NSW Waratahs v Lions preview, teams and how to follow
New South Wales Waratahs v British and Irish Lions
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 11:00 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app
The British and Irish Lions will play their third tour match in Australia on Saturday against Super Rugby Pacific side New South Wales (NSW) Waratahs.
Following a 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin, the Lions travelled to Australia and comfortably defeated Western Force and Queensland Reds, scoring eight tries in both matches.
Advertisement
Including Saturday's match the Lions players only have three games to stake their case for a place in the Test team, with the first match against the Wallabies taking place in Brisbane on 19 July.
From Waratahs' form, to team news and how to follow the game on BBC Sport - here's all you need to know.
Where is the match being played?
Saturday's match is taking place at the 45,500-capacity Sydney Football Stadium and will kick off at 11:00 BST (18:00 local time).
The Lions ran out 47-17 winners when the teams met during the 2013 tour with Leigh Halfpenny racking up a 30-point haul.
Johnny Sexton, one of the assistant coaches on the 2025 tour, grabbed a try, with Tom Croft and Jonathan Davies also crossing.
Advertisement
How can I follow the game on BBC Sport?
You can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up starting from 10:00 BST.
There will also be post-match reaction and analysis online and via Radio 5 Live and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, which is now producing daily episodes.
Make sure to follow BBC Sport's dedicated British and Irish Lions page for updates from our reporters in Australia.
The game is being shown live on Sky Sports.
NSW Waratahs' recent form
NSW Waratahs finished eighth in Super Rugby Pacific, winning six of their 14 games.
Western Force were the only Australia side to finish below the Waratahs in the league last season, but Dan McKellar's team did beat the Brumbies, who reached the semi-finals, 28-23 at home in March.
Advertisement
McKellar's side have won only one of their past six games, ending the season with a disappointing 46-6 defeat by New Zealand side Blues.
However, this year was a big improvement after finishing bottom of Super Rugby Pacific in 2024 with only two wins.
British & Irish Lions team news
The Lions make 14 changes from the one that saw off the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
Ireland's Tadhg Beirne will captain the side for the first time and partners James Ryan, who is making his first start, in the second row.
Hugo Keenan will make his first appearance at full-back with wing Blair Kinghorn also making his Lions debut.
Advertisement
Huw Jones, the only player retained in the starting XV from Brisbane, lines up alongside his Scotland midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu for the first time on tour.
Northampton half-backs Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell take over from Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park.
Henry Pollock, who played at number eight against Western Force, is back in the line-up at blind-side flanker.
Owen Farrell, called up to the squad on Thursday, has yet to join up with the Lions.
Who is in NSW Waratahs' team?
Wallabies Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway have been included in the NSW Waratahs starting team to face the Lions.
Advertisement
Prop forward Tupou, kicknamed the 'Tongan Thor' because of his size and power, has been capped 51 times by Australia and started for Joe Schmidt's side in November against England and Ireland.
Wing Kellaway started in November against all the home nations and has scored 13 tries in his 39 caps.
The Waratahs are without several key players who remain with the Wallabies ahead of their Test match against Fiji on Sunday.
They include code-crossing star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, scrum-half Jake Gordon, dynamic Ulster-bound prop Angus Bell and hooker David Porecki.
In the back row, Hugh Sinclair captains the side in what will be the last game of his professional career.
Advertisement
Line-ups
NSW Waratahs: Creighton; Kellaway, Foketi, Walton, Lancaster; Bowen, Wilson; Lambert, Dobbins, Tupou, Lee-Warner, Amatosero, Leota, Gamble, Sinclair.
Replacements: Vailanu, Barrett, Botha, Philip, Adamson, Grant, Edmed, O'Donnell.
British and Irish Lions: Keenan, Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Kinghorn, Smith, Mitchell; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham, Beirne, Ryan, Pollock, Van der Flier, Earl.
Replacements: Sheehan, Genge, Furlong, McCarthy, Cummings. Morgan, White, M Smith.
Who are the match officials?
