Saturday's opening British and Irish Lions Test will feature a record eight Irish players in the starting team, as head coach Andy Farrell puts faith in his Ireland and Leinster core against Australia.
The second clash against South Africa in 2009 had previously held the record for Irish starters in a Lions Test with seven, and Farrell has also included three Irish internationals on his bench, with just under half of the matchday squad represented by green.
With England and Scotland contributing the remainder, Saturday’s game will be the first Lions Test without Welsh representation since the 1890s.
The most notable Irish inclusion is Tadhg Beirne.
The Munster captain appeared to be losing ground to Ollie Chessum for the starting blindside flanker position, but the 33-year-old did enough in Saturday’s win against the AUNZ Invitational XV to climb above the Englishman and claim the number 6 jersey.
Tom Curry has come out on top in the hotly contested fight for openside flanker, meaning it’s disappointment for Josh van der Flier, as well as Jac Morgan and Henry Pollock, with Ben Earl’s versatility seeing him claim the back row spot on the bench, providing number 8 cover for Jack Conan.
Tadhg Furlong’s return to fitness and form sees the veteran start his seventh consecutive Lions Test at tighthead, while Dan Sheehan is named, as expected, at hooker.
Ellis Genge starts ahead of Andrew Porter at loosehead, with Porter and Rónan Kelleher providing bench cover, along with Will Stuart, who holds off competition from Finlay Bealham.
Joe McCarthy starts in the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje, with Chessum on the bench, while James Ryan and Scott Cummings miss out on the matchday 23.
With Garry Ringrose out injured, Farrell has opted to trust the established Scottish centre combination of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu, the latter getting the nod ahead of Bundee Aki, who is among the replacements.
Hugo Keenan starts at full-back in place of the injured Blair Kinghorn, and he’s joined in the backfield by James Lowe and Tommy Freeman on the left and right wings, respectively.
Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell have the keys to the backline, and while it had been touted that Owen Farrell would be named as an experienced out-half option on the bench, Andy has shown faith in Marcus Smith to close out the first Test off the bench.
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki.
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Alan Ala'alatoa; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
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