British & Irish Lions vs Queensland Reds: Hugo Keenan out of starting XV

Queensland Reds 0 British & Irish Lions 0

2 mins: The Reds spill their opening lineout and are then guilty of regathering in an offside position. Russell kicks the penalty down the line up towards the 22, but the Reds pinch the lineout.

There’s Itoje, though, who wins the race to the bouncing ball. Somehow, via a lost lineout, the Lions have the ball inside the 22.

1 min: We are underway in Suncorp as Jack Conan takes the opening kick-off deep inside his own 22. Gibson-Park’s first touch is a nice clearance kick to touch.

Reds 0 Lions 0

James Doleman reffed the game in Dublin against Argentina. He has the whistle again here.

Another area to keep an eye on is the backrow. Against Argentina, they went with three number sevens really in Morgan, Curry and Earl. On Saturday, it looked more balanced with Beirne at six, van der Flier at seven and Pollock at eight.

Today, Conan finally gets a go as the only specialist eight in the squad. He’s alongside Morgan and Curry as Farrell mixes his backrow blends from the two games. Still plenty of opensides, perhaps in anticipation of Australia’s threat on the floor with Fraser McReight et al.

Lion Jack Conan warms up ahead of the match. Photograph: Billy Sitckland/Inpho

Just over five minutes to kick-off. Will the Lions continue their better attacking play after the Force game? Will they look more ready to deal with the initial intensity from a side looking to have a crack off the tourists? Will they finally catch a kick-off?

We’ll find out soon.

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell looks on during a warm up session. Photograph: David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

Here’s ROG. To be fair to him, he’s well able to chat rugby after a 24 hour flight.

Gordon D’Arcy’s weekly column was published this morning. It’s definitely worth a read for the tactical analysis of how Farrell’s Lions want to play, and how it looks familiar to Ireland fans.

Farrell’s system is familiar. Pods of players operating off 10, occasional screen passes out the back or flat ball at the line with room for individuals to express themselves within that structure. Russell’s crisp, short-passing game fits perfectly in that playing environment. — Gordon D'Arcy

Finn Russell in action against the Western Force. Photograph: Billy Sitckland/Inpho

Ronan O’Gara has flown out to Brisbane to be part of Sky’s coverage. They’ve just said he’s been dragged more or less from his flight to the sidelines.

God love him, he looks wrecked.

Andy Farrell has given a bit more detail to Sky Sports on why Keenan doesn't feature.

Unfortunately for him he’s got a bug that he couldn’t shake off. The dreaded bug that always goes around every single rugby camp. He’ll get his chance shortly. — Andy Farrell

Hugo Keenan misses the game against the Brisbane Reds due to illness. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Big news from Brisbane. Hugo Keenan is OUT of today's clash. A blow for the Leinster and Ireland fullback, not featuring in any of the first three games leaves him up against it in the battle for the Test 15 jersey.

That said, Blair Kinghorn, the only other specialist fullback in the squad, also hasn't played due to Toulouse's Top 14 run. Only one of them can start in Saturday's next game, though. Whoever Farrell picks will be instructive to his Test thinking, surely, with game time running out.

Late change for the Lions ahead of tonight's match in Brisbane 🔄#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/DmPBdPQhRJ — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 2, 2025

Given the Lions are in Brisbane, now is as good a time as any to look back on our chat with Queensland native Tom Court. The Irish international who didn’t pick up a rugby ball until the age of 23, Court is good value on his own career (including his brief Lions stint), the state of Australian rugby and why Ireland isn’t as good as other nations at developing props.

Tom Court - Ireland's accidental Lion Listen | 40:32

Ireland prop Tom Court was visiting his parents in Brisbane in 2013 when he was called up as a replacement for the Lions Tour in Australia. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

We do have over 90 minutes until kick-off. Plenty of time to procrastinate in the office and listen back to Gordon D’Arcy’s take on which Irish Lions have impressed so far on the tour.

Plenty got a go on Saturday, including the likes of Joe McCarthy and James Lowe. Tonight, it’s the turn of Porter, Kelleher, Conan, Gibson-Park, Aki and Keenan to press their claims for a Test shirt.

We shouldn’t forget James Ryan as well who, after recovering from his own injury, needs a big game off the bench to force Farrell’s hand given the competition at secondrow.

Listen to the latest edition of The Counter Ruck podcast below.

Which Irish players have impressed for the Lions? Listen | 43:53

First look at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Lions infamously won the first Test here back in 2013, when George North scored that wonder try running back a kick from deep.

The Reds, perhaps unsurprisingly given the name, are playing in a dark red strip tonight. That won’t be confusing at all, given the Lions colour scheme...

Anyway, here’s the XV of the side coached by Les Kiss, the man who coached the Irish defence during the 2009 Grand Slam.

Ulster fans will recognise a familiar face in prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen. A former All Black, his propping partner Aidan Ross also has a cap for New Zealand. Behind them, secondrow Lukhan Salakai-Loto has lined out 41 times for the Wallabies.

Another pair of Wallabies, Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook, also bring an international flavour to the Reds midfield.

Just the 14 changes to the starting XV from Saturday. In terms of parochial interest, Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher make their first starts in the famous red jersey. Jack Conan also lines out in the backrow having come off the bench last time out.

Jamison Gibson-Park is finally deemed fit enough to play on this tour, his halfback combination with Finn Russell a first look at what is widely seen as the favoured pairing for the Tests.

Bundee Aki is back in at 12 in an intriguing midfield pairing with Scotland’s Huw Jones, while Hugo Keenan also returns to fitness to make his Lions debut.

Our team to face the Reds in Brisbane! 🙌🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 30, 2025

Just like the 46A (or the artist formerly known as), you wait ages for a Lions game in Australia and they all come along at once.

Just a few days after Andy Farrell’s side began their Australian sojourn in Perth with a dominant win over the Western Force, they’re back in action in Queensland, the Reds today’s opponents. Nathan Johns here to guide you through the game as it happens. We’ll build up from now until the 11am (Irish time) kick-off.