British & Irish Lions

  1. In pictures: How the Lions fought their way to victory in Melbourne

    Captains pose for picturesGetty Images

    Old rivals meet again as Harry Wilson of Australia and Maro Itoje of the British and Irish Lions captained the sides at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

    Tom Lynagh kicksGetty Images

    The Wallabies had a point to prove and started strongly, with Tom Lynagh converting two early penalties

    Dan Sheehan celebratesGetty Images

    Australia remained in control until Dan Sheehan powered over to get the Lions back in the game

    Australia score a tryGetty Images

    With three tries in quick succession, the Wallabies raced into a 23-5 lead in the first half

    Tommy Freeman in the sin binGetty Images

    Tommy Freeman was sent to the sin-bin for an incident in the build-up to the first Australia try - the Wallabies scored twice more while he was off the field

    Tom Curry scores a tryGetty Images

    Tom Curry and Huw Jones then scored tries to bring the Lions back within striking distance at 23-17 before half-time

    Rob ValetiniGetty Images

    Rob Valentini and Will Skelton made a massive difference to the Australia side but neither player made it past 50 minutes

    Tadhg Beirne scores a tryGetty Images

    Tadhg Beirne drove to the line to score the Lions' fourth try and reduce the gap further

    Hugo Keenan celebratesGetty Images

    Hugo Keenan celebrates after scoring the decisive try in the closing seconds at the MCG

    Lions players celebrateGetty Images

    Lions players celebrated wildly after the full-time whistle. There was a moment of suspense as Jac Morgan's clearout before Keenan's try was checked, but it was deemed legal by the officials

    Hugo Keenan celebratesGetty Images

    Keenan, after a disrupted start to the tour because of illness and injury, was the Lions' match-winner at the MCG

  3. Maro Itoje celebrates a Lions victory over Australia

  4. Andy Farrell

  5. 'The Wallabies defensively have been so passive'

    Hugo Keenan scoring a try Getty Images

    Matt Dawson, 1997, 2001 & 2005 Lions tourist, on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a rugby IQ thing, watch that [Hugo Keenan] try back and how many Wallabies players cluster around that ruck?

    "You could throw a towel over six of them, which gives the space for Keenan.

    "The Wallabies defensively have been so passive in this series. They have been absorb, absorb, absorb and no-one gets over that ball."

  6. Match stats from the second Test

    Here are some of the statistics from a pulsating game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    The Lions fought back from 23-5 behind to win 29-26 and secure a series win.

    Match stats from the second Lions Test match

  7. Full-time celebrations

    Hugo Keenan of British & Irish Lions is held aloft by Mack Hansen, left, and Jamie GeorgeGetty Images

    Winning try-scorer winner Hugo Keenan is held aloft by Mack Hansen, left, and Jamie George

    Head coach Andy Farrell was all smiles after his side claim a series win against Australia in the second TestGetty Images

    Head coach Andy Farrell was all smiles after his side claimed a series win against Australia in the second Test

    Jac Morgan celebrates victory with supporters.Getty Images

    Jac Morgan, the only Wales international remaining in the Lions squad, celebrates victory with supporters

    The Lions clinched the series with a 29-26 victory over Australia in front of a record Lions crowd of 90,307 at the MCGGetty Images

    The Lions clinched the series with a 29-26 victory over Australia in front of a record Lions crowd of 90,307 at the MCG

    Players at full-time. They seek to claim a series clean sweep next week.Getty Images

    The Lions players celebrate at full-time - they will seek a series clean sweep in Sydney on 2 August

  8. How Lions overcame Australia first-half strength to win series

    Mark Benstead is joined by BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones and three-time Lions tourist Matt Dawson live from Melbourne Cricket Ground, along with former England wing Chris Ashton, to discuss the Lions' mementous series win in Australia.

  9. Lions clinch series win in Australia

    Saturday's incredible comeback victory in Melbourne secured a series win for the British and Irish Lions over Australia.

    Can they make it a 3-0 clean sweep in Sydney?

    Australia v Lions 2025 series results

  10. Maro Itoje

  11. Lions players celebrate their second Test

  12. Hugo Keenan scores for the Lions

  13. The Lions' starting XV in Melbourne

    The second Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions is getting ever closer.

    Kick-off is at 11:00 BST on Saturday and here are all the details you need to know as the Lions attempt to clinch the three-match series.

    Here is a reminder of the Lions' starting XV that will take to the field in Melbourne...

    Lions starting XV line-up graphic for second Test

  14. Jac Morgan carrying the ball for Lions

  15. 'We know what is coming'

    Harry WilsonGetty Images

    Wilson captained the Wallabies for the first time in September 2024 and, after a delay in confirmation from head coach Joe Schmidt, took leadership of the team for the Lions series

    Australia captain Harry Wilson says his team will be better for the experience of their first Test defeat in Brisbane when they face the British and Irish Lions again in Melbourne on Saturday.

