Queensland Reds vs British & Irish Lions Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

After their frustrating 28-24 defeat to Argentina, Saturday's 52-7 triumph over the Western Force has rejuvenated the buzz around the British & Irish Lions.

Andy Farrell's tourists ran in eight tries in Perth and now head east to Brisbane to face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday at the venue for their first Test against Australia, Suncorp Stadium.

The Reds are shorn of six of their Wallabies, who are currently in camp preparing for this series, including Sunday's warm-up against Fiji, with captain Harry Wilson among those absent.

Les Kiss, who will replace Australia head coach Joe Schmidt next year, will still have a clear gameplan and will look to target an unfamiliar Lions team featuring 14 changes to the one that started against the Force.

Fly-half Finn Russell is the sole survivor and partners Jamison Gibson-Park in the halves in what looks like a selection geared towards the Test series.

Farrell will hope those two key playmakers click early against a Reds side that represents a step up in opposition from the weekend.

Queensland Reds vs British & Irish Lions Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Match Result	British & Irish Lions	1/150
Best Bet	1st Half Betting 3-Way - Handicap - Queensland Reds +14	1/1
Bet Builder	Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ellis Genge to score tries	10/1

Key Match Stats

• The Lions have won their two previous meetings against the Reds - 42-8 in 2001 and 22-12 in 2013
• The Reds finished fifth in 2025 Super Rugby Pacific
• Les Kiss' side won five of their seven home games in 2025
• Western Force only trailed by 14 points at half-time on Saturday
• Tommy Freeman scored a try in all five of England's matches in this year's Six Nations

Queensland Reds vs British & Irish Lions Prediction

Best Bet: 1st Half Betting 3-Way - Handicap @ 1/1

Saturday's win in Perth was expected, but it still helped rebuild confidence in the Lions camp after their loss to Argentina.

However, the Reds finished four places and 15 points ahead of the Force in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific table before losing to eventual champion the Crusaders in the play-offs.

Wilson's and others' absences are significant and the Reds are unlikely to produce a performance like in 2013 when they pushed the Lions in a 22-12 defeat.

Kiss is a clever coach, though, and will look to frustrate the Lions, especially in the first half, just as the Force did on Saturday.

The Western Australians were unlucky to be 21-7 down at the break - a 14-point deficit - but tailed off after the interval.

That makes the Reds a reasonable price to be within the handicap mark at the break before the Lions pull away late on.

Jack Ogalbe explains:

The Reds are a weaker team than the one that pushed the Lions in a 10-point defeat in 2013. However, they are far superior to the Force and can go closer than the markets suggest. Expect a big first half from the Queenslanders.

Queensland Reds vs British & Irish Lions Bet Builder Tip

• Tommy Freeman to score a try

• Jamison Gibson-Park to score a try

• Ellis Genge to score a try

Pays 10/1

Our Bet Builder features three Lions players, two of whom performed decently in the defeat to Argentina and now get a second chance to stake their claim for a Test berth.

Tommy Freeman played well in Dublin and was the form wing heading into the tour after scoring a try in every round of England's Six Nations campaign and continuing that momentum to help Northampton reach the Champions Cup final.

A try-scoring showing and he could edge ahead of Mack Hansen in the running for the right-wing berth, and he is tipped ahead of left wing Duhan van der Merwe, who still looks out of sorts after injury.

Gibson-Park's service will be vital on his first outing in the red jersey and he will look to scamper over after seeing fellow scrum-halves Tomos Williams, who was injured in the act of scoring his second try, and Alex Mitchell touch down in Perth.

With his forwards expected to be dominant, Gibson-Park should have time to assess his options and see the game develop, while he is also a strong support runner capable of finishing off moves from others' breaks.

Finally, prop Ellis Genge really stood out in Dublin and looks set for a Test role, with him and Andrew Porter battling it out for either the loosehead jersey or a spot on the bench.

Porter starts in Brisbane, with Genge among the replacements. Both are powerful operators, but Genge's carrying ability makes him a threat against tiring defences and a late score could be his and carve out a niche for him in Farrell's thinking.

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Jack Ogalbe adds:

Tommy Freeman, Jamison Gibson-Park and Genge have all been in the Test selection conversation and scoring tries in a winning cause in Brisbane will do their hopes of playing at Suncorp on 19th July the world of good.

Read more rugby union betting tips and predictions on site

Tactics, Form and Team News

The Reds are without six players currently away preparing for Australia's warm-up match against Fiji on Sunday and the Test series beyond.

They include captain Harry Wilson and fellow back-row forward Fraser McReight, but the hosts are boosted by the availability of recently arrived prop Aidan Ross, who packs down at loosehead after recently signing from the Chiefs.

Queensland Reds: Campbell (capt); Anderson, Flook, Paisami, Ryan; McLaughlin-Phillips, Thomas; Ross, Faessler, Toomaga-Allen, Canham, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Bryant, Brial.

Replacements: Nasser, Blake, Fa'agase, Smith, Blyth, Vest, Werchon, Henry

The Lions have made 14 changes to the starting side for the win over Western Force, with fly-half Finn Russell the only player retained.

Russell will partner Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs in what looks likely to be Farrell's preferred half-back partnership heading into the first Test.

Gibson-Park is one of three Ireland players set to make their Lions debuts alongside full-back Hugo Keenan and reserve lock James Ryan.

British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Freeman, Jones, Aki, Van der Merwe; Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, Curry, Morgan, Conan

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Bealham, Ryan, Earl, Mitchell, F Smith, Ringrose

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.