First Nations & Pasifika XV vs British & Irish Lions Prediction: Fans to marvel at Lions in Melbourne

With one eye on Saturday’s second Test against Australia, the British & Irish Lions must first face a First Nations & Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday morning (11:00 BST, Sky Sports Action) as players hope to give head coach Andy Farrell a selection headache.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his First Nations & Pasifika XV vs British & Irish Lions prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the clash in Melbourne.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, this First Nations & Pasifika XV have a front row that includes Lington Ieli, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Taniela Tupou.

Darcy Swain and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto start in the second row, with Seru Uru, Charlie Gamble and Tuaina Taai Tualima completing the pack.

The standout selection is Kurtley Beale, who has recovered from injury and will play fly-half in his bid to earn a Wallaby recall.

As for the Lions, Farrell goes with Pierre Schoeman, Jamie George and Finlay Bealham in the front row.

Locks Scott Cummings and James Ryan start in the engine room, with Jac Morgan, Josh Van der Flier and Henry Pollock in the back row.

Ben White partners Fin Smith in the half-backs, with Owen Farrell skippering the team from inside centre.

Jamie Osbourne starts at outside centre, while the Lions go with an all-Scotland back three of Duhan Van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn.

First Nations & Pasifika XV vs British & Irish Lions Odds

The Lions are such heavy favourites that there are no odds for an away win on Tuesday, while the First Nations & Pasifika XV are 20/1 to cause a major upset.

A draw in Melbourne is available at 80/1, while the First Nations & Pasifika XV are 10/1 to be leading at the half-time whistle.

British & Irish Lions -37 handicap @ 11/10

Teams have put up little resistance to the Lions on this tour so far, with Farrell’s men scoring a total of 238 points across six matches on Aussie soil at an average of 39.6 points per game.

Players who missed out on the first win over the Wallabies at the weekend in Brisbane have an uphill battle on their hands to get into that Test squad.

Kinghorn was tipped for a Lions Test place but a minor knee injury hindered his chances.

The Toulouse star is back and will be looking to put pressure on Hugo Keenan for that No.15 jersey, as he starts in a dangerous-looking back three with Van der Merwe and Graham.

There is plenty of experience running through this Lions side and if this tour has proven anything, it’s that invitational sides can struggle to gel.

The Lions earned a 48-0 win over an AUNZ Invitational XV in Adelaide and a similar scoreline might well be on the cards at Marvel Stadium this week.

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