1:56PM
1:51PM The hugely competitive second Test between the Lions and Australia was settled with a massively controversial winning try, scored in the last minute of the game.
The on-field referee reviewed the build-up to the try – in which Jac Morgan made contact with the neck of Carlo Tizzano but determined that the try should stand.
What happened
The Lions were on the charge in Australia’s 22 in the final minute of the match. Finn Russell offloaded to James Ryan, who made good ground to get five metres out. As the lock was tackled. Carlo Tizzano tried to jackal, but Jac Morgan came in to clear out. With Tizzano bent over, Morgan made contact with the Australia’s back, just below the neck. Tizzano fell backwards, clutching his head. The ball was then spun wide to Hugo Keenan, who scored the winning try.
1:47PM “A brilliant game of rugby, exactly what this sport needed!”
Warren Gatland reacts to a thrilling contest at the MCG 🙌 pic.twitter.com/m1EbteO3Z1
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
1:46PM
1:35PM “I spoke to Joe Schmidt and he felt it was a penalty, but I just saw it as a clear-out.
“I do not know where Jac Morgan was supposed to go — it looked like a rugby incident to me. I think it was the right decision in the end.”
1:33PM Finn Russell has won the last 15 matches he has played in, taking in a Lions’ series win, Premiership title and Challenge Cup trophy.
He has won his last 6 Tests in a row against the Wallabies for @lionsofficial and @Scotlandteam including 3 victories in Australia.
— Kevin Millar (@topofthemoonGW) July 26, 2025
1:32PM
1:31PM
1:21PM “It’s a bit surreal, absolutely delighted!”
Match-winner Hugo Keenan reacts to his epic last minute try to win the game and the series 🥳 pic.twitter.com/Hocwz9ZD8O
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
1:19PM “It’s a little bit emotional, I don’t want it to come to an end!”
Tadhg Furlong is savouring every moment out there tonight ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wn2LmRCJBi
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
1:18PM “It was never in doubt, was it? It is amazing, the occasion, the fans all travelling out here, they all deserve this, and that grandstand finish. This is what Lions rugby is all about. I am absolutely delighted. It was not great, especially in the first half. We started with back-to-back penalties and yellow cards, and it really cost us on the scoreboard.
“But we found a way back into the game, and that gave us confidence heading into the second half. And, wow – what a finish! When we were able to build pressure, we rolled pretty nicely. Every time we got into the 22, we came away with something. We had solid belief at half-time and knew we could win if we controlled our discipline.
“Australia said they were going to show up — and they did. It was more than physical. They played some nice rugby and capitalised on our ill-discipline.
“It is fairy-tale stuff. To leave with a win like that, it means everything. The lads have dreamed of being Lions all their lives. To win it at the end like that, it is a fairy tale.”
1:08PM Lovely offload to put Beirne over but was another disappointing display. A liability once again in defence and several handling errors. 3/10
Remains one of the Lions’ standout players on this tour, diving over the top superman style for a try. Lineouts were all on the money. 8/10
Who got a three and who got an eight today? Our very own Daniel Schofield has given his player ratings:
1:05PM
1:01PM “It feels a little surreal. The first 20 minutes we were not great, were not physical enough. We managed to find a way in the second half of the first half. The second half, again it was not perfect, but we just managed to fight, got close and Andy [Farrell] was just telling us to play big all the time, to believe in ourselves.
“I give a load of credit to the bench, all the guys that came on made a massive difference. I think we started hitting. It sounds pretty basic, but our scrum got on top and our decision-makers started playing really well.
“We just managed to stay close enough and scored in the end. My uncle last week sent me a message saying ‘look, you guys are not the Harlem Globetrotters, you need to make sure you win’. So thank you uncle! Luckily we did it. The exciting thing, you know and I know we have got so much more in us. Hopefully next week we have an opportunity to actually bring it all together.”
12:56PM Have you got your breathe back yet? What a dramatic ending to a thrilling game of rugby. A late try for the Lions to win the game and series but it was not without its drama as the TMO checked Keenan’s try.
