Lions v Australia, third Test: When is it, where to watch on TV and latest odds

Telegraph

6 days ago

The British and Irish Lions have been recreating a challenge from the South Korean dystopian survival thriller 'Squid Game' to freshen up training ahead of Saturday's final Test against Australia.
Andy Farrell's squad played their own version of 'Red Light, Green Light', a game from the hit TV series whereby competitors are shot by snipers if they fail to stop moving when the lights on a giant doll change colour.
'The whole field was covered in equipment they could hide behind,' said attack coach Andrew Goodman, who revealed that prop Tom Clarkson was the first contestant to be 'killed'.
'The staff were dressed up in all that kit, the speakers were all set up, it was a bit of fun. There were people in the top tier keeping an eye on everyone. It was a good crack.
'Every week we've done things like that. It keeps the boys engaged and fresh and it's not just going into a meeting where it's rugby all the time. There are little bits like that that make it enjoyable as well.'
The Lions took an unassailable 2-0 lead against Australia after winning the second Test 29-26 in Melbourne last weekend. The climax to the series takes place at Sydney's Accor Stadium.
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How do I watch the 2025 Lions tour?
Sky Sports have exclusive rights to show all Lions matches this summer. All games are shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
Radio coverage of all matches is on Talksport. Telegraph Sport will live blog every game too.
What time does it start?
The third Test kicks off at 11am BST.
Fixtures: Full schedule and TV guide
Times shown below are UK (BST)
Friday, June 20
Lions 24 Argentina 28 (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Saturday, June 28
Western Force 7 Lions 54 (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Wednesday, July 2
Queensland Reds 12 Lions 52 (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, July 5
NSW Waratahs 10 Lions 21 (Allianz Stadium, Sydney)
Wednesday, July 9
ACT Brumbies 24 Lions 36 (Gio Stadium, Canberra)
Saturday, July 12
Australia & New Zealand Invitational 0 Lions 48 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Saturday, July 19
Australia 19 Lions 27 – First Test (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Tuesday, July 22
First Nations and Pasifika XV 19 Lions 24 (Marvel Stadium, Melbourne)
Saturday, July 26
Australia 26 Lions 29 (MCG, Melbourne)
Saturday, August 2 – 11am BST
vs Australia – Third Test (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
What is the latest team news?
Lions
The British and Irish Lions' quest to whitewash Australia has been reinforced by the return from injury of Joe McCarthy, Sione Tuipulotu and Mack Hansen, but Garry Ringrose will play no part in Saturday's final Test.
McCarthy, Tuipulotu and Hansen are in contention for the Sydney showdown after missing Saturday's 29-26 victory over the Wallabies that clinched the series with a game to spare.
All three have completed their rehab for their respective foot, hamstring and foot injuries and took part in Tuesday's low-key training session.
However, Ringrose has been left 'devastated' as the 12-day minimum return-to-play protocol for concussion means he will miss the entirety of a series which he entered as first choice outside centre.
The Ireland star self-reported his concussion symptoms shortly before the team for the second Test was named last Thursday, resulting in his withdrawal from the starting XV.
Andy Farrell announces his team for the third Test on Thursday and must decide to what extent he should freshen up his matchday 23 given they went toe to toe with the Wallabies for 80 gripping minutes at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
There is also the question of whether to rotate in players as reward for those who have missed out so far in the series.
The Lions celebrated their success with friends and family for two days but have now hardened their resolve to become the first side to record a whitewash since the 1927 visit to Argentina and first side to go unbeaten in the Tests since the 1974 expedition to South Africa.
What are the best odds?
Lions to win third Test 4/11
Draw 33/1
Australia to win third Test 14/5
Who is in the Lions coaching team?
England No 2 Richard Wigglesworth and Ireland's recent interim boss Simon Easterby are Farrell's assistant coaches. Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel was recruited to Farrell's management team and he is joined by Ireland's John Fogarty, Andrew Goodman and Johnny Sexton. Farrell is the only member of the staff with previous Lions coaching experience.
Simon Easterby
Age: 49
Current job: Ireland interim head coach (normally in charge of defence)
Lions experience: Zero tours as coach; one as a player
Coaching credentials: A tourist as a rounded flanker on the ill-fated 2005 tour, Easterby won 65 caps for Ireland and another two for the Lions before taking the leap to coaching.
