There could be 10 Irish players in the Lions’ first test against Wallabies

Everything clicked for the Lions as they finished their warmups games in style with a 48-0 win over the Australia/New Zealand Invitational XV in Adelaide.

The Lions ran in eight tries as Duhan van der Merwe got a hat-trick while Ben White, Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings, Ronan Kelleher and Henry Pollock all got scores while the Lions managed to shut out their opposition for the first time on tour.

Now it’s all eyes on that first test in Brisbane. While the preparation hasn’t been perfect, this week we’ve seen two better performances against the Brumbies and AU/NZ XV as players were given their last opportunity to impress ahead of the first test next week.

Hugo Keenan of British & Irish Lions is tackled by Ngani Laumape. Pic: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

A lot of talk this tour has been how Irish-dominated this Lions team is and after the six matches leading up to the the tests, we can see that Irish dominance continuing in Brisbane next Saturday.

What sets the Irish players apart from their English, Scottish and Welsh counterparts is skillset, especially on the forwards. The likes of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong have ability with able in hands that the other options don’t. Same goes in the back row with Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan being much better options in the wide channels with their handling than the likes of Jac Morgan and Ben Earl.

Meanwhile it seems like captain Maro Itoje and Joe McCarthy works as the best lock pairing but don’t be surprised if Tadhg Beirne gets the nod ahead of McCarthy.

Dan Sheehan of British & Irish Lions is tackled. Pic: Matt King/Getty Images

In the backline there’s been a lot of injury worries which have affected the squad. With late news that Garry Ringrose is out of the first test with concussion, it’s likely that Andy Farrell will go for an all Scottish centre pairing of Tuipulotu and Jones as he’s tended to keep familiar partnerships together this tour.

Jamison Gibson-Park is the clear front runner at scrum half along with Finn Russell at 10, while despite a van der Merwe hat-trick on Saturday, James Lowe’s all round ability should keep him in the starting shirt.

Josh van der Flier Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images

Even though Tommy Freeman started the tour on fire, the Englishman’s form has dropped off in the last couple of games while Mack Hansen’s has gone up. Hansen is an Andy Farrell favourite and with momentum on the Connacht man’s side expect him to get the nod for Brisbane.

Then lastly at full back with the uncertainty around Blair Kinghorn’s health, Hugo Keenan could see himself as a Lions starter and after playing well against the AU/NZ side, is back in form after a ropy start to his tour. The previous record of Irish starters in a Lions test is 5 so to potentially have double that is testament to the work Andy Farrell has done to mould such a talented squad.

Tadhg Furlong. Pic: Steve Christo/Sportsfile

The Lions starting team for first test

H Keenan, M Hansen, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, J Lowe, F Russell, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong, M Itoje (C), J McCarthy, O Chessum, J van der Flier, J Conan

Replacements: R Kelleher, E Genge, W Stuart, T Beirne, J Morgan, H Pollock, A Mitchell, M Smith