It all comes to an end at the Accor Stadium in Sydney as the Wallabies and British & Irish Lions collide one final time in 2025.<\/b><\/p>\n
There has been so much noise about this potentially being the last tour to Australia, with the Lions urged to explore other touring options, but after over 90,000 fans packed into the MCG to see the Wallabies<\/a> put up a mighty fight, that has died down somewhat.<\/p>\n Still, the Lions<\/a> head into their final touring match with the chance of not only sweeping the series 3-0 but leaving Australian shores with a 100% win record Down Under.<\/p>\n That will be the motivating factor for Andy Farrell<\/a> and his charges, while Joe Schmidt<\/a> and his men will be hellbent on spoiling their party and sending off veteran half-back Nic White into retirement in style.<\/p>\n It will be no easy task for the hosts, though, as the Lions showed their resolve in Melbourne, overturning a 23-5 deficit to emerge 26-29 victors and clinch the series.<\/p>\n As with a third-fourth Rugby World Cup play-off match, all talk of a dead rubber has been discarded and perhaps rightfully so, as the Wallabies not only play for pride but with the intent to capture the attention of the Australian public.<\/p>\n For the Lions, greatness awaits as they attempt to become the first touring squad since the 1974 tour of South Africa to win a Test series 3-0.<\/p>\n Where the game will be won<\/p>\n It\u2019s become a theme of this series where the game has been won and lost on the gainline, and there is no reason why that would change for the third Test. The Lions dominated this facet of the match at Suncorp Stadium in the series opener, and Australia only found a route back into the fixture when they found some go-forward momentum from the bench.<\/p>\n Last week in Melbourne, it followed a similar storyline with Will Skelton and Rob Valetini turning that facet of the game where they were woeful to a real strength, but one that dissipated almost immediately when they were ejected from the action.<\/p>\n Honours have been largely even at lineout time, though the Lions have launched some of their best attacks from that area of the game, while the tourists haven\u2019t quite been rewarded for perceived dominance at scrum time. On the subject of the latter, Taniela Tupou could go a long way in gaining some parity in the scrums, particularly if the match officials stamp down on Andrew Porter\u2019s technique in the first half.<\/p>\n While the Lions have found a way to overcome some shortcomings in the first two Tests \u2013 the starters getting the job done in the first and the bench in the second \u2013 Schmidt and his coaching team will have identified chinks to exploit as they did last week, but can they put it together in an 80-minute performance?<\/p>\n British and Irish Lions team: Five takeaways as tourists aim to inflict \u2018pain\u2019 on \u2018porous\u2019 Wallabies<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Highlights of Test II<\/p>\n What they said<\/p>\n Wallabies coach Schmidt is looking for a positive response from his team as they strive to put last week\u2019s heartbreaking loss behind them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week\u2019s Test in Melbourne, but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe support in Brisbane and Melbourne helped to lift the squad, and I know the support this weekend in Accor Stadium, will again help to lift the players in the high-pressure moments that we know are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n Nigel Owens claims Jac Morgan clearout \u2018quite simple\u2019 for \u2018every\u2019 referee as definitive verdict given<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Farrell lauded Maro Itoje and Tadhg Furlong who are set to make their eighth and ninth straight Test start for the Lions respectively this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d he said of Furlong before praising the duo.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the quality of player they are, look at the standing that they have with any group that they represent. Those two lads epitomise what it takes to be a top-level international player.\u201d<\/p>\n Players to watch<\/p>\n All eyes will be on Taniela Tupou<\/b> as Wallabies fans hope that the powerhouse forward produces his best in his first appearance in the Gold jersey this year. At his best, there are few better tightheads in the game than the Tongan Thor, but frankly, we haven\u2019t seen that kind of form from the front-rower this season. The only exception to the rule was his game for the First Nations and Pasifika XV, where he dominated the gainline and more than held his own at scrum time. Replicating that kind of shift will be crucial if the Wallabies are to be successful.<\/p>\n The other change to the Wallabies\u2019 starting pack sees Tom Hooper<\/b> come in for Valetini, who put in a starring 40-minute shift against the Lions last week. Hooper has been a standout for the Brumbies this season and was solid off the bench in the first Test match before dropping out the team entirely a week later. As mentioned above, the gainline will be pivotal, and that is a strength of Exeter-bound forward.<\/p>\n Joseph Suaalii<\/b> hasn\u2019t quite had the desired impact in the series as of yet, outside of flashes of brilliance. However, he could really come to the fore for the final game of the series, particularly with tricky conditions predicted. He is simply outrageously brilliant under the high ball, and with Nic White slotting into the run-on team, the Wallabies can only profit from leaning into his fantastic skillset.<\/p>\n British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan<\/b> hasn\u2019t quite got the plaudits that his performances have warranted in the two Tests, but perhaps that is due to the insanely high standards he has set when donning the Blue of Leinster and Green of Ireland. It\u2019s been business as usual for the brilliant front-row, but that shouldn\u2019t understate his influence and excellence throughout the series.<\/p>\n Tadhg Beirne<\/b> and Tom Curry<\/b> earned far more praise for their performances and rightly so, considering their underwhelming form before the Tests. However, they vindicated Farrell\u2019s decision to hand them starting roles in both Tests, and the head coach has rewarded their Test form with three successive starts. The duo have led the gainline dominance. If they are to sweep the series, the pair will undoubtedly put in standout performances again.<\/p>\n Eddie Jones hails \u2018best in the world\u2019 Lion and \u2018enormous\u2019 Owen Farrell impact against Wallabies<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Main head-to-head<\/p>\n While the forwards can dictate proceedings in the series finale, the scrum-halves will play a crucial role in the final outcome with Jamison Gibson-Park<\/b> and Nic White<\/b> squaring off in the number nine jerseys.<\/p>\n Poor conditions are predicted for Saturday, and as mentioned above, the Wallabies could really utilise Suaalii\u2019s aerial strength if it is paired well with White\u2019s tactical kicking prowess. The chirpy half-back bows out of the international game this weekend, but he still possesses the ability to turn a match on its head, as he did against Fiji off the bench. Sure, the Lions are a vastly different challenge to the Fijians, but the Wallabies will lean on his acumen and experience to guide them.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Gibson-Park has been the heartbeat of the Lions\u2019 attack, with their best moments in the second Test coming through the world-class number nine. The half-back can really do it all and has come up in the clutch for the tourists time and time again.<\/p>\n