
Tupou and White return as Wallabies aim to avoid a British and Irish Lions' series sweep
Australia coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday unveiled three injury-enforced and one tactical change to his starting lineup and another two on the bench after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend.
Tupou replaces the injured Allan Ala'alatoa and will combine with hooker David Porecki and 146-test veteran James Slipper in the front row.
Tom Hooper moved into the starting lineup on the side of the scrum to replace Rob Valetini and join a backrow containing No. 8 and captain Harry Wilson and openside flanker Fraser McReight.
White missed selection in the first two tests agains the Lions but has won a starting spot over Jake Gordon at No. 9 and will form another new partnership with flyhalf Tom Lynagh in one of two changes to the backline. It will be the 72-test veteran's last test before retirement. Dylan Pietsch replaced Harry Potter on the left wing.
'The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's test in Melbourne,' Schmidt said, 'but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.'
Lions coach Andy Farrell was due to announce his squad later Thursday.
The Lions are now 8-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test in Brisbane, the second test in Melbourne, wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams.
Hugo Keenan's last-gasp try in Melbourne capped an extraordinary comeback win for the British and Irish Lions in the second test last, played in front of 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Lions rallied from 23-5 down in the first half to win the match and seal an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Wallabies captain Wilson remonstrated with the match officials, asserting that replacement flanker Carlo Tizzano had illegally been taken out of play as he stood over the ball. But Keenan's try stood.
In 2001 and 2013 the Lions lost in Melbourne after winning the first match of a three-test series against the Wallabies and those series went to a decider in Sydney.
Squads:
___

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox Sports
29 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Trey Lance tosses 2 touchdown passes, leading the Chargers over the Lions 34-7 in Hall of Fame game
Associated Press CANTON, Ohio (AP) — On his third team in his fifth season, Trey Lance played like a No. 3 overall pick. Lance threw for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL's preseason Thursday night. The game opened with a moment of silence for the four people killed earlier this week by a shooter who was targeting league headquarters in New York. The gunman also wounded a league employee in the shooting Monday night. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC he visited the employee for an hour on Wednesday and said the man was improving. There was increased security around Tom Benson Stadium and the Pro Football Hall of Fame village. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Penei Sewell and the rest of Detroit's star-studded offense didn't see any action against Los Angeles. Coach Dan Campbell's Lions, who went one-and-done in the playoffs last season after winning a franchise-record 15 games, also sat their top two draft picks. Justin Herbert was among many of the Chargers starters rested by coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the team to a six-win turnaround and a playoff berth in his first season. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton, a first-round pick, carried twice for 9 yards. The Chargers recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff at the Lions 28 and converted the short field into a 7-0 lead. Lance made a perfect touch pass on fourth-and-2 to Will Dissly, who caught a 5-yard touchdown over a defender's outstretched hand. After undrafted rookie cornerback Nikko Reed stepped in front of Kyle Allen's sideline pass and returned it 60 yards to the Lions 6, Kimani Vidal ran in from the 2 to make it 14-0. Allen threw another pick on the next possession to Tony Jefferson after driving the Lions to the Chargers 23. Craig Reynolds' 3-yard TD run cut Detroit's deficit in half. But Lance fired a 19-yard pass to Tucker Fisk to the Lions 19 and connected with KeAndre Lambert-Smith on a 15-yard TD pass for a 21-7 halftime lead. Lance has started just five games in four NFL seasons after playing in only 19 games at North Dakota State. He spent just two seasons with the 49ers, who selected Brock Purdy with the last pick the same year they traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to move up to get Lance. After two years with Dallas, Lance joined the Chargers to compete with veteran Taylor Heinicke for the backup job. He completed 13 of 20 passes before giving way to rookie DJ Uiagalelei. Allen and Hendon Hooker are battling for the Lions' backup job behind Goff. Allen was 9 of 14 with two picks. Hooker, a third-round pick in 2023, has thrown nine passes in his first two seasons. Detroit's sloppy special teams turned it over again in the third quarter. Jakobie Keeney-James dropped a punt inside the 10 and the Chargers recovered at the 5. But Los Angeles had to settle for Cameron Dicker's 23-yard field goal. The Chargers capped the scoring on Vidal's 2-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter. Hutchinson's return Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson told NBC in the second half he can't wait for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Hutchinson had 7 1/2 sacks in five games last season before he went down with a leg injury. Before the game, Hutchinson spent time signing autographs for Lions fans who made the trip. Preseason rust Dicker, who was 39 of 42 on field goals last year and 9 of 11 from 50 yards or beyond, hit the left upright on a 50-yard try. He made his next two field goals. Gold jackets Cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Up next Chargers: Host the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 10. Lions: Visit the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 8. ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3


USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
NFL 2025 has arived! Kicking off with best of Hall of Fame Game in images
The NFL is back for the 2025 rush, kicking off in inaugural preseason fashion under the lights of the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. It was the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions—Harbaugh vs. Campbell—headlining this year's game, a matchup of two teams that have plenty of lofty expectations in 2025. Overall, the matchup didn't exactly provide must-see TV, though bad football after a lull of no football good football. Here's the best images from the game... Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos Chargers vs. Lions: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game photos


Hamilton Spectator
29 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Trey Lance tosses 2 touchdown passes, leading the Chargers over the Lions 34-7 in Hall of Fame game
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — On his third team in his fifth season, Trey Lance played like a No. 3 overall pick. Lance threw for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL's preseason Thursday night. The game opened with a moment of silence for the four people killed earlier this week by a shooter who was targeting league headquarters in New York. The gunman also wounded a league employee in the shooting Monday night. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC he visited the employee for an hour on Wednesday and said the man was improving. There was increased security around Tom Benson Stadium and the Pro Football Hall of Fame village. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Penei Sewell and the rest of Detroit's star-studded offense didn't see any action against Los Angeles. Coach Dan Campbell's Lions, who went one-and-done in the playoffs last season after winning a franchise-record 15 games, also sat their top two draft picks. Justin Herbert was among many of the Chargers starters rested by coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the team to a six-win turnaround and a playoff berth in his first season. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton, a first-round pick, carried twice for 9 yards. The Chargers recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff at the Lions 28 and converted the short field into a 7-0 lead. Lance made a perfect touch pass on fourth-and-2 to Will Dissly, who caught a 5-yard touchdown over a defender's outstretched hand. After undrafted rookie cornerback Nikko Reed stepped in front of Kyle Allen's sideline pass and returned it 60 yards to the Lions 6, Kimani Vidal ran in from the 2 to make it 14-0. Allen threw another pick on the next possession to Tony Jefferson after driving the Lions to the Chargers 23. Craig Reynolds' 3-yard TD run cut Detroit's deficit in half. But Lance fired a 19-yard pass to Tucker Fisk to the Lions 19 and connected with KeAndre Lambert-Smith on a 15-yard TD pass for a 21-7 halftime lead. Lance has started just five games in four NFL seasons after playing in only 19 games at North Dakota State. He spent just two seasons with the 49ers, who selected Brock Purdy with the last pick the same year they traded three first-round picks and a third-rounder to move up to get Lance. After two years with Dallas, Lance joined the Chargers to compete with veteran Taylor Heinicke for the backup job. He completed 13 of 20 passes before giving way to rookie DJ Uiagalelei. Allen and Hendon Hooker are battling for the Lions' backup job behind Goff. Allen was 9 of 14 with two picks. Hooker, a third-round pick in 2023, has thrown nine passes in his first two seasons. Detroit's sloppy special teams turned it over again in the third quarter. Jakobie Keeney-James dropped a punt inside the 10 and the Chargers recovered at the 5. But Los Angeles had to settle for Cameron Dicker's 23-yard field goal. The Chargers capped the scoring on Vidal's 2-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter. Hutchinson's return Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson told NBC in the second half he can't wait for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Hutchinson had 7 1/2 sacks in five games last season before he went down with a leg injury. Before the game, Hutchinson spent time signing autographs for Lions fans who made the trip. Preseason rust Dicker, who was 39 of 42 on field goals last year and 9 of 11 from 50 yards or beyond, hit the left upright on a 50-yard try. He made his next two field goals. Gold jackets Cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Up next Chargers: Host the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 10. Lions: Visit the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 8. ___ AP NFL: