Australia v British & Irish Lions - Teams and Prediction

THIRD TEST PREVIEW: British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has warned that there will be no let-up against the Wallabies in the third Test, with a rare series whitewash a big incentive to finish the job.

The tourists sealed the series last weekend in Melbourne with a stunning comeback, overturning an 18-point deficit to claw home 29-26, courtesy of a controversial last-gasp Hugo Keenan try.

They clinched the first Test in Brisbane 27-19 and have won all eight games on tour so far.

But Farrell resisted resting any of his big guns for the showdown on Saturday in Sydney, making just two changes, with Ireland’s James Ryan in at lock and Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn on the left wing.

“We came here and wanted to win a series, we’ve achieved that, but we’ve a massive responsibility to make sure that we finish this off with something that we promised ourselves,” said Farrell, referring to going unbeaten in Australia.

“It’s a big ask, but it’s something that we’re determined to do.”

England’s Maro Itoje again leads the side and is partnered in the second row this time by Ryan, with Ollie Chessum dropping to the bench.

“James thoroughly deserves his start. I think he’s grown throughout this tour,” Farrell said.

“His physicality when he’s come off the bench and certainly when he’s put the jersey on over the last three or four weeks, has been there for all to see.

“So, we think he’s the right person to start this Test.”

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Blair Kinghorn replaces Ireland’s James Lowe, with England’s Tommy Freeman on the right wing and Ireland’s second Test hero Keenan at fullback.

“Blair is obviously a great athlete, but the unpredictability of his game as well makes him very dangerous,” said Farrell of Kinghorn, who came off the bench in Melbourne.

“The [wet] conditions that we’re expecting, as far as the aerial game, he will be at its premium, we would have thought.”

Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt has rejected the notion he is handing out ceremonial Test caps after recalling retiring scrumhalf Nic White for the Wallabies’ series finale.

Two hours after White announced he was hanging up the boots at the end of 2025, White was named to start in Saturday’s third Test in Sydney.

The 35-year-old has leapfrogged one-time captaincy candidate and Sydney fan favourite Jake Gordon and replacement Tate McDermott in the pecking order as the Wallabies try to avoid becoming the first team in more than a century to suffer a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of the Lions in Australia.

Coach Schmidt admits he hatched “a plan” with White as early as last Wednesday after the pair agreed it was time for the 72-Test veteran to retire from international rugby at season’s end.

Schmidt, though, insists White thoroughly deserves his elevation.

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“He’s got such massive respect inside the squad that it seemed a fitting way for him to finish – and I’m not a sentimentalist,” Schmidt said on Thursday.

“It’s a Test match and you pick people who are capable of playing that Test match and we believe that Nick is.”

Crediting White for turning the game Australia’s way after replacing McDermott in a 21-18 comeback win over Fiji three weeks ago, Schmidt says he consulted Gordon and McDermott about the shock decision.

“Those players are really tight amongst themselves. Jake knows Nic well,” Schmidt said.

“[With] Tate, they’re a fine group of nines but a fine group of men, and they had their own discussions and it was a decision we made believing Nic can do the job.”

Asked if he felt the halves needed a shake-up, why wasn’t McDermott given a start, Schmidt said: “Well, Tate’s not retiring.”

A father of three young boys, White conceded he was surprised to get the call-up, saying he was happy enough to run water in Sydney.

“Jake and Tate did an unbelievable job in the first two games,” White said.

“I didn’t see it coming, but I really appreciate it and, yeah, I won’t let the boys down.”

*A late injury has also left the Wallabies in disarray.

From outside the squad, Brandon Paenga-Amosa has answered an SOS call from Schmidt to jump onto the bench for Australia’s third and final Test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney on Saturday.

Billy Pollard has been promoted to the starting side after first-choice hooker David Porecki was ruled out on Friday with a leg injury, with Paenga-Amosa rushing in to camp to join the squad.

Players to watch:

For Australia: Joe Schmidt sprung a surprise when he included Nic White in his starting line-up shortly after the scrumhalf announced his retirement. He is one of two changes among the backs with Dylan Pietsch in for left wing Harry Potter, who pulled a hamstring in their epic 29-26 second Test defeat in Melbourne last weekend. Tom Hooper comes in for the injured Rob Valetini, linking up with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the back row, while Taniela Tupou replaces Allan Alaalatoa to pack down with fellow prop James Slipper and hooker David Porecki.

For British and Irish Lions: Scotland star Blair Kinghorn gets a starting role in place of James Lowe. He is excellent under the high ball, and his vision on attack will be a massive asset for the Lions. The other change to the starting line-up sees James Ryan in the second row this week, with Ollie Chessum dropping to the bench. Flyhalf Finn Russell gets the No.10 jersey again and his partnership with Jamison Gibson-Park is a dangerous one if they get the time and space.

Prediction

@rugby365com: British and Irish Lions by eight points.

Teams:

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Andrew Kellaway.

British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 James Ryan, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Jac Morgan, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Owen Farrell.

Date: Saturday, August 2
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.00 (11.00 UK & Ireland time; 10.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Showers are expected, along with windy conditions.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

AFP, AAP & @rugby365com