12:52PM That is the final act of this second Test and Andy Farrell’s men have won the series with a game to spare. It finishes Australia 26-29 Lions. The Lions players are in a state of delirium and will have the chance to claim a series whitewash in Sydney next weekend. The Lions win their first series since they were in Australia back in 2013, when Warren Gatland was at the helm.
12:49PM The Lions have done it inside the final minute. Australia are appealing for an illegal clear-out on Tizzano by Morgan just before Keenan scored. It looks fine and Tizzano tries to buy a penalty with his reaction. The officials deem there is no foul play and try stands.
12:48PM Stuart carries powerfully and the Lions are now inside the Australian 22. Kinghorn is brought down just five metres shy…
12:47PM The Lions attack from a lineout on halfway and Australia need to be careful with their discipline as the Lions could take the lead with a penalty.
Into the final two minutes.
12:45PM The Lions are attacking on the edge of the Australian 22 but the ball is dropped forward. Big scrum coming up and the Lions will feel there is a chance here to win a penalty. Aki is struggling with cramp but is going to continue.
Australia clear their lines.
12:39PM Kinghorn makes a great break down the right, getting around Suaalii, taking the Lions to the Australian 22. The Lions are rumbling forward but Stuart is penalised for an extra roll on the ground after being tackled.
12:35PM Jorgensen puts a grubber kick through down the touchline into the Lions 22 and Gibson-Park has to scamper back. The Lions manage to clear their lines.
12:33PM Two changes in the front-row for the Lions as Stuart and Kelleher replace Furlong and Sheehan, who get the first try today for the Lions which created some debate.
12:31PM The Lions are so, so close to the line but Tizzano steps up with a crucial penalty at the breakdown for the hosts.
12:31PM The tide is turning as Australia are pinged for holding on. Russell’s kick is brilliant, taking the Lions deep inside the Australian 22. Five-metre lineout incoming…
12:30PM Kinghorn and Farrell have both come on for the Lions, with Farrell coming on at 13. Interesting…
12:27PM Big moment for the Lions and they needed that. Lowe does really well down the left wing, handing off Ikitau before offloading outside to Beirne, who is right on the touchline but manages to power through a few tackles, stays in-field and scores. Russell gets the tough conversion and there are just two points in it.
12:27PM Aki has not had a good game but a great break from inside his own half takes the Lions into the Australian half. Genge carries well and the Lions are attacking on the hosts’ 22. The Lions fans are roaring as they carry closer and closer to the Wallabies’ line…
12:24PM Change for Australia at hooker as Pollard replaces Porecki.
12:24PM That was vital from Curry. A box-kick goes up from Gordon into the Lions half and Australia maintain possession as Jorgensen taps back. Australia are attacking on the fringes of the Lions 22 and Suaalii looks to fling out a pass to the left as the alarm bells are ringing for the Lions. Curry though steps in with an absolutely crucial tackle and forces Suaalii to knock on. Had Curry not been there to make the tackle, Australia may well have scored.
That will be Curry’s final act as Andy Farrell rings the changes. Morgan is on, as is Genge at loosehead prop and Ryan in the second row. Porter and Chessum have gone off.
12:20PM Lynagh makes no mistake and Australia’s lead is now nine points.
12:19PM Russell’s kick from just outside his own 22 goes straight into touch, gifting Australia a lineout. Aki is then penalised at the breakdown and Ireland centre has a bad game.
Australia have a penalty advantage as McDermott takes the hosts into the Lions 22. Nothing comes from it so we go back for the penalty. Australia take the pragmatic decision and point to the posts, with the chance to make it a one-score game…
12:14PM Skelton’s race is run and tank is has perhaps run empty. He is replaced by Williams. Meanwhile on the Lions bench:
Almost an exact 50:50 mixture of cheers and jeers resound around the MCG as pictures of Owen Farrell, pacing the touchline, are beamed on to the big screens. Even on the bench, the man provokes polarisation like no other player.
12:13PM Australia’s kicking game has been much better today, pinning the Lions back and putting them under pressure.
