Australia v British & Lions 2025 second Test — as it happened

And with the Wallaby defence desperate to hang on to their narrow lead, the Lions kept on coming. Even Will Stuart, the massive prop, entered the move to telling effect. In the end, Hugo Keenan dived over for the try which gave the Lions victory, and which gave them the Test Series.

• Read the match report here

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

You can hear the Lions from the press room, which is right next to their changing rooms. They’re roaring “Oh Maro Itoje” after their captain, then Whoomp There It Is — by Tag Team.

Finn Russell, Hugo Keenan and Bundee Aki are wearing Pacific Island-style garlands round their necks, given to them by fans, and as they streamed into the dressing room there were plenty of hugs. Owen Farrell embraced Bundee Aki, Tom Curry had his head in his hands, taking it all in.

Speaking to Sky Sports, British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje said: “Big Faz was telling us to play big and be bigger all the time and believe in ourselves. I give credit to the bench, they came on and made the difference.”

Speaking about match winner Hugo Keenan, British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said: “I was screaming pass it, pass it.

“After what he has been through, it was all worth it. To score at the death of a Lions Test.

“These players have dreamed of playing for the Lions. It was a fairytale.”

Credit to Stuart Farmer on X for this one, but today we saw the biggest ever comeback win in a Test match from the Lions.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Lions captain Maro Itoje said: “It feels a little surreal. The first 20 minutes we weren’t great, we managed to find away, it wasn’t perfect but we got there. Huge credit to the bench, the lads who came on made a massive difference.

“We started hitting in the second half, our scrum got on top and our decision makers started playing the game. It’s amazing.

“It’s not about me, it’s about those players and the fans who travelled so far.”

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

I’m quite enjoying watching Henry Pollock, baseball cap on back-to-front, a kid with no regard for the seniors. He won’t leave Johnny Sexton alone. He keeps on going up to him and squeezing his face and over-hugging and over-celebrating and Sexton just does not know what to do!

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

When the try was given, Tadhg Furlong windmilled down the touchline, and there were jumping embraces all around. Then tense, as we had a look at the try, but it only gave them a second go at the celebrations. Will Stuart and Bundee Aki threw their hands up to lead a chant of “Lions, Lions” and the rest just danced away.

An epic way to wrap it up. 23-5 down, to win 29-23. A huge amount of credit must have to go to Australia, who made it an incredible game with their physicality and skill.

The Lions will party long into the night, and then quickly they will lazer in on a 3-0. That has not been done — a clean series sweep — since the Lions won 4-0 in Argentina in 1927. Before that you have to go back to 1891, against South Africa, when the Lions toured one country and won all of the Tests.

Time for a slice of history, then, in Sydney.

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

The Lions had to win a great Test match to nail the series. Credit to the Wallabies for finally turning up. And to the Lions for staying patient. It was clear that the Wallabies power game would ease once Skelton and Valetini punched themselves out. Australia were always a threat with the ball but the Lions dug in and staged a pretty epic comeback.

They left it as late as they could, but the Lions finally have the lead in this game, and with it the series. In the final minute the Lions were searching for an opening or a penalty to steal the win. After stretching the Australia defence Hugo Keenan finds a gap to dive over.

Some protests and late drama as a Jac Morgan clearout in the buildup is checked by the video referee, but the try stands!

Will Kelleher

The Lions have done it! Or have they? Harry Wilson sprinted to Piardi to ask him to check the clear out by Morgan on Tizzano. Drama!

No foul play! The Lions have done it!

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

Ellis Genge is demolishing Tom Robertson in the scrums. He is driving the Lions forward with every carry. He’s had a big tour. On the other side of the scrum, Will Stuart has just swapped a left boot with the man he replaced Tadhg Furlong. When do the Lions start to think “drop goal”.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

90,307 is the official attendance — a Lions record in Australia (but not all time, as they got 100,000 in South Africa in 1955).

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Twelve minutes to make yourself a hero… this has all suddenly become incredibly tense. Befitting a Lions Test series, it now feels like any touch of genius, or a mistake, decides this match, and maybe the series.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Here comes Owen Farrell! He replaces Huw Jones, so Bundee Aki goes to 13, and Farrell to 12 outside Finn Russell.

What odds on Farrell nailing the match-winning kick?

