9. Jamison Gibson-Park – Leinster & Ireland
Gibson-Park has been the consensus starting scrum-half for this team long before the squad was announced. With Northampton’s Alex Mitchell and Toulon’s Ben White waiting in the wings, they’ll need an injury to the Leinster man to touch that number nine jersey come the first Test. Gibson-Park is the best fit scrum-half in the northern hemisphere right now, and the former Maori All Blacks man will no doubt be the starter in Brisbane on July 19th.
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh & Scotland
Initially, we believed Farrell would be too enticed by a settled Leinster front row to give Schoey the starting job. However, performances in the warm-up matches have put the 31-year-old firmly in the lead against Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter.
2. Dan Sheehan – Leinster & Ireland
Leinster star man Sheehan has been the best hooker in the world for a while now, so it’s no surprise that he’ll be Farrell’s trusted man at the front of the scrum on July 19th. The 26-year-old captained the Lions on Saturday against the Western Force and opened the scoring with a wonderfully worked try. With competition limited from compatriot Ronan Kelleher and surprise inclusion Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sheehan will
3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster & Ireland
Alongside his club and country teammate Sheehan, veteran presence Furlong will be at tighthead in Andy Farrell’s front row. The three-time tourist has had a great 2025 and brings 78 international caps worth of experience to the scrum, along with incredible power at set pieces and the breakdown.
4. Maro Itoje (C) – Saracens & England
Tour captain, star lock and in great form, Itoje is the first name on the team sheet when it comes to the first Wallabies Test. The Saracens man is an easy choice in the second row ahead of Tadhg Beirne.
5. Joe McCarthy – Leinster & Ireland
McCarthy has outshone fellow Leinster man Tadhg Beirne so far in Australia, putting in outstanding performances at lock. Despite competition from Beirne, Glasgow’s Scott Cummings and Leicester’s Ollie Chessum, American-born McCarthy looks set for the starting job alongside Itoje.
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