Brumbies v British and Irish Lions - Teams and Prediction

PREVIEW: Australia-born Mack Hansen says lining up for the British and Irish Lions on the wing against his old team the Brumbies on Wednesday will be a “pinch-me” moment.

The 27-year-old, whose mother is Irish, grew up in Canberra and spent three seasons with the Super Rugby franchise before a move to Connacht in 2021.

A Test call-up followed from Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, now in charge of the Lions, and Hansen has not looked back.

He has started two of the Lions’ three games in Australia so far and is set to come off the bench against the Brumbies, Australia’s strongest provincial side, although they are without a slew of top players on Wallabies duty.

“It’s incredible,” said Hansen of being back in Canberra.

“It is a bit of a pinch-me moment – not in my wildest dreams could I imagine I would be back here playing for the Lions, so it is very special.

“I’ve got about 30 friends or family coming, I’ve had people coming out the woodwork asking for tickets for a while now.”

Hansen will come face-to-face with “two of my best mates” in Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan, who are both in the Brumbies’ starting XV.

“I haven’t played against them in a while so it will be a nice switch-up,” said Hansen.

“It will be an interesting experience, I don’t know how I will feel until I’m out on the field.”

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The boys try hurling ! 😂#Lions2025

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 8, 2025

Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan is Brumbies captain for the day and said it would be “super special” to face off against his boyhood friend.

“We’ve been great mates since we’re about 12 really,” he told reporters, adding that he was proud of what Hansen had achieved.

“We had a pretty setback three here at the time, and he just took a stab and went overseas, and we’re all happy for him.”

The Lions won their two opening tour games with ease, crushing Western Force 54-7 and the Queensland Reds 52-12, but they met resistance from the Waratahs in a grinding 21-10 victory.

Farrell has named a strong side led by Maro Itoje to face the Brumbies, with Tommy Freeman and James Lowe starting on the wings.

Players to watch

For Brumbies: After playing off the bench in the Wallabies’ narrow 21-18 victory over Fiji, Tom Hooper gets the Brumbies’ No.6 jersey for Wednesday’s clash. His physicality will be needed up front against the British and Irish Lions’ giants. Scrumhalf and captain Ryan Lonergan showed in Super Rugby Pacific that he can be a nippy customer around the fringes.

For British and Irish Lions: There will be a spotlight on Mak Hansen when he comes off the bench against his old side. Meanwhile, Finn Russell will direct play from flyhalf again and things could get ugly for the Brumbies if they don’t close down his space. The breakdown battle will always be key and Tom Curry will be out to impress the coaching team in that No.7 jersey.

Prediction

@rugby365com: British and Irish Lions by 45 points.

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ben O’Donnell, 13 Ollie Sapsford, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Lachlan Lonergan, 1 Lington Ieli.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Feao Fotuaika, 19 Lachie Hooper, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Hudson Creighton.

British & Irish Lions: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Josh van der Flier, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Mack Hansen.

Date: Wednesday, July 9
Venue: Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 20.00 (11.00 BST; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

AFP & @rugby365com