The Lions needed to score soon, and they have! James Lowe does well to draw defenders on the outside, before offloading to Tadhg Beirne. The Munster man still had a lot of work to do, but he powered through two Australian defenders to score in the corner. And Finn Rusell adds the all important two points from the touchline.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Look at these tackle counts…

Jack Conan – 21
Andrew Porter – 15
Maro Itoje – 15
Tom Curry – 14
Ollie Chessum – 11
Dan Sheehan – 10

That’s not just the Lions’ list, that’s the list for both teams! No wonder Porter, Curry and Chessum have gone, replaced by Genge, Ryan and Morgan — who keeps getting the biggest cheers from all the Welshmen.

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

Skelton is off. That’s huge. But I’m wondering about the scrum. The Lions already have had a clear advantage in the scrum. It hasn’t been particularly significant yet but at some point it will be. And without the heft of Skelton, that advantage is likely to grow.

First Rob Valetini, now Will Skelton is off. Australia’s two big additions to the pack are done for this Test.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Oh that’s sad. Will Skelton has gone. He looks spent. I don’t think he’s injured, he’s just floored himself by battering into Lions for 47 minutes. Joe Schmidt did warn that the big lads wouldn’t last the full 80, but how to Australia find a replacement for William the Conquerer? Nine carries, one dominant tackle (on Tadhg Beirne) and a whole lot else besides. Great shift.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Schmidt has changed three of his pack at the break. Langi Gleeson is on for Rob Valetini, Angus Bell for James Slipper, and Allan Alaalatoa is off for Tom Robertson. Valentini emptied the tank in that first half.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

OK, stat update.

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

Look what happens when you unleash the beef….it sends opponents into reverse, it discombobulates the best defenders…and you create stats like these, (courtesy of Russ Petty).

Australia last week — 5 clean breaks, 20 defenders beaten in 80 mins Australia this week — 5 clean breaks, 19 defenders beaten in 40 mins.

Stephen Jones, in Melbourne

If the prize idiots on the public address trying to destroy the atmosphere and ruin this amazing contest don’t shut up I am going to find them.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Sam Warburton said: “Valetini has been exceptional, his bally carrying to get momentum gives the Wallabies so many options. the Lions are struggling to get their backs to be abrasive and dominate those collisions. That’s why the Lions have been giving away penalties, because they are losing the contact.”

Former Lions head coach Warren Gatland: “An unbelievable first half, to and fro. The Lions whenever they get into the 22 have taken points and Australia have made mistakes there but it’s just been a great Test match.”

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

The best bit. Or the worst bit whichever way you are looking at it: Suaalii slipping through the Lions defence, cutting through into space and then putting Tom Wright through to score. That’s just what the Wallabies were brilliant at thriving on when they beat England at Twickenham last November: a loose, open game where these wonderfully talented athletes can express their talent.

If the Lions let the game go that way, they are in trouble.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Look, I know lots of you reading this are Lions fans, but you have to admit it is nice to be in a game, isn’t it? Have we ever seen a better Lions Test match half? 40 points must be a record for the first 40… do you know what? I’ll check and get back to you.

Owen Slot

The atmosphere in here really really sensational. The contrast to last week is ridiculous.

A second try in quick succession for the Lions, this time from Huw Jones. The Scottish centre dives over near the posts after an offload from Hugo Keenan.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Is Finn having one of *those* days from the tee? He has been brilliant on this tour, but sometimes has these when he snatches his kicks, and then throws the tee to Ben Spencer at Bath…

… oh hang on, he’s just absolutely nailed an amazing kick to touch! Stand down!

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Great response from the Lions! Tom Curry’s metal hip sees him dance past Jake Gordon for the finish. Man have we got ourselves a Test match.

A brilliant break from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, catching out an isolated Bundee Aki in the backfield. The young star slices through the Lions’ defence and passes the ball off to Tom Wright, who races clear to score. 23-5 after half an hour.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

And it gets worse, as Jake Gordon goes over! Skelton is just making these breakdowns a no-contest, finishing them all off by blitzing the bodies away, and so Gordon has such a better platform than last week when the Lions physically bullied Australia. 18-5 now. Lions reeling.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

This is the first bit of proper adversity the Lions have had since they played Argentina in Dublin. They are losing to a fired up Australia, who are carrying hard through Skelton, Valetini and Suaalii, and are losing the penalty count 7-3 already, with Tommy Freeman in the sin-bin. Now do we finally get to see how good these Lions really are? This is exactly what this tour, and this series needed.