12:12PM Keenan does brilliantly to keep the ball in play deep inside his own 22 to prevent a 50-22, allowing the Lions to clear their lines. It was so close to going out but the Irish full-back did really well.
12:09PM Lowe had a bad game last week and has not been great again today, the latest example him dropping a fairly easy catch not far outside his own 22 under no real pressure, gifting Australia a scrum.
However as they approach the Lions 22 Wilson comes in at the side, a let-off for the Lions.
12:08PM A few changes at the break for Australia as Gleeson, Bell and Robertson are on. Valetini is one of those to go off, presumably as he is only just back from injury. Both props changed as well by Joe Schmidt.
12:06PM We are back under way in Melbourne. Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton has spoken to Sky at the break and emphasised the need to be more disciplined in the second half.
12:06PM An electrifying first half. Night and day compared to the Wallabies’ supine opening 40 minutes in Brisbane, and a direct result of the vastly greater carrying threat offered by Will Skelton and Rob Valetini. Australia’s ruck speed is impressive tonight, too. You wonder if half-time came at the wrong time for the Lions, with their comeback just beginning to gather pace.
12:02PM “We talked up Will Skelton and Rob Valetini and have they fronted up. These two men have made Australia go forward. The Lions are struggling to get their two back-row players to really be abrasive and dominate those collisions.
“You know for a fact Andy Farrell prides himself on his teams’ physical dominance. The Lions have to sharpen their shoulders and come out much for aggressive in that second half.”
12:01PM A stunning half of rugby. In a complete contrast to the first Test, it has been Australia who took a complete grip on the contest with a ferocious opening, dominating the breakdown, forcing the Lions to concede penalty after penalty, with Rob Valetini making a major impact in helping his side win the majority of the collisions.
It resulted in the Lions not being able to get any foothold in the Australian half for long periods, with the restarts all going the way of the home side. For the first time we have also seen the danger posed by the Wallabies backline when they get front-foot ball in open space.
The second Test on Lions tours are often the moment when their conditioning after a long season is put to the ultimate test, and the Australians, having freshened up their pack, have looked much sharper.
At 23-5, the game looked done, but what will have impressed Andy Farrell is the way his side reacted in the final part of the half, scoring two tries to claw themselves right back into the contest. The question for Australia, as it was for the Lions in Brisbane, is can they maintain their intensity. If the Lions can establish enough territory, they look to have the set piece plays to score tries. What a half we have coming up.
11:58AM “The first-half has been unbelievable!” 🙌
Three-time Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland reacts to a superb first 40 minutes at the MCG 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/E7d82eonHm
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
11:51AM A knock-on ends the half and what a 40 minutes that has been. At the break Australia lead 23-17. And breathe!
11:48AM What a crazy first half this has been. After a series of carries near the Australian line, Jones powers through the tackles of Jorgensen and McDermott and dots down. Russell gets the conversion and there is now just six points in it. Not long ago Australia led by 18.
11:48AM The Lions win a penalty after Suaalii came in from the side on the Lions 10-metre line after good work from Beirne and Curry. Russell’s kick is brilliant, taking the Lions deep into the 22.
11:45AM Boy did the Lions need that. After a terrific carry from Freeman, who is back on after his yellow card, to take the Lions deep into the Australia 22, Gibson-Park takes the Lions down the blindside. He passes to Conan, who then offloads outside to Curry near the touchline. Curry steps inside the final defender Gordon and dots down in the corner. Curry scored in the first Test a week ago and has another try today. Russell’s conversion misses to the left.
11:40AM What is going on in the MCG? Suaalii is the man to make the break from inside his own half with a step inside to beat Aki. As he enters the Lions half, he passes to his left to find Wright, who is not going to be stopped. Lynagh misses a kick he should get but Australia are in dreamland here, leading 23-5.
11:38AM A wounded animal? It is chalk and cheese the way Australia are playing today compared to a week ago. They are just over five metres out from the Lions line and Gordon spots a gap near the fringes of the ruck, sniping through it and going over. Lynagh lands the easy conversion and Australia lead by 13.
