Names on shirts, bums on seats
This tour is the first time that the Lions have had names on the back of their shirts.Elsewhere, injured fly-half Noah Lolesio, ruled out of the series with a neck injury sustained in Australia's warm-up match against Fiji, has been into the Wallabies camp to wish his team-mates good luck.
And, finally, the sold-out sign is up over the 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium for the first Test, with the late returns from UK tour operators have been snapped up by local fans in Brisbane., external"It's amazing. It's one of the best stadiums in the world and to see it sold out is super exciting," Australia captain Harry Wilson said.
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The Guardian
4 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Australia v British & Irish Lions: second Test
Update: Date: 2025-07-26T08:52:31.000Z Title: Content: Pre-match reading Update: Date: 2025-07-26T08:52:26.000Z Title: Content: There's much to ponder and reflect on as we head towards kick-off at the MCG so why not let me know what's on your mind on the email? Update: Date: 2025-07-26T08:52:20.000Z Title: Teams Content: Joe Schmidt has reinforced the Wallabies pack with the return of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, plus David Porecki starting at hooker. The backline is unchanged from last week, which is a little surprising given how absolutely terrible Jake Gordon was at scrum-half. For the British & Irish Lions, Andy Farrell makes three changes with Bundee Aki, Ollie Chessum, and Andrew Porter brought into the starting XV, replacing Sione Tuipulotu (injured), Joe McCarthy (injured), and Ellis Genge (benched). Owen Farrell is a test Lions once more, albeit on the bench, where he is joined by other changes: Jac Morgan, Blair Kinghorn, and James Ryan. AustraliaTom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c)Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson British & Irish LionsHugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje (c), Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack ConanReplacements: Ronan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn Update: Date: 2025-07-26T08:46:22.000Z Title: Preamble Content: The notion of something being romantic can get a lot of stick these days. This is likely due to the over saturation of romcoms, the tendency towards mawkish nostalgia on local Facebook groups, or publishing private personal events on social media for the purposes of engagement - 'can you believe he proposed to me in the Aldi where we met? #lucky #romance #leggingsonoffer'. The British & Irish Lions is, or should be, an unabashedly romantic endeavour. The coming together of nations in this way shouldn't have survived the advent of professionalism in 1995-6; yet it did via the weight of history, the sentiment of fans home and abroad, and the real feeling of the special place it holds for players. A lot of romance. Historically this was bolstered by the difficult task presented to touring Lions, who had to travel across the world with a scratch team in order to try and beat usually the best outfit in the world. After all, you might as well focus on the romance when you are highly likely to lose – which they did, often. Heading into the second test of this tour in a couple of hours, there is a yearning for some romance. Can Australia in this second act create some tension to head into week three? For an hour of the first test, this appeared unlikely, as the plot of a competent but uninspiring hammering looked easy to extrapolate to the final act of three-nil win for the visitors. But, in the closing scenes the Wallabies mustered something – however small - to flicker the emotions. Is this something that can be fanned into a performance to level the series and have us all hanging on the third test? We'll know in a few hours.
Telegraph
4 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Live Lions v Australia: Lineups and latest updates before second Test from the MCG
26 July 2025 9:32am 9:31AM Will Greenwood on Sky Sports "Last week there was a tomorrow, tonight there's no tomorrow" 🗣️ Will Greenwood on the pressures for Australia to keep the series alive 🇦🇺 — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 26, 2025 9:22AM The 'G! 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 Telegraph Rugby Podcast 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 Lions tour schedule 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 So much on the line? 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 Teams 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 Can the Lions seal the series with a game to spare? 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.
Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Lions to score points first, lead at half time and win against Australia is BOOSTED to 11/8 ahead of Saturday's second Test in Melbourne
The British & Irish Lions will be eager to continue their fine form against the Wallabies in the second Test of their tour of Australia on Saturday, having triumphed 27-19 in the first meeting. Andy Farrell's side dominated the Wallabies with a sensational first-half performance at Suncorp Stadium, leaving the hosts far too much to do as they attempted to stage a comeback late on. For those anticipating more Lions dominance in the second Test of the series, Sky Bet has a Price Boost on offer, enhanced from 6/5 to 11/8. The bet requires the visitors to score the first points, lead at half time and win the match, as they did in the opening Test. Australia head into the match as clear underdogs at 7/2, while the Lions are firm favourites with odds of 1/4. A draw has been given the longest odds by Sky Bet, coming in at 25/1. Sky Bet odds for Australia vs British & Irish Lions Australia to win - 7/2 British & Irish Lions to win - 1/4 Draw 25/1 British & Irish Lions to score 1st points, lead at half time & win the match WAS 6/5 NOW 11/8