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

Why oh why did Joe Schmidt not select Will Skelton for the first Test? We understand he was fit to play but not picked. His power, followed by Valetini in a one-two blow is driving the Lions backwards. Exactly what the Wallabies missed last week. And under that heavyweight pressure, the Lions have conceded a flurry of penalties and are down to 14 with Tommy Freeman in the bin following a team warning.

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

A scrum half on for a winger. Tate McDermott on for Harry Potter who has done a hamstring.

This is a serious problem for the Wallabies. A 6-2 bench has an inherent risk — and that has already been exposed.

Interesting decision though.

They have Ben Donaldson on the bench. He could have come on at full back with Tom Wright going to the wing.

Dan Sheehan taps from a penalty on the five-metre line and dives over the line (and some onrushing Wallaby defenders) to score. Some protests from Australia, but the try is given.

Will Kelleher

Such clever law knowledge from Dan Sheehan and the Lions there. Usually you cannot dive into a tackle, but you can dive for the line, like all wingers do, so as the referee Andrea Piardi told Australia captain Harry Wilson, his score was legitimate.

There must be a hell of a lot of pressure out there, though, as Finn Russell has shanked the conversion.

Owen Slot

This is a proper game. If Russell is missing easy conversions, you know there’s pressure out there.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

Skelton is everywhere here, firing up this Test series. He has started two fights, and was right that Jack Conan knocked on so the try should not have stood. All so much more feisty this, and way better for it.

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

The Lions have been done twice for technical offences at the breakdown — Itoje was on two knees when he stripped the ball from Skelton and Curry was deemed to have not released the ball-carrier before he went in for a poach. From this distance the Curry one looked tight. But it’s a reminder how different referees take very different views of the breakdown. Ben O’Keefe encouraged a major scrap on the floor, allowing all sorts. Andrea Piardi seems to be hot on accuracy.

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

Will Kelleher wrote this week about how Aussie fans had never seen the best of Will Skelton in the gold and green. Well, he’s set about showing them in the early exchanges. Three big carries drive the Wallabies forwards and now they lead 3-0 after the Lions were pinged for offside. The match officials were watching clips of the Lions defence on their flight down from Brisbane last Sunday, so they will be hot on it.

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

This feels so different to anything else on this tour. Huge Lions chants, massive cheers for Jac Morgan, packed stadium (albeit not totally full) and a loud Advance Australia Fair. Here we go!

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

Serious shiver down the spine.

The atmosphere in here is electric.

Very different to last week.

Kick-off minutes away in Melbourne. Can the Lions seal a first series win in 12 years today, or will the Wallabies force a decider in Sydney next weekend?

Martin Johnson was invited to present the jerseys to the British & Irish Lions before their second Test against Australia and he came armed with a lesson from history. The Lions have an opportunity in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to seal a 2-0 series win. The hordes of travelling supporters who have descended on Melbourne over the past 48 hours are expectant.

Johnson may not have been involved in professional rugby for 14 years now but he has lost none of his ability to cut through the hype and hone in forensically on what is really important when it comes to winning the biggest game of your life, especially in Australia.

Johnson reached the top of the mountain twice, as captain of the victorious 1997 Lions in South Africa and of England’s World Cup-winning team in 2003. Two years before that trophy lift in Australia, Johnson had tasted bitter defeat down under. Losing the 2001 Lions Test series 2-1 to the Wallabies is the biggest regret of his career.

• Read more from Alex Lowe

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

The Aussies have dished out some gold flags and gold hats to different sections of the MCG, but as the stadium fills up, it still majorly red. The pre-match sing-off went well for the Aussies. The rendition of Men At Work’s ‘Down Under’ was pretty loud, although boosted by Lions fans joining in after their version of 500 Miles by The Proclaimers. Chants of “Lions, Lions” are breaking out, before being drowned out by an advert on the big screen.

We went to the Aussie Rules on Friday night and it was notable how little artificial atmosphere was created. No bloke on the PA system going. “Make some noise”, no music when the game paused. It was like watching a sport confident in itself. The crowd was really mixed and family oriented. Obviously, we know in Australia that they are not confident in their rugby. And the tickets for these Lions games are upwards of ten times more expensive than the Aussie Rules, so they probably feel a need to put on a show.

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

One of my highlights of the prematch entertainment is when they play The Proclaimers “I’m Gonna Be.”

Which they have just done.

I don’t enjoy it particularly for the sing-a-long which isn’t bad. It’s because they put the words up on the big screen.

In case you didn’t know the chorus, it goes like this: “dananana dananana dananana dananana, danananananana” etc.

Thank you.

At least now we know.

I actually wonder what a Wallabies victory in the MCG would achieve.

They are expecting 90,000 people here for the game, which would be massive and thrilling. But they got 99,382 for a Real Madrid-Man City friendly here ten years ago, and 95,446 to see Liverpool in their 2013 pre-season play the home team Melbourne Victory.

Melburnians, they say, love an event and will turn out for a one-off of anything. Especially if there are tickets still going for $49 (£24).

A lot of them won’t understand the rules, though. And once it’s been and gone, you’ll hardly be able to read about it here. And it’s hard to build momentum when there’s no other pro rugby team in the state.

• Read more from Owen Slot

Andrew Porter will make his second start of the tour in the second Test. In the process he replaces Ellis Genge, one of the most dynamic Lions forwards to date.

The Bristol loose-head was exceptional in the hour he played against Argentina. Then, in what was clearly a front-row dress rehearsal for the first Test, he looked the part for his 50 minutes against the Brumbies, before making way for Porter. In last Saturday’s first Test, he may have been penalised once in the scrum but his strident ball-carrying gave the Lions a decisive front foot.

We are used to talking about the significance of centres on the gainline. But Genge carries in a broken field with as much clatter as most midfields. The Lions were in complete control when Porter emerged off the bench.

• Read more from Stuart Barnes

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

There we go, Joe Schmidt is asked on Sky Sports about how he’s driving the week, and he says: “Speaking of driving we’re about 15 minutes late to the ground unfortunately because you couldn’t drive very far in the traffic that’s out there, which is indicative of the crowd that’s gathering. It’s a massive crowd, a huge venue and a massive night.”

Gotta get that police escort, mate?

Great Barrier Island sits in the South Pacific Ocean, a 4½-hour ferry ride out from Auckland, New Zealand. In summer there are daily crossings, cut down to three a week in winter.

Named by Captain Cook, the volcanic island 62 miles away from the country’s biggest city, out in the Hauraki Gulf, now hosts a touch more than 1,000 people, up a few hundred in the past decade, most of whom live off the national grid. It has only one informal rugby club — the Bushpigs — who play one proper match per year. With not enough players to form age-grade sides, if you are a kid of any shape or size, you get chucked into the mixer.

This is where Jamison Gibson-Park’s story begins. The end, for now, will have the Barrier-born Irishman in a British & Irish Lions team at scrum half for the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of nearly 90,000 fans. It will be a little more high profile than the start of his journey.

• Read more

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

It is filling up here, and we have the now-customary sight of one end being completely filled with red. The travel companies have put their supporter groups behind one goal for these Tests, and for this game the Aussies seem to have responded by placing gold hats on the seats at the other end.

We have finally had the rain that we were expecting — although it is more of a light mizzling than a downpour. More from Michael Fish, next…

Stuart Barnes

England’s first innings. Came out hard and fast with the openers rattling up a meaty opening partnership at around five runs per over. Thereafter eased off and took control. Lions did part one but made a mess of part two in Brisbane. Expecting more from both these teams today.

Thank the Lord for Jac Morgan’s selection. Or thank Lord Farrell, at least. Morgan’s selection can give you faith.

Legions of British & Irish Lions fans will be relieved and delighted that Morgan has been promoted to the bench for the second Test against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday. And, yes, a majority of them may be Welsh, but what is crucial here is to remember the position held by Andy Farrell, the head coach: that he won’t allow his selection process to be swayed by national interests or any desire to keep all four nations represented. Rightly so, of course.

Yet Morgan’s selection for the second Test is important for reasons far more weighty than any kind of PR. It is only a bench spot, but it is representative of far more. It proves that it has still been possible to play your way into the team.

• Read more from Owen Slot

Alex Lowe, in Melbourne

Tim Horan, the great Wallaby centre, is not soft-soaping things tonight.

“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.

Australian rugby is in grave danger. They cannot compete when it comes to signing the best schoolboys and that battle will only get harder with the NRL due to expand by three teams. The Wallaby Schoolboys No8 has signed for Toulouse. One of the newspapers over here ran a composite XV of Aussie “footie” players. Six Wallabies made it — Max Jorgenson, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Rob Valetini — plus the front row “because it is such a specialist position”.

They are lucky to get six because the XV did not include league stars Cameron Munster, Angus Chrichton or Latrell Mitchell.