11:36AM Australia are looking a much better side today and Wright now executes a brilliant 50-22 from not far outside his own 22. The momentum is with the hosts, who currently have a man advantage. Valetini and Skelton are making a big difference to the hosts as they have brought a physicality that was lacking for the hosts a week ago.
11:35AM Joe Schmidt had complained that his side had been “submissive” in the first Test but they have been anything but so far in the first half at the MSG thanks in large part to the power and brutishness of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, who took it in turns to bowl Lions tacklers back in the carry in the build up to James Slipper’s try. Skelton has also taken a leaf from the page of the First Nations & Pasifika XV’s book by getting in the faces of the Lions. At 11-5 down with Tommy Freeman in the bin, this is the proper test that we have wanted for Andy Farrell’s team.
11:32AM Australia have certainly started this Test better than the last. Australia have another penalty advantage inches from the Lions line, which could result in a yellow card. The hosts think they have scored on a few occasions before eventually Slipper does. Lynagh misses the kick. Not only have the Lions conceded, they are also down to 14 men as Freeman has been sent to the sin bin.
11:31AM Another penalty for Australia and the referee is warning Itoje the next penalty committed in this area will be a yellow card. That seems a little strange as he did not warn Wilson down the other end. Back into the corner Australia go…
11:29AM Australia keep carrying hard inside the Lions 22 and are given a penalty just five metres out from the line as the Lions do not roll away. There were some big carries in there including from Valetini.
Lynagh puts it into the corner…
This is a proper Lions Test match. Australia in front, the Lions responding with a relentless spell of pressure, but lacking the accuracy to take full advantage, and throughout there has been a new level of physicality, with tempers fraying. This is going to be a major test of the Lions’ conditioning at the end of a long season.
11:28AM From a scrum on halfway, Australia work it well down their right and Jorgensen puts a chip kick ahead down the touchline. Jones tries to keep the ball in play but ends up stepping into touch whilst in possession so Australia will have the lineout on the Lions 22.
Australia are being forced into a change in the backs as Potter is limping off. Joe Schmidt only named two backs on the bench and he is bringing on scrum-half McDermott for winger Potter.
The perils of the Wallabies’ 6-2 bench split are exposed early, with an injury to Harry Potter compelling Tate McDermott, who operates as scrum-half for the Queensland Reds, to play the remaining 60 minutes of this do-or-die Test on the wing.
11:24AM The Irish hooker takes the quick tap and dives over a few tackles to score. Australia are protesting but the referee says that Sheehan was allowed to jump in the act of scoring so the try stands. Russell misses a conversion he should be getting so Australia still lead by one.
Rarely, if ever, can a hooker have possessed such lethal finishing abilities as Dan Sheehan. Taking flight over a succession of tackles, he scores the try to settle Lions anxieties after a frantic passage of play, with tensions threatening to spill over between Will Skelton and Maro Itoje.
11:23AM Australia are caught offside once more and they must be close to a yellow card now.
11:19AM The Lions think they have the first try of the game but it is chalked off. First Aki carries powerfully to within a few metres of the line and then Conan looks like he is destined to score but knocks on just before the line. The Lions though have a penalty as Australia are caught offside. The referee has a word with both captains as another melee ensues and Itoje accuses Wilson’s team of starting i.
The Lions go for a quick tap.
11:19AM The Lions win a penalty advantage at a scrum just outside the Australian 22 and play it out. Furlong though knocks on just inside the Australia 22 and we go back for the penalty. The first scrap of the game ensues as Skelton hit Furlong late after the whistle had gone. The referee has a word with Skelton, who caused that melee and it was not far off a yellow.
The Lions go to the corner…
11:17AM In a complete reversal of last week, the Lions have yet to get going physically and find themselves 3-0 on the penalty count and 6-0 down on the scoreboard. The best feature of their play has been Finn Russell’s restarts, the latest has given the Lions a brilliant attacking platform after a maul led to a Lions scrum.
11:15AM Lynagh’s kick from around 40 metres out goes just inside the right post and Australia’s lead is up to six.
