Reds vs British & Irish Lions Tips - Will the Reds cover with a big start?

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 01 Jul 2025

Ralph Staniforth 01 Jul 2025

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Reds face British & Irish Lions with a 30.5-point handicap
British & Irish Lions recently won against Western Force 54-7
Reds' recent form inconsistent; lost 6 of last 9 matches

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British & Irish Lions beat the Western Force this past Saturday (Getty Images)

Reds vs British & Irish Lions Tips

The British & Irish Lions showed their class at the weekend against the Force. The Reds should offer more of an attacking threat and I am backing the hosts to get within the 30.5 handicap.

Reds vs British & Irish Lions Tips
Head to Head
Reds Form
Reds Team News
Reds Starting Lineup & Replacements
British & Irish Lions Form
British & Irish Lions Team News
British & Irish Lions Starting Lineup & Replacements

Reds have lost 6 of their last 9 matches.
British & Irish Lions won their last match 54-7.
British & Irish Lions have made 14 changes to their squad.

Head to Head

These sides met 12 years ago, a match the Lions won 22-12.

Reds Form

The Reds had a decent 2025 Super Rugby campaign where they finished fifth on the overall table. They were knocked out away from home against the Crusaders in the quarterfinal.

As the season grew closer to the end, the Reds form dropped off quite a bit though. They lost six of their last nine matches.

Their last game against the Crusaders ended in a 32-12 defeat in Christchurch. The week prior they found some form, thrashing the Fijian Drua 52-7.

Reds Team News

The Reds side is quite strong despite missing a few internationals. Their backline is laced with potential, particularly in the midfield where Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook team up.

Reds Starting Lineup & Replacements

15 Jock Campbell (captain), 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Joe Brial, 7 John Bryant, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross.

Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Ryan Smith, 20 Angus Blyth, 21 Connor Vest, 22 Louis Werchon, 23 Isaac Henry.

British & Irish Lions Form

The British & Irish Lions will be slowly growing in confidence as they start getting more training sessions and more match minutes under their belt.

Two weeks ago, the Lions lost their first game 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin. That was, however, a game that was heavy on English preference with many players getting a week off after finishing off club duty the week before.

Last weekend, the B+I Lions showed plenty of fluency and class against the Western Force, winning the match 54-7. As the scoreline suggests, it was a dominant performance and one which will give the players some confidence.

British & Irish Lions Team News

Andy Farrell has once again, as expected, rung the changes – 14 in total from the side that walked over the Western Force a week ago. Finn Russell, however, retains his place at 10, perhaps the first clear sign of what Farrell wants for the first Test on 19 July.

British & Irish Lions Starting Lineup & Replacements

15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Garry Ringrose.