Category: Rugby

An inconsistent British and Irish Lions have survived a ferocious battle to stretch their unbeaten streak to seven with a nervy 24-19 takedown of an aggressive First Nations and Pasifika XV.

Wallabies centre Len Ikitau says it’s up to him to provide the platform for prized recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to terrorise the British and Irish Lions at the MCG on Saturday night.

It may open the Lions to accusations of parochialism, but there is a compelling case for staying in Europe

It may be too early to start asking existential questions about the British & Irish Lions but, sitting in Melbourne’s Southbank, slap bang in the middle of Aussie rules territory, where union makes barely a ripple, you begin to wonder. The sea of red will roll in at the weekend but, for now, Melbourne is pretty much oblivious. “Some kind of carnival on I think,” was one taxi driver’s assessment.

None of this is to criticise Australia. It is a wonderful country, sports mad and as the loosehead prop James Slipper says of the locals: “They’re still Australian, so they’ll be there. I know they’ll be there. It’s one thing about this country, regardless of the sport, they’ll get behind the national colours.”

Australian veteran James Slipper has hit back at suggestions the Wallabies had a “losing mentality” during last week’s British & Irish Lions series opener loss in Brisbane.

• Veteran calls for history to repeat after being part of fightback in 2013

• Australia boosted by return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton from injury

Steely Wallabies veteran James Slipper is urging his battered troops to block out the “noise” as they look to stop the Lions juggernaut in their do-or-die second Test in Melbourne.

The series is on the line at the MCG on Saturday night with Slipper offering a unique perspective in the current Australian line-up as the only player to have taken part in two series.

The British media has ripped into the “toothless” and “un-Australian” Wallabies following Saturday’s loss to the Lions in the series opener in Brisbane.

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said he was proud of the fight his side showed against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, but called on them to improve for the second Test next week.

A relentless British and Irish Lions were ferocious in attack and solid in defence to edge a dogged Australia and win a bruising first Test 27-19 in Brisbane on Saturday, with skipper Maro Itoje “delighted”.

Joe McCarthy was a revelation alongside Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry for the Lions, while Tom Lynagh had a brave debut for the Wallabies

Tom Wright Kicked well from hand and covered the myriad Lions attacks as best he could. Not at fault in any way for the scores conceded. 6

Andy Farrell’s Lions eased to victory in the first Test, leading 24-5 before Australia rallied to make the score respectable

The crowd count us down and Finn Russell boots the test series under way.

Officials for this match:

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) & Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Television Match Official (TMO): Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

• Australia’s No 8 says team will try to ‘win every moment’ on Saturday

• Nick Champion de Crespigny and Tom Lynagh come into injury-depleted squad

Australia captain Harry Wilson said the Wallabies were confident of beating the British & Irish Lions in the first Test at Lang Park on Saturday despite being heavy underdogs after losing several key players to injury.

The Wallabies have won only four of their last 11 Tests and on Saturday will be without regular fly-half Noah Lolesio and their best Test player of the last two years, loose forward Rob Valetini.