11:15AM Curry is penalised for not releasing on his own 10-metre line and that penalty should probably have gone the other way. Curry made the tackle on Suaalii and appeared to release but the referee does not agree. Australia point to the posts once more…
11:11AM Australia switch off and Russell takes advantage by taking the kick-off very quickly. The kick is sublime, rolling into touch just five metres out and putting all the pressure on the Australian lineout. The hosts though get out of coffin corner and clear their lines.
11:09AM Lynagh, who did not have the easiest of games last week, makes no mistake from tee and Australia have an early 3-0 lead.
Much better start by Australia. They have got the power runners into the game quickly and effectively. Valetini already making an impact. Two penalty concessions by the Lions, one at the breakdown and one for offside an indication of the pressure.
11:09AM Australia work it well down the blindside with a series of offloads and take play to the edge of the Lions 22. They are then awarded a penalty as the Lions are caught offside just outside the 22. It is a fairly easy three points and Australia captain Wilson points to the posts…
11:07AM The first penalty of the game goes Australia’s way as Itoje is punished for ripping the ball illegally after the tackle had been made on the Australian 10-metre line. Lynagh takes the hosts into the Lions half.
11:04AM We are under way at the MCG. Will the Lions wrap up the series with a game to spare or can Australia take it to a decider next weekend in Sydney?
Enormous cheer for Jac Morgan from the thousands of Welsh supporters when his name was announced among the replacements – the loudest by some distance.
10:59AM After a customary lights show inside the gigantic MCG, both sides emerge into the arena like gladiators entering the Colosseum in Rome. If you cannot get up for this, what are you doing?
Time for the national anthem of the hosts, ‘Advance Australia Fair’.
Incredible atmosphere in the MCG. Best by a mile, with a record crowd for a Lions game of over 90,000 expected. We should be in for a special occasion.
10:52AM Australia starting XV: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon; 1 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (captain).
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson 21 Carlo Tizzano, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Ben Donaldson.
British and Irish Lions starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
10:51AM Hope for a decider rather than expectation that the Lions sew up the series a week early? Maybe. But I do not think Australia can be as poor as they were in the first quarter last weekend. They were horribly undercooked in Brisbane and have fortified their side for Melbourne.
Even if Skelton and Valetini may be rusty, the presence of Gleeson on a six-two bench could be significant. The latter is a fine player too. The Wallabies’ periods of pressure will be more penetrative and their defence more robust. Repeat their superior scrummaging, line-out disruption and breakdown disruption and they can make it 1-1.
Which of our experts thinks Australia will take the series to a decider next weekend in Sydney?
10:47AM I was fortunate enough to be given a tour of the MCG by Damien Fleming, the former Australia all rounder, and it is truly an amazing stadium, a bit like a cross between Twickenham and Lord’s as it also ranks as the spiritual home of Aussie Rules. It also plays host to the Australian Sports Museum complete with Shane Warne hologram but my favourite little bit of trivia is that there is a red seat in the middle tier of the Shane Warne stand to mark where Brad Hodge’s six, the largest ever recorded, landed.
10:44AM “The Wallabies have got to win up front and really take the game to the Lions head on, like the First Nations & Pasifika team did on Tuesday. We really went at them, caused a bit of havoc.
“Once the Wallabies realise that, the likes of Joseph Suaalii and Tom Wright can come in an inject their instinctive play.”
10:36AM “We were about 15 minutes late because you could not drive very far in the traffic that is indicative of the crowd that is gathering. It is a massive crowd, a huge venue and a massive night.
“The players are conscious of that and all they can do is put their best foot forward. They have trained well during the week and, off the back of that, hopefully they will be right in the contest. We need to be a little bit sharper and smarter around the contestable parts of the game.
“I feel massive pressure but I am pragmatic enough to know we have worked hard during the week to get the players prepared. Now they will go out and represent their country well.”
10:29AM Australia lacked some punch up front so they will be very happy to welcome back both Will Skelton (pictured below) and Rob Valetini in the pack. Skelton stands at a mere 6ft7in and weighs in at around 135kg.