Easterby spent two years as the Scarlets defence coach before moving into the head coach role. In 2014, he then joined Joe Schmidt's Ireland coaching team as forwards coach. He switched to defence in 2021 under Andy Farrell and took interim charge of Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations in Farrell's absence. With Easterby as assistant, Ireland won two Six Nations titles (in 2023 and 2024) with one Grand Slam (in 2023).
Richard Wigglesworth
Age: 41
Current job: England senior assistant coach (in charge of attack)
Lions experience: Zero tours
Coaching credentials: The youngest of Farrell's assistants, the former England scrum-half transitioned into coaching while a player-coach at Leicester, leading a Premiership title victory with the Tigers. He then took the reins fully on a temporary basis upon Steve Borthwick's departure to England in 2022.
Wigglesworth joined Borthwick before the 2023 World Cup and has been leading England's attack since. Last year, he was promoted to senior assistant coach in Borthwick's set-up and his inclusion is reward for England's second-place Six Nations finish.
Andrew Goodman
Age: 42
Current job: Ireland backs coach
Lions experience: Zero tours
Coaching credentials: The New Zealand-born Goodman is the sole 'foreign' coach in Farrell's cabal and has been running the Irish attack alongside the head coach since the 2024 Six Nations, when he replaced England World Cup winner Mike Catt.
Goodman was poached from Leinster, where he was the brains behind the province's attack from the start of the 2022-23 season, having helped the Crusaders to the Super Rugby title a few months earlier. The former fly-half and centre – who played for Leinster between two stints in Japan – was also a part of Samoa's coaching team at the 2023 World Cup. Ireland won the 2024 Six Nations with Goodman as an assistant.
John Dalziel
Age: 48
Current job: Scotland forwards coach
Lions experience: Zero tours
Coaching credentials: A former flanker with Gala, Melrose, London Scottish and then the professional (now defunct) Border Reivers outfit, Dalziel joined the senior Scotland set-up as forwards coach ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Between his playing retirement and role alongside Gregor Townsend, he was the forwards and head coach at Melrose, the head coach of Scotland under-20s and sevens, and the forwards coach of London Scottish and then Glasgow. It was from the Warriors where he was poached by Townsend in 2020. Scotland won the most line-outs of any nation in the 2025 Six Nations under Dalziel's tutelage.
John Fogarty
Age: 47
Current job: Ireland scrum coach
Lions experience: Zero tours
Coaching credentials: Having began his playing career in 2000 for Munster, it took Fogarty another 10 years to win his first and only cap for Ireland, as a replacement in the loss to New Zealand. Fogarty, whose playing career was more well known for stints at hooker with Connacht and Leinster, did however make numerous appearances for Ireland A before his retirement because of concussion in 2010.
Upon retirement, Fogarty became an elite player development officer with Leinster, while also fulfilling the role of scrum coach with Ireland Under-20s. In June 2015 he became the senior scrum coach at Leinster before moving up to the international arena in 2020. As with Easterby, Ireland have won two Six Nations titles with one Grand Slam since Fogarty's arrival.
Johnny Sexton
Age: 49
Current job: Ireland (consultant)
Lions experience: Two tours
Coaching credentials: The legendary Ireland fly-half began work with national set-up on a consultancy basis for the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. He returned in time for the 2025 Six Nations campaign.
Sexton has held clear-the-air talks with Scotland fly-half Finn Russell who he had previously described as 'flashy'. 'It's probably been blown out of proportion,' said Sexton. 'We had a handshake and a brief chat. I'm here to help him now. I'm here to give him experiences and answer questions. I'm not here to force myself on him or tell him what to do.'
What happened on the 2021 tour?
The Lions last toured in 2021, when they were beaten 2-1 by South Africa in a tour that was played behind closed doors due to the Covid pandemic.
2021 – South Africa
Lost 2-1
2017 – New Zealand
Drew 1-1
2013 – Australia
Won 2-1
2009 – South Africa
Lost 2-1
2005 – New Zealand
Lost 3-0
2001 – Australia
Lost 2-1
1997 – South Africa
Won 2-1
1993 – New Zealand
Lost 2-1
1989 – Australia
Won 2-1
1983 – South Africa
Lost 3-0
1983 – New Zealand
Lost 4-0
1980 – South Africa
Lost 3-1
1977 – New Zealand
Lost 3-1
1974 – South Africa
Won 3-0
1971 – New Zealand
Won 2-1
1968 – South Africa
Lost 3-0
1966 – New Zealand
Lost 3-0
1962 – South Africa
Won 2-1
1959 – New Zealand
Won 2-1
1955 – South Africa
Lost 2-1
1950 – New Zealand
Lost 4-0
1936 – South Africa
Lost 2-0
1930 – New Zealand
Lost 3-1
1924 – South Africa
Won 2-1
1914 – New Zealand
Lost 3-1
1910 – South Africa
Lost 2-0
1908 – New Zealand and Australia
New Zealand: Lost 3-1 (4-match series)
Australia: Won 2-0 (2-match series)
1904 – South Africa
Lost 2-1 (3-match series)
1888 – New Zealand and Australia
New Zealand: Lost 1-0
Australia: Won 1-0