Australia And British & Irish Lions First Test Predictions – Copybet
After weeks of the phoney war in the media, Australia and the British & Irish Lions meet in the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
The first of three matches, with further contests in Melbourne and Sydney, the series opener could set the tone and both teams carry form and fitness doubts into the game.
These fixtures always deliver and, while it may not be a classic in terms of free-flowing rugby, Saturday's fixture is sure to be a thriller as both sides throw everything at each other.
Tip 1: Opening Lions Tests tend to be tight. South Africa got the job done 26-21 in 2009, but the Lions triumphed 23-21 in Brisbane 12 years ago.
New Zealand won by 15 points in 2017, only for the Lions to win the second match by three points and then the duo played out a draw in the final Test. Meanwhile, four years ago, the Lions opened the series with a 22-17 victory over the Springboks.
Andy Farrell's visitors are just 7/25 to win on Saturday, but it is unlikely to be that clear-cut.
The Lions have struggled to gel in the early stages of their matches, while despite only playing one warm-up, the Wallabies have been in camp for a month and will be ready to fly out of the blocks in what, aside from veterans James Slipper and James O'Connor, is likely to be a once-in-a-career series.
Quality should tell, but Australia could go close and build their momentum heading into next Saturday's second Test in front of 100,000 people at the MCG.
Tip 2: Although the Lions are tipped to get the victory in Brisbane, their habit of starting slowly means the hosts could be the first side on the scoreboard.
Like the Super Rugby teams the tourists have faced, the Wallabies are likely to go hard at the breakdown and could force early penalties.
However, unlike the club sides who threw caution to the wind by kicking to the corner rather than for the posts, victory is all that matters on Saturday.
Joe Schmidt's hosts are likely to start fast and are well priced to open the scoring.
Tip 3: Early Lions Tests can be tight as both sides simultaneously attempt to gel and work out each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Only once in the professional era has the opening Test of a Lions series featured more than 45 points and that was the 47 in the first Test in 2009.
Going further back to include the first Test loss in Sydney in 1989, the Lions' three opening games against the Wallabies have featured totals of 42, 42, and 44 points, so under 46.5 at the right side of evens is well worth considering.