Stephen Jones, in Melbourne

Wallaby hopes for a revival today centre around the great Will Skelton. The lock is one of the greatest in his position I have ever seen live. I would rank him very close to Martin Johnson and Simon Shaw, also to Eben Etzebeth, and Patricio Albacete. He may not get the trip but 50 minutes of him could do wonders

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

The Australian bus was 20 minutes late to the ground, but they have arrived, and then lost the toss. As someone who sat dead still for 15 minutes earlier today trying to get to St Kilda in a taxi, I feel the Wallabies’ pain.

Joe Schmidt has a real thing about late buses. In 2017 Schmidt’s Ireland were late into Murrayfield — behind pipers and all — and then lost 27-22, and he blamed their late arrival.

Australia really needed everything to go perfectly for them. So not a great start.

Owen Slot, in Melbourne

This is the reason the Wallabies will win. At least according to an Aussie I had a coffee with this morning. He explained that because the MCG is an oval, the touchlines aren’t hemmed in by the sightlines that the Lions kickers will be accustomed to: the crowd and the advertising hoardings. The Wallabies, meanwhile, will have played in these ovals more often. It’s a decent point and it will definitely take some adjusting to, though I’d imagine the Lions kickers will have been practicing with this in mind. I can’t believe that my new Aussie chum is the only one to have thought about it,

Anyway, I’ve just found my seat in the media tribune and the news is that one touchline does have an advertising hoarding all the way down the side of the pitch.

So that’s half the disadvantage removed immediately. I’m not sure if that’s still enough. I’ll go and find my Aussie friend…

Whenever you talk about Will Skelton, you have to start with the bare facts. Height: 6ft 8in. Weight: anywhere between 135-150kg (21-23st). Shoe size: 19 (he gets his boots custom made in Japan, and they look like white tugboats).

The British & Irish Lions forwards coach John Fogarty called him a “menace”, and “destructive”, his opposite lock Ollie Chessum — 6ft 7in himself — said he was “a huge human being” while Maro Itoje, the captain and a former team-mate of Skelton’s from Saracens called him a “talisman” thanks to his “dynamism, size and power”. Meanwhile the other Australian players joked about how the nutritionists sighed when he came back into camp, as the food bill took a battering.

Skelton, 33, is a giant in a big man’s game. Then you have to mention the medals. Skelton has been part of four Champions Cup-winning teams — two Saracens, two La Rochelle — and has one Super Rugby and two Premiership titles in his large back-pockets.

This is why Joe Schmidt — who is not quite a card-carrying Skelton fan — has picked Big Will for the big one at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, the second Test of the Lions series. This pedigree that Skelton brings is alien to many of the other Wallabies.

• Read more

Will Kelleher, in Melbourne

I’ve been telling anyone and everyone all week that the last time I watched sport here was when England bowled out Australia for 98 on Boxing Day 2010, and then piled on 500 and retained the Ashes. On Boxing Day there were 91,000 in, but more like 40,000 by tea when the writing was on the wall, and Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook were settled.

Do we get another shellacking tonight? Despite all reports of rain, thunder, lightning, storms and all, it is dry as a bone tonight in Melbourne. So all that stuff about a heavy night suiting Will Skelton may not come to fruition. The ground is slowly filling up. I’m fascinated to see how many we get in — it won’t be the full 100,024 capacity, but anything over 84,188 makes it the record crowd for an Australia v Lions match, beating the attendance for the third Test in 2001.

At the moment there are more seagulls than people up in the gods by our awesome press-bench seats. They’re floating about looking for chips. Maybe we need a few of those shooting flames to clear them off!

Just imagine how hard that confession must have been. Garry Ringrose’s family have flown to Melbourne in anticipation of watching him on the grandest stage. The second Lions Test against Australia at the MCG, with an opportunity to win the series in front of 90,000 people, would be the biggest game of his career. Revealing the concussion symptoms would be likely to end his tour and he will be 34 by the next one. This may well have been his one chance to emulate Brian O’Driscoll and wear the Test No13 jersey.

Ringrose spoke up anyway. In prioritising his own welfare, he also put the team first. Farrell said his first thought was that Ringrose had been “unbelievably selfless” in coming forward.

“It’s very easy to keep it to yourself and lie and not be honest and open. It was very big of him and the right thing to do, 100 per cent. For the team as well, not just for Garry,” Farrell said.

• Read more from Alex Lowe

Stephen Jones, in Melbourne

Hello from the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground and our coverage will be coming to you from on high. Aircraft are circling lower than the media seats. There is a body of opinion in the city that an Aussie win will set up a fantastic last Test in Sydney next week. The hell with that.

