involved in the Ireland set-up since 2016. During that time, the Wallabies only beat Ireland once. That loss came in the first Test of a three-game series down under in 2018. 

Australia have only beaten Scotland twice since 2016, and they have a 2-10 record against England in that same period! 

Wales is the only home nation Australia has a good record against in recent years. But there are only two Welsh players in the touring party. Smart move from Farrell. 

Home Is Where The Heart Is 

Australia will host the first Test in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. Between England’s victories there in 2016 and 2022, the Wallabies had won 10 Tests in a row at Suncorp, but they have lost the last two Tests by a combined score of 58-24!

The Lions have played in Brisbane twice. Most fans will remember the last meeting, a 23-21 victory in the first Test 12 years ago. Not many will recall the 31-0 drubbing the Lions gave the Wallabies back in 1966, though! 

The second Test will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As the locals call it, the G has only hosted four rugby union Test matches, all Bledisloe Cup games. Australia have won two of those four games in that particular series.

However, Melbourne has a bigger British and Irish expat community than any other city in Australia. So, however the first Test plays out, it will feel like a home game for the Lions. 

The final and probably deciding game will be played at Accor Stadium (formerly known as Stadium Australia) in Sydney. Australia has only won one game at Accor since the Lions beat them there in 2013! But they have only played there eight times, and all those games have been against the All Blacks. 

The Wallabies beat the Lions 29-23 at Accor back in 2001. Daniel Herbert, now the Rugby Australia Chair, scored two tries in that game. After Austin Healey (via Eddie Butler) had famously called Justin Harrison a “plank” in his tour diary. 

Key Matchups 

The Lions’ strength is in the front five. There are so many exceptional tight five forwards in the squad that skipper Maro Itoje could find himself lining up in the six shirt.

The top line-out stealer in the 6 Nations, Ollie Chessum, surely has to feature in the second row. If Luke Cowan-Dickie is included in the Test squad, winning Australia’s line-out will be easier than winning their own. 

Jac Morgan is the only true open side in the squad. While Tom Curry, who is currently injured, will be hoping for a Test berth, the Wales captain is the better player from a technical and discipline standpoint.

However, Australia is considering bending its selection rules so Joe Schmidt can include Will Skelton. A Wallaby pack, including Skelton, would prove an interesting challenge.

The 33-year-old former Saracen and four-time European Cup champion will bring plenty of leadership and physicality with him. 

There’s a significant buzz around James O’Connor’s possible recall, too. The 34-year-old hasn’t pulled a gold jumper on since 2022, but with Noah Lolesio’s itchy feet about to flare up again, O’Connor would be the safest pair of hands available. 

O’Connor and Finn Russell last met when Australia played Scotland in 2021, and Scotland won 15-13!

Will The Lions Roar? 

The Wallabies should have the edge in the first Test while the Lions still work out a few kinks. While the touring side will play a practice Test against Argentina in Dublin, several touring party members will be unavailable for that game. Farrell will have to call up front-row reinforcements to fulfil that fixture.  

The Lions will have figured things out by the second Test, though, and with a record number of fans in attendance, the Wallabies will feel like the away team. 

One thing you can expect from the final Test is nerves. Even if the series is over, one team will be desperate to end it on a high note. Australia has lost 12 of its last 15 Tests at Accor; the last time they played the Lions there, they lost 41-16!