10:27AM The original hope was that tonight’s attendance at the MCG could hit the magic 100,000 mark. That might prove a stretch, but this Test should still attract the largest gate in Lions history, eclipsing the estimated 95,000 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in 1955. The approaches to this vast citadel are an endless swarm of red, with long queues even to enter Melbourne’s South Bank bars. Scenes such as this explain why Australia is likely to be on the roster again in 12 years’ time: for all this series might have lacked sporting jeopardy, it has still proved phenomenally lucrative for both host cities and tour operators.
10:25AM Just when he needs to convince the Wallabies this is the game of their lives, Joe Schmidt couches his cri de coeur in the language of a faceless business seminar. Never mind death or glory, he depicts a decisive second Test against the British and Irish Lions – poised to attract the largest crowd in Australian rugby history – as a moment for “growth” and “learnings”. He conveys no sense of this being a once-in-every-12-years event, instead characterising this grandest of occasions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a chance to watch his players “develop”. But is this not the very moment they should be developing towards, the type of match that for the vast majority will only come once in their careers?
Emotion is seldom a feature of the Schmidt repertoire. He is a pragmatist, a problem-solver, instilling such exhaustive attention to detail in the minds of his former Ireland charges that Andrew Porter, now the Lions prop, would find himself counting the speed bumps while driving to training. Even so, it is maddening to see him treating this do-or-die contest with such detachment.
A sense with this Wallabies squad is that they have failed to treat this series with the reverence it deserves. How could Schmidt, supposedly a meticulous planner, have agreed to a preparation programme so thin that it involved one warm-up game against Fiji? How significant a factor was this in a first-half performance in Brisbane that even he described as “submissive”?
Melbourne offers him a chance to change the record, to rekindle the fire from the spluttering embers of Australian rugby. While his selections are more promising, with the restoration of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini bringing priceless extra forward thrust, the rhetoric is still far too flat.
10:20AM The Australian players have only just emerged on to the pitch after their team bus turned up 25 minutes late. You cannot imagine that Joe Schmidt, a man who is obsessed with detail and planning, would be particularly happy. Those with long memories will recall the Ireland team bus turning up late for a 2017 Six Nations match at Murrayfield and they would go on to lose to Scotland.
10:18AM ‘100,000 at the MCG, what a privilege!’ 😍
Andy Farrell says the Lions are ready to ‘do whatever it takes’ to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead 🦁 pic.twitter.com/MbG9IdrSqq
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
10:15AM There were just 12 seconds on the clock in the first Test last week when Tom Curry folded James Slipper, the Australia prop, in half like an ironing board in the first of a dozen thunderous tackles.
Two seconds and one phase later with Australia on the back foot, centre Joseph Suaalii carried timidly into contact allowing Tadhg Beirne to swoop in for a holding-on penalty.
At a stroke, the Lions flankers had combined to set the tone for a first half of complete physical dominance. Australia fought back after half-time but the damage had already been done. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt later complained that his side had been too “submissive” but in the eyes of Ollie Chessum, who had a sideline seat as a replacement, that was a result of the early Curry-Beirne one-two punch.
“I’d been sat down for about 30 seconds when that first hit went in,” said Chessum, who starts in the second Test as one of three changes. “I think we knew from then on that the tone was set for the game, for us and for them. It’s a huge energy lift. It’s exactly how you plan for a game to go, that first contact you get to lay down a marker and that’s what Curry did for the team.
10:10AM “They’re going to be desperate and they’re going to bring a HUGE amount of emotion” 🔥
Warren Gatland on what might be different for Australia in the second Test 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/1bi56J7kHJ
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
10:07AM There is no getting away from the fact that Australia are not the strongest side that the British and Irish Lions have faced. Irrespective of that, winning a Test series is precious and absolutely must be savoured.
It is such a rare achievement that stays with you for the rest of your life. This would only be the second series victory for the Lions since we went to South Africa in 1997. There have been only three series wins in half a century since 1974.
To look at it the other way, it remains a huge event for the host nation. For most Australian players involved this time, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As such, the Lions holds immense respect from within and from the outside. It can be easy for people to forget both sides of that.