The Lions have messed up so many series over the decades, their followers should want a definitive performance and win this week, and a luxurious lap of honour next week. Let’s see.

The stirring midweek performance came in Melbourne on Tuesday from the First Nations & Pasifika (FNP) XV, whose pride and passion made this the best game of the tour. The result was in the balance to the final play. “We’ve given ourselves a bit of a fright,” Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach, said after the game.

The error-strewn Lions held out to win but they had been rattled by the FNP XV, who played with greater fire and physicality than Australia had mustered in the first Test. The Wallabies watching on from a corporate box at Marvel Stadium should have felt sheepish at the comparative lack of bite and brimstone they brought to the game in Brisbane.

“You need to take it to them head on,” FNP XV captain Kurtley Beale said. “Playing rugby, you need physicality to lay the platform for your backs to play off. Hopefully we have inspired the Wallabies.

• Read more

Matt Cotton, in Melbourne

We’ve been in the pub since 3.30pm local today. That’s largely because it was the latest booking we could get in a bar anywhere near the east of the stadium. The power of the Lions again. We went to watch the AFL at the MCG on Thursday (no idea what was happening, and hopefully Alex Mitchell, sat several rows behind me, had a better understanding) and managed to snag the only free table (a tiny two-seater) at 4pm at Corner Hotel because, you guessed it, Lions fans were everywhere again.

It’s generating a wonderful atmosphere, though, and hopefully it can make Melbourne fall in love with Union again. It’s a travesty that this great sporting city (which has the MCG, AAMI Park, and the Australian Open arenas such as Rod Laver, just to name a few, within a toddler’s stone throw of one another) does not have an elite rugby union team after the Melbourne Rebels went bust.

They love their sport here but they call everything “footie”. AFL? Footie. Rugby league? Footie. Rugby union? Footie. Football? Soccer…

Matt Cotton, in Melbourne

This is my first Lions tour. I’ve been wanting to do this for years. All it took was my best friend (and basically only mate who likes rugby) moving his life to Melbourne and me marrying a woman addicted to going on holiday to make it happen. Easy really.

I knew about the “sea of red” beforehand. But even so, my mind has been blown by the amount of Lions merch and red about. I’ve been in Melbourne a week and it’s genuinely about one in three people wearing Lions gear when you’re out and about. We watched the first Test in a bar in St Kilda (which, to be fair, is like inverse Clapham in terms given the amount of Irish, English and Scots that live there) and, in the room we watched in, my other mate, a born and bred Aussie, was the only Wallaby fan in the area. It’s beautiful.

Which has me wondering: how badly do these fans smell? Do they have all the merch? Are they washing the same bit of kit every day? Either way, that stench is of rugger heritage, and I can’t get enough of it.

Joe Schmidt has prepared the Wallabies for a physical assault on the British & Irish Lions by picking Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, and opting for a 6-2 bench for Saturday’s second Test.

Schmidt criticised the Australians last weekend for being too “submissive” when they lost the first Test at Suncorp Stadium 27-19, so has picked a beefed-up pack for the do-or-die game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Skelton, the 22st, 6ft 8in lock, starts in the second row with the 6ft 4in, 17st 11lb back-row forward Valetini returning from injury too. Both had calf issues last week but trained fully before the first Test in Brisbane, although neither were selected.

“We don’t want to be nice, and we don’t want to be submissive. We don’t have the intention this week of being submissive,” Schmidt, the Wallabies head coach, said.

Andy Farrell’s plan to field an all-Ireland midfield for the second British & Irish Lions Test against Australia was scuppered at the last moment when Garry Ringrose declared concussion symptoms at the end of training on Thursday.

The head coach’s starting team for the second Test in Melbourne includes nine Irishmen, with Ellis Genge dropping to a bench that includes Owen Farrell and the Welshman Jac Morgan.

But it is the 11th-hour absence of Ringrose that forced the head coach into a rethink. Ringrose missed the first Test because he was going through concussion protocols, but he came through 65 minutes of Tuesday’s game against a First Nations & Pasifika XV without any ill effects.

But Ringrose informed Farrell and the team doctor that he had developed symptoms just minutes before the team was named.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the second Test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne. After victory in the first Test in Brisbane last weekend, Andy Farrell’s side will be hoping to seal a series win at the MCG today, while the Wallabies will want to force a decider next week.

Our writers will be bringing you commentary and analysis throughout the game.