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Advertisement
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aussie seals huge career-first amid dramatic scenes for Wimbledon fan favourite
Australia's Jordan Thompson has defied a lingering back injury to book his spot in the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time. While women's World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a huge scare against local hope Emma Radacanu, after a drama-charged 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory in the most eagerly anticipated match of the tournament to date. Thompson says he's still 'not anywhere near 100 per cent', despite booking his place in the last-16 at Wimbledon for the first time in his career, with a 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory over Italian Luciano Darderi. The Aussie battled through his back injury to record courageous five-set wins in his opening two matches, but looked more comfortable in the third round clash against Darderi. The victory sets up a mouthwatering last-16 showdown with in-form fifth seed Taylor Fritz, who Thompson beat on the grass at Queen's Club last year. The big-serving American defeated Spain's 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1, and Thompson says there's no reason why he can't spring another huge upset against the World No.5. "It's a pathetic outlook if I go out there thinking I can't win," the Aussie said. "I won last time on grass, but very different grass, in different circumstances. So, you know, it'll be a new day. Fellow Aussies Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina have the chance to join Thompson in the fourth round when they play later on Saturday night (AEST). The injury-plagued Thompson admitted before Wimbledon started that he was unsure whether he'd be able to compete because of his ongoing back issue. But the 31-year-old Sydneysider says it has improved as the tournament has gone on and filled him with confidence that he can keep his best-ever run going. "When I was warming up for the doubles yesterday, I was seriously questioning what I was doing out there, but I actually felt better as the day went on," he said. "And today was actually a lot better. Don't know why, but felt half-normal on the court. But to make my first Wimbledon fourth-round under the circumstances at the moment is incredible." RELATED: Wimbledon breaks 148-year rule after tragic death of star Alex de Minaur overcomes fiancee's heartbreak amid carnage Calls for change as 'dumb' Wimbledon tradition infuriates fans Among the other big names through in the men's draw are defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who will meet in the fourth round. Alcaraz kept his quest for a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles alive with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over big-serving German Jan-Lennard Struff, while Rublev eased past French veteran Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-2 6-3. The most anticipated match of the day was left to last though and it didn't disappoint, with women's World No.1 Sabalenka surviving a huge scare against local favourite Raducanu 7-6 (8-6) 6-4. The atmosphere was electric around the packed Centre Court, with Raducanu riding a wave of home support to save seven set points and creating one of her own, only to lose an epic opening stanza to Sabalenka. Raducanu also led 4-1 in the second set before Sabalenka's class shone through and she recovered to set up a fourth-round clash with Elise Mertens. The World No.1 joined in the applause as Raducanu was cheered off court after the drama-charged two-hour showdown. It came after Australian Open champion and sixth seed Madison Keys became the latest big gun to fall, crashing out 6-3 6-3 against German veteran Laura Siegmund. The American became the fifth of the top-six seeds to be sent packing on an eventful day. Siegemund will next face Solana Sierra, who became the first woman 'lucky loser' to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon after beating Spain's Cristina Bucsa 7-5 1-6 6-1. Playing better than she has in years, great to see Emma Radacanu back in form at last. — regina kealy (@kealycopy) July 4, 2025 What a performance and what a fight. Pushed Aryna all the way and was so so close to getting either set but Sabalanka used her power in the most crucial points. She can be so incredibly proud of her 3 matches this year and can use this to push on. — Matt Smith (@MattSmith_44) July 4, 2025 She is a champion and I've no doubt that we'll see her winning grand slams again soon, hopefully Wimbledon next year. She did the country proud. 🇬🇧 — Simon Davis (@madvisions_pens) July 4, 2025 Considering her injuries and what she's been through, going toe to toe with the world number 1 like that is a huge step up. Time to build consistency and sharpness 💪🏻 — Younes H-Hamou (@youneshhamou_) July 4, 2025 with AAP
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bulls' Josh Giddey gets $30 million contract update
Josh Giddey is a restricted free agent, which makes negotiations a bit trickier. But he's seeking big money from the Chicago Bulls, if he can get it. He wants $30 million per year, according to Joe Crowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Advertisement That's approximately what the Orlando Magic gave Jalen Suggs. Giddey's camp is "dug in" on that number, Crowley writes. The 6-foot-8 Australian playmaker probably has a case for that kind of payday, but it's also a tough case to make if other teams aren't extending the RFA an offer sheet, so it remains to be seen what will happen. MORE: A major update in LeBron James' trade talks from Lakers In 2024-25, Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, all slight improvements on already solid career averages. It was his first year in Chicago after he was traded from Oklahoma City for Alex Caruso. Advertisement Giddey isn't a great outside shooter, but he's so good at other aspects of the game that he generally makes up for it. And if Suggs can get $30 million per year, so can Giddey, so stay tuned. MORE NBA NEWS:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former UFC Champion Robert Whittaker Drops a Quiet Hint About Retirement
Former UFC Champion Robert Whittaker Drops a Quiet Hint About Retirement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There comes a time in every fighter's career when the end feels closer than the beginning. That final push—the one last run toward legacy—starts to take shape. For one former UFC champion, that moment might already be in motion. After years of wars in the Octagon, he now sees a clear path to retirement—and he isn't shy about mapping it out. Advertisement Robert Whittaker, the 34-year-old Australian and former UFC Middleweight Champion, has been through it all. From world title glory to crushing setbacks, his career has been anything but quiet. OctagonGetty His most recent outing at UFC 308 ended in heartbreak—a brutal Round 1 submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev, a fight so violent it left him with caved-in teeth and a battered sense of timing. It was the kind of loss that makes a fighter pause. And that's exactly what he did. Now, with time to heal and recalibrate, Whittaker is gearing up for another shot at glory—this time against the dangerous Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26. Advertisement Robert WhittakerGetty Images Fresh off a stunning stoppage of Bo Nickal, de Ridder presents a new challenge. But Whittaker isn't just fighting for a win—he's fighting with a clock in his head. In a revealing interview with MainEvent, Whittaker was asked whether the fire still burns. His answer was pure Rob: blunt, honest, and reflective. 'I see the light at the end of a tunnel... Four fights puts me into position to finish on top and have a fairytale ending.' It wasn't a plea for attention—it was a glimpse into a man shaping the final act of a legendary career. Whittaker's UFC story began all the way back in 2012 on UFC on FX, when he was just a fresh-faced contender from Down Under. He grew into a champion, forged by rivalries with Yoel Romero, showdowns with Israel Adesanya, and battles against the likes of Jared Cannonier and Darren Till. A decade later, he's no longer chasing greatness—he's defining it. Advertisement Four more fights. One last sprint. For Whittaker, it's not about revenge or redemption anymore. It's about closure. And if his plan holds, we could be witnessing the most deliberate, emotionally charged farewell run the middleweight division has ever seen. Related: UFC Faces Pressure as Ilia Topuria's Next Opponent Narrowed to 3 Possibilities Related: 'Count Me In' – Conor McGregor Sets His Sights on a Historic Stage This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
