Australia v British and Irish Lions second Test: All you need to know

RTÉ News​

3 days ago

Australia host the Lions in the second Test on Saturday with the series on the line.
It's simply win or bust for the Wallabies after last weekend's underwhelming 27-19 defeat in Brisbane.
The famed MCG is the scene and a crowd of around 90,000 is expected.
A win for Andy Farrell's men will clinch a first Lions series win since 2013.
Find out all you need to know here.
ONLINE
There will be a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, as well as match report, reaction and player ratings.
TV
Australia v British and Irish Lions will be shown on Sky Sports with kick-off at 11am Irish time.
WEATHER
There was a severe weather warning for Melbourne on Friday afternoon to evening, and rain is predicted for Saturday 8pm (local) kick-off. Temperature around 11C.
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While last weekend's scoreline looked close on paper, the Lions held the Wallabies at arm's length throughout the game, and it was only when the contest was over that the Aussies did some damage.
Neither side will read too much into that but Andy Farrell will demand an 80-minute performance this time around.
There's more heft in the Aussie pack with the addition of Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and David Porecki and the hope for Joe Schmidt is that they provide more front-foot ball for the backs to work off.
They were distinctly second-best last week across all areas, on and off the ball, and achieving something like parity up front will be crucial to their cause.
It's set for a wet evening in Melbourne so expect a lot of kicking and aerial battles.
The Lions have made three changes to the team with Bundee Aki coming in for Sione Tuipulotu, Andrew Porter replacing Ellis Genge and Ollie Chessum in for the injured Joe McCarthy.
Garry Ringrose was originally selected but withdrew after self-reporting concussion symptoms.
Still, there are a record nine Ireland internationals in the starting team, with Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Hugo Keenan all retaining their places.
Maro Itoje captains from the second row and Finn Russell will run the operation from out-half.
Rónan Kelleher and James Ryan are on the bench, alongside Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn who didn't make the squad last weekend.
For the home side, in come forwards Valetini, Skelton and Porecki with Schmidt also making three changes.
This is the 25th meeting of the teams, with the Lions winning 18 and losing six.
The tourists, ten-point favourites for this game, have won seven series and lost two.
British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn.
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso 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.
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson.
OFFICIALS
Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
Assistant Referee 2: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
WHAT THEY SAID
Joe Schmidt (Australia head coach): "We don't have the intention this week of being submissive. It'd be special for this group [to win]. I think it would accelerate a little bit of their growth as well, because in terms of gaining confidence, it's hard to top competing with the best."
Andy Farrell (Lions head coach): "We certainly feel we left a few things out there [last weekend], most aspects of our game will need to better but it is proving to ourselves it can be better as well. Doing things properly, that is what we have talked about all week."