Roar the Lions to victory in the second Test
Remember to watch out for the PPA Flag in Melbourne
The Weston-super-Mare RFC Clubhouse will be open from 10.15 am
The British & Irish Lions will face Australia in the Second Test on Saturday, kick-0ff 11 am, UK time at the 100,000-capacity historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, head coach Andy Farrell hopes his side will wrap up the Tour with a second win.
After the Lions claimed a 29-17 victory in the first Test in Brisbane last weekend, Farrell’s opposite number, Joe Schmidt, will be hoping his Wallabies will upset the party with a win that will bring it down to the final Test to decide who claims the Tour.
Tour captain Maro Itoje of Saracens and England’s is partnered at lock by his fellow countryman and Leicester Tigers forward Ollie Chessum. In the front row its the Leinster Rugby and Ireland trio of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.
The backrow sees Leinster and Ireland’s Jack Conan at No.8, Munster and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne at blindside and Sale Sharks and England’s Tom Curry at openside. Leinster and Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park and Bath Rugby and Scotland’s Finn Russell are named as the half-back pairing again.
Connacht Rugby and Ireland’s Bundee Aki is partnered with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland's Huw Jones in midfield. The backfield combination of Leinster and Ireland duo Hugo Keenan and James Lowe and Northampton Saints and England’s Tommy Freeman is unchanged from the First Test.
Andy Farrell, said: “We have put ourselves in a good position after the First Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team. “Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week.
Garry Ringrose had been set to start at centre alongside Ireland teammate Bundee Aki, but was ruled out after self-reporting concussion symptoms in training on Thursday. He was feeling good well in advance of Tuesday. He was fit and ready to play.
Ringrose had missed the first Test with similar symptoms but returned to play 64 minutes against Pasifika. He has suffered