As Andy Farrell named a formidable looking side for Wednesday night’s showdown with the Reds, one Test All Black Aidan Ross is expected to be rushed straight into Queensland’s team for the highly anticipated tour game.
It’s believed Reds coach Les Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt next year and lead Australia at the 2027 World Cup, will name a star-studded side to take on the Lions, including nine Wallabies and two All Blacks. Kiss will confirm his matchday squad on Monday at 1pm AEST.
Given the strength of the Reds’ outfit, it’s likely Farrell’s Lions won’t run over the top of the Super Rugby qualifying finalists like they did against the Western Force.
One Test All Black Aidan Ross is expected to be named to take on the Lions on Wednesday night. Photo: Queensland Reds Media
While the Reds will still be without the bulk of their Test stars, including captain Tate McDermott, back-rowers Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson, playmaker Tom Lynagh and explosive back Filipo Daugunu, Kiss will still roll out a strong side with plenty of players looking to catch the eye of Joe Schmidt and make a final audition for Test selection.
The Reds will name an all-international tight-five, with fit-again Wallaby Matt Faessler to play at hooker and likely pack down with Ross and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, who also played for the All Blacks before moving overseas and representing Samoa.
Dropped Wallaby Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who missed the latter stages of Super Rugby with a shoulder injury, is expected to line up in the second-row. Who partners him remains to be seen, but Kiss will have all of his locks, including Josh Canham, Angus Blyth and Ryan Smith, available to him.
Two-Test loose-forward Seru Uru is expected to headline the back-row, which will have rising back-rowers John Bryant and Joe Brial in it.
Although the Reds will be without their first-choice halves, the match will be a great chance for Kalani Thomas and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to show their worth on the international stage.
Regular Wallaby Hunter Paisami is expected to line up against the Lions at inside centre for the Reds on Wednesday. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Experienced Test midfielder Hunter Paisami will likely form a centre combination alongside Josh Flook, with Jock Campbell and Lachie Anderson in the back three.
Although the Reds’ depth will be slightly tested on the bench, Kiss will still have plenty of experienced heads to call upon with Josh Nasser and Sef Fa’agase fit and available.
Nor will there be much of a dip in the second-row given the depth at Kiss’ disposal, while rising halfback Louis Werchon, who was starved of opportunities in 2025, will have the chance to show his quality too.
Meanwhile, Farrell made wholesale changes to his side that won easily in Perth on Saturday night with playmaker Finn Russell the only player to back up from the starting XV.
The Scottish playmaker forms an exciting halves pairing with Jamison Gibson-Park, while Bundee Aki returns to the midfield and will play alongside Huw Jones.
Hugo Keenan starts at fullback for the first time and has a Scot and an Englishman on either wing, with Duhan van der Merwe and Tommy Freeman named.
Finn Russell will be the only Lion to back up in the starting XV against the Reds from the side that hammered the Western Force. (Photo By Steve Christo/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The forward pack is a mix of Irish and England, with Ronan Kelleher at hooker and Andrew Porter and Will Stuart alongside him.
It’s an all-English second-row with captain Maro Itoje partnering Ollie Chessum, while Tom Curry, Jac Morgan and Jack Conan form the back-row.
The bench has plenty of quality about it, with Ellis Genge back at loose-head prop replacement. The prop is one of five Englishmen named on the bench.
“We know each game on this Tour will be a step up from the game before and three more players are set to make their Lions debuts on Wednesday night, so congratulations to those guys,” Farrell said.
The Lions have also been forced to call up Ben White from New Zealand, with the Scottish halfback replacing Tomos Williams, whose tour ended on Saturday night after injuring his hamstring in the process of scoring a spectacular second try.
“Unfortunately, Tomos has been ruled out of the rest of the Tour with a hamstring injury,” Farrell said. “Ben White will join us from the Scotland squad and will fly over from New Zealand.”
Lions (1-23): Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, Duhan van der Merwe, Bundee Aki, Huw Jones, Tommy Freeman, Hugo Keenan
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Garry Ringrose
Reds: TBC