    "For a lot of us, it was our first time ever playing the British and Irish Lions and there was a lot of unknown, whereas this week we know what's coming," he said.

    The Wallabies' defeat in the series opener means they must win to keep the contest alive. However, Wilson believes that the pressure cuts both ways.

    "I'd say there's pressure on both teams," he added.

    "They want to wrap up the series and we want to keep the series alive. There's no doubting there's a lot on the line for both teams.

    "We want to impose ourselves physically. We want to back our skills and we want to go out there and start fast."

  16. What's happened on tour since the first Test?

    The British and Irish Lions have been busy since their victory over Australia in the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July...

    Owen Farrell running Getty Images

    Owen Farrell captained the Lions to a victory over First Nations and Pasifika on Tuesday

    Darcy Graham scoring a tryGetty Images

    Darcy Graham scored early on his Lions debut before an injury ended his short tour

    Lions train in MelbourneGetty Images

    The Lions arrived in Melbourne for the second Test

    Maro Itoje and Andy Farrell at news conferenceGetty Images

    Andy Farrell named his team for the second Test on Thursday

    Andy Farrell and Ellis Genge walking out at Melbourne Cricket GroundGetty Images

    On Friday, the players at arrived at Melbourne Cricket Ground to check out the venue for the second Test

    Ben Earl hits a cricket shot at Melbourne Cricket GroundGetty Images

    And it would have been rude not to have played cricket at the MCG - Ben Earl was among those to unleash their inner Ben Stokes during the Lions' visit

  17. Rob Valetini

  18. Maro Itoje looks on after Lions' first-Test win over Australia

  19. 🎧 Can Lions seal series or will Wallabies force decider?

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    A new episode of the Rugby Union Weekly podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.

    Can Australia bounce back at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground to level the Test series on Saturday? Or will the Lions clinch a second successive series down under?

    With nine Irishmen in Andy Farrell's team, BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones gets the Irish perspective on the second Test with Murray Kinsella from The 42.

    Lions assistant coach John Fogarty speaks about the significance of playing at Australia's most iconic sporting venue and what legendary Lions captain Martin Johnson said to the players when handing them with their jerseys.

    Nick Stiles, one of the winning Wallabies from the 2001 Lions series, gives his view on Australian rugby and how he would make them competitive again.

  20. Martin Johnson with the 2001 Lions

  21. 'Desperate Wallabies muscle up'

    Daily Telegraph back pageDaily Telegraph

    The Daily Telegraph in Australia focuses on the Wallabies' "big boppers" returning for the second Test against the British and Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

    Lock Will Skelton and flanker Rob Valetini are back in Joe Schmidt's starting XV after missing the first Test, bringing some much-needed power.

    Number eight Pete Samu, a 'big bopper' in his own right, has also spoken out after being prevented from appearing for the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.

    The 33-year-old, who won the Champions Cup with French club Bordeaux in May and has 33 caps for Australia, was initially named in the squad of players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage.

    However, he was removed after it was determined that he did not meet the eligibility criteria, which require players to have played for a Super Rugby Pacific team in 2025.

    "I was quite confused and just disappointed because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it was being played in my home state," Samu said.

    "Obviously, not being able to represent my Samoan side was quite sad."

    Daily Telegraph back pageDaily Telegraph

  22. John Fogarty

  23. Johnson's message to series-seeking Lions

    Chris Jones
    Rugby union Correspondent in Melbourne

    What a stage, what a game it's going to be - Fogarty

    Lions assistant coach John Fogarty was in good form earlier at the MCG as the players and management soaked up the surroundings of one of the most famous stadiums in world sport.

    "What a stage, and what a game it's going to be," Fogarty said.

    "It is so cool to be in the middle of it. There is a feel to the stadium, and an expectation. What a privilege just to be here.

    "It is a massive game for them, but a massive game for us."

    Fogarty also revealed legendary Lions captain Martin Johnson - skipper in South Africa in 1997 and Australia in 2001 - has been in to camp to speak to the squad and present jerseys.

    "He has a really nice presence to him, and he spoke about the small margins in the biggest games," Fogarty said.

    "He talked about the mentality, but for this group and for him as a player that wasn't an issue.

    "It was more about compounding errors and these are the things you need to make sure you are on top of during a match.

    "Again, what a privilege to have him come in and hand some jerseys out."

    John Fogarty speaking to reporters at the MCGBBC Sport

    John Fogarty soaks in the surroundings at the MCG

  24. Bundee Aki in action for the British and Irish Lions