As a Lions player, especially in a Test match, you are part of a team that is the best that Britain and Ireland can produce. Selection is a personal thing, because you are being told that, as an individual, you have something different about you. Winning in that jersey is something extremely special.
10:03AM He comes in for the injured Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre:
10:00AM Despite predictions of rain all day, there have only been a couple of isolated showers proving once again how little faith you should place in the BBC weather app. The end result is that there are perfect conditions for an amazing spectacle of rugby at the cathedral of Australian cricket, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australian officials are expecting a crowd of between 90-95,000 and so far the red shirts in the ground are vastly outnumbering the Wallabies supporters. However both sets of fans are having to dodge hordes of ravenous seagulls who are descending on the stands at a frightening velocity.
9:57AM Around 25 minutes late, Australia have finally arrived. The players are probably showing a little more urgency getting off the bus and preparation may be in a little more of a rush now. If Australia lose today, will that be seen as a factor or an excuse?
9:55AM
9:53AM We are 70 minutes away from kick-off and Australia are yet to arrive. The hosts were due to get to the MCG 20 minutes ago.
9:52AM Almost as soon as he was able to walk, Owen Farrell would go with his father Andy to training sessions at Wigan Warriors. It was there that, as a young boy, he would be exposed to the extraordinary environment and culture that made Wigan the finest rugby league side in the country, and at times, the world.
Andy was barely into his 20s back then, having had Owen at the age of 16, just several weeks after he had made his senior debut for Wigan. As a young family, they just got on with things. They knew no different.
Andy went on to become one of the greatest rugby league players this country has ever produced; he made his Great Britain debut at the age of 18 and became the side’s youngest ever captain at the age of 21.
By then, he was already captain of Wigan, with his honours including six Championships and four Challenge Cups. He would twice win the illustrious Man of Steel award for player of the season and, in 2004, the Golden Boot – the award for best player in the world, which almost always went to an Australian.
9:48AM Rain was predicted at the MCG this evening and it is forecast throughout the game. If it does come down during the game, I think we can expect plenty of kicking. Who will deal better with aerial challenge as that could play a significant role in the outcome of the game if the rain does come tumbling down? It is just 11 degrees in Melbourne currently.
9:44AM The Lions have never won in the city of Melbourne before and have lost the second Test all three times they have won the first. Time for those records to change or continue?
9:41AM Aled Walters, the Lions head of performance, has tailored the conditioning programme to ensure that the players are able to peak in the second Test in Melbourne with the opportunity to clinch the series.
“It’s a different challenge to, for example, a World Cup, isn’t it?,” explained Walters. “Because there you get a block of time beforehand. Now it’s a bit different. The players have had nine months of rugby. The biggest thing is for our conversations to be very individual-specific throughout, and it’s not a blanket approach.
“Then you throw in on top something I haven’t experienced before, which is the potential to be starting a game on Saturday, on the bench on Wednesday, and potentially starting the game again on Saturday.
“Our planning has to be so flexible and fluid around this and making good choices. I know we’ve said it a few times already – having conversations with players.”
9:37AM A ruthless selection by Andy Farrell and one that reflects the mood of his Lions squad.
Sione Tuipulotu may be back in his native Melbourne but even after an impressive performance in the first Test, Farrell had initially made the decision to revert to the Irish pairing of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose.
Ringrose only pulled out after the final training session at Xavier College on Thursday, courageously declaring to Farrell that his head did not feel right, having sustained a concussion earlier in the tour, which had ruled him out of the first Test.
9:31AM “Last week there was a tomorrow, tonight there’s no tomorrow” 🗣️
Will Greenwood on the pressures for Australia to keep the series alive 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/KuZcLvttOy
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025
9:26AM Our very own Charlie Morgan is answering your questions and responding to your views in the comments section so make sure you get your opinions in.
9:22AM What a location to host the second Test! You can see from this image below the scale of this sporting colosseum, which has a capacity of 100,00, and it will be packed to the rafters today. It is also where England’s cricketers will be on Boxing Day later this year in the midst of an Ashes series.
