Wallabies vs Lions LIVE: Australia in must-win Test to keep series alive at a packed MCG
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6.58pm
A roar across Melbourne
By Tom Decent
I can officially report Melbourne has Lions fever.
I have been at a watering hole around the corner from the MCG and the atmosphere is unbelievable.
I have covered rugby in about 10 countries and am struggling to recall such a great vibe before a Test.
The walk to the ground is a sea of red with a bit of gold.
No rain at the moment, which was contrary to the forecast.
'Lions, Lions, Lions' chants popping off everywhere. 90,000 plus at the MCG expected.
Imagine a Wallabies win. It would be massive.
6.57pm
How the Lions are lining up
This Lions team has got a major Irish feel to it with nine Irish players in the starting lineup, which would have been ten if centre Garry Ringrose hadn't selflessly reported concussion symptoms.
Another Irishman misses out, with second-rower Joe McCarthy injured, with Ollie Chessum coming in to partner captain Maro Itoje.
Like Schmidt, coach Andy Farrell has gone for a 6/2 split, trusting his son Owen to provide cover at 10 and 12, with Scotland's Blair Kinghorn able to play at fullback and wing with ease.
In the first Test, the halves Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park dictated the game with ease. Let's see if they can replicate it at the MCG.
6.49pm
Who have you got tonight?
6.49pm
How the Wallabies are lining up
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has resisted the urge to tinker with his backline which remains unchanged from the first Test in Brisbane.
The pack is a different story. David Porecki comes in at hooker and Billy Pollard stays on the bench, with the Reds' Matt Faessler out of the squad.
The Wallabies faithful will be delighted to see the combined muscle of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton to help them break the Lions' stubborn and organised defence.
The Wallabies have gone for a 6/2 bench, to prepare for the wetter conditions in Melbourne, with Langi Gleeson and Angus Bell both providing ball carrying strength off the bench.
6.48pm
Good evening rugby fans
Good evening everyone to the second Test and quite possibly the biggest game of rugby the Wallabies have played in a decade.
It's Jonathan Drennan taking you through tonight's action, helped by a talented backline outside me ready to fire.
We have Roy Ward, who did an excellent piece on the state of rugby union in Victoria this week, alongside Tom 'diamonds' Decent and Iain 'the North Shore express' Payten. All three gents are in the MCG with the 90,000 fans expected in the iconic venue.
Last week, the Wallabies were brutally outmuscled by the Lions, but staggered back into the game late, before losing by eight points.
Many of the overseas press was deeply impressed with Australia and as ever, the Wallabies need to find a big performance to silence the detractors.
It's a huge ask to level the series, but not impossible it happened right here in Melbourne for the Wallabies in 2001 and 2013.
Kickoff is set for 8pm AEST and you can watch all the action on Nine and Stan Sport who also own this masthead.
But please also follow along as we bring you the main moments and reactions pre and post game.
We're in the hometown of Pete Samu and Rob Valetini, the stage is perfectly set, let's get into this.
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
More to Lions loss than referee call, say Wallabies
Wallabies lock Nick Frost won't waste time pondering countless "what if?" scenarios, saying the last-gasp loss to the British and Irish Lions shouldn't have come down to a controversial refereeing decision. The Wallabies were in a position to level the series after taking an 18-point lead in the second Test at the MCG on Saturday. But the home side were unable to seal the deal, allowing the Lions back into the game before fullback Hugo Keenan scored the match-winning try with 45 seconds left on the clock. Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano appeared to have been cleaned out illegally with a shoulder to the neck in the build-up, but Keenan's try stood after a review. It meant Australia suffered a 29-26 loss, with the Lions taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the final Test in Sydney on Saturday night. Whether the last-minute try should or should not have been awarded, Frost said there was a bigger picture surrounding their defeat. "There were so many moments up until that where we could have capitalised," Frost said on Monday. "We had a pretty decent lead in that first half, and we gave away a few tries. "It doesn't always come down to the refs ... At the end of the day, you can't really rely right at the end for a decision there. "If you're relying on that, you probably haven't done enough work throughout the game." Tizzano has been accused by UK media and ex-players of staging, to try to win the penalty, but Frost defended his tough teammate and said the Wallabies didn't listen to the "outside noise". The Wallabies will have pride, and unwanted history, to play for at Accor Stadium. If they lose on Saturday, the tourists will have claimed their first three-Test series whitewash on Australian soil since 1904. While starting prop James Slipper has become just the second Wallabies player to appear in two Lions series, Frost said the third Test presented another rare opportunity for all, with the tours held only every 12 years. "There is something to lose. It's a Test match," Frost said. "There's a bit of fire in the belly from the last couple of games ... And again, like it's a Lions series, it's our last time - unless you're James Slipper - to play against them." Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be forced into changes after Harry Potter suffered a hamstring injury in front of his home crowd at the MCG. Dylan Pietsch or Andrew Kellaway loom as options to fill that spot, joining Max Jorgensen in the starting wing positions. "I've been there before and really feel for him," Jorgensen said of Potter. "It's really tough to see him head out of camp and stay down in Melbourne. Jorgensen agreed there was plenty of motivation for the Wallabies to fire up for the third Test. "All the boys are pretty gutted after that result. We put in such a big effort - we were leading for 79 minutes of the game," the 20-year-old said. "It's a tough pill to swallow. Everyone knows that, but obviously there's a big focus on this weekend now and winning this game this Saturday."
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has backed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt over his post-match spray about the controversial decision to not penalise the Lions for foul play before their match-winning try at the MCG, and said RA would be seeking 'a high level of accountability' from World Rugby about the referee's calls this week. Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne. Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck. The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium. Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder. Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about. 'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact, it was a tough one to take.' World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.
The Age
20 hours ago
- The Age
Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has backed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt over his post-match spray about the controversial decision to not penalise the Lions for foul play before their match-winning try at the MCG, and said RA would be seeking 'a high level of accountability' from World Rugby about the referee's calls this week. Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne. Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck. The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium. Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder. Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about. 'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact, it was a tough one to take.' World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.
