Andy Farrell has named the team that will take on the Wallabies in the Second Test of the Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Series at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday night.
Tour captain Maro Itoje of Saracens and England’s is partnered at lock by his fellow countryman and Leicester Tigers forward Ollie Chessum.
In the front row its the Leinster Rugby and Ireland trio of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.
The backrow sees Leinster and Ireland’s Jack Conan at No.8, Munster and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne at blindside and Sale Sharks and England’s Tom Curry at openside. Leinster and Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Bath Rugby and Scotland’s Finn Russell are named as the half-back pairing again.
Connacht Rugby and Ireland’s Bundee Aki is partnered with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland's Huw Jones in midfield.
The backfield combination of Leinster and Ireland duo Hugo Keenan and James Lowe and Northampton Saints and England’s Tommy Freeman is unchanged from the First Test.
Lions Head Coach Andy Farrell, said: “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 stadiums, is what makes Lions Tours unique and special. “And we know our Lions supporters will get behind the team on Saturday and create a fantastic atmosphere.”
The game kicks off at 11.00am BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland as well as talkSPORT.
The British & Irish Lions v Wallabies MCG, Melbourne, Saturday 26th July, 2025, KO: 11:00 BST
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #881
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England) #858
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) #878
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland) #837
11. James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #870
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland) #835
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #879
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #876
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #873
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #818
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (C) #825
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England) #875
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland) #838
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England) #853
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #839
Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #864 17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England) #859 18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England) #877 19. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland) #880 20. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) #861 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England) #860 22. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England) #780 23. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland) #882