9:18AM Go beyond the back pages and join the Telegraph’s rugby experts and big name guests as they tackle the game’s most interesting trends, themes and talking points. Our unrivalled rugby coverage, now available on the move! New episodes out after every Lions match this summer.
Follow the Rugby Podcast Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
9:14AM Friday 20th June: Lions 24-28 Argentina
Saturday 28th June: Western Force 7-54 Lions
Wednesday 2nd July: Reds 12-52 Lions
Saturday 5th July: Waratahs 10-21 Lions
Wednesday 9th July: Brumbies 24-36 Lions
Saturday 12th July: Invitational AU 0-48 NZ VS Lions
Saturday 19th July: Australia 19-27 Lions (First Test)
Tuesday 22nd July: First Nations and Pasifika XV 19-24 Lions
Today: Australia vs Lions (Second Test)
Saturday 2nd August: Australia vs Lions (Third Test)
9:08AM Australia have to win to keep the series alive and former Wallaby Tim Horan has expressed just how significant today’s game is:
I reckon this is the most important rugby test match for the @wallabies since the 2015 World Cup final. So much at stake for our game. 90,000 at the MCG.
— Tim Horan (@TimHoran12) July 26, 2025
9:05AM Joe Schmidt is boosted by the return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton in the pack. Despite their impact off the bench a week ago, Tate McDermott, Angus Bell and Carlo Tizzano remain on the bench.
Australia starting XV: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Jake Gordon; 1 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (captain).
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson 21 Carlo Tizzano, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Ben Donaldson.
Bundee Aki replaces the injured Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre, Andrew Porter comes in for Ellis Genge at loosehead prop and Ollie Chessum replaces the injured Joe McCarthy. Owen Farrell is on the bench.
British and Irish Lions starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
9:01AM The British and Irish Lions have the chance to wrap up the series as they head to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground to take on Australia in the second Test. Andy Farrell’s men won the first Test 27-19 in Brisbane last weekend, a scoreline that flattered Australia considering the Lions’ dominance for the first hour.
It has been a chaotic week in the build-up to this second Test. Joe McCarthy, who started in the second row in the first Test, has been ruled out with a foot injury whilst Sione Tuipulotu, in the city of his birth, misses the game due to a hamstring injury. Ollie Chessum replaces McCarthy and Bundee Aki comes in for Tuipulotu. Garry Ringrose was set to start at outside centre but has had a recurrence of a concussion. In a non-injury enforced change, Andrew Porter replaces Ellis Genge at loosehead prop. Owen Farrell has been named on the bench as has Blair Kinghorn.
The Lions had their final midweek fixture of the tour on Tuesday, beating a First Nations and Pasifika XV 24-19 in Melbourne. Speaking ahead of the second Test, Andy Farrell has shared his excitement about playing at the MCG and the opportunity for his side to “create a bit of history”.
“We have put ourselves in a good position after the first Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team. Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week. The opportunity to play in front of 100,000 supporters at the MCG, one of the world’s most iconic stadia, is what makes Lions tours unique and special. We know our Lions supporters will get behind the team and create a fantastic atmosphere.
“We thoroughly believe that we are way better than what we showed [in the first Test], and we have got another chance to prove that. We are the privileged ones that get the opportunity to do something special and hopefully create a bit of history. There is a determined Australian side that is going to try and stop us doing that, so it is a hell of a test. No other Lions have done back-to-back victories of tours of the same country. So, due to the good work of the 2013 touring party, we get the privilege to be in a position to try and accomplish that.”
As Australia look to bounce back from the defeat last weekend and keep the series alive, they are boosted by the returns of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini to their pack. Speaking ahead of the game, Australia head coach Joe Schmidt know his side will need to improve to keep the series alive going into the third Test in Sydney.
“The squad has recovered well after a very physical first test and the week’s preparation here in Melbourne has allowed us a bit more time together. We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we will need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest on Saturday night.”
Will the Lions wrap up the series or can Australia take it to a decider next weekend? Kick-off from the MCG is at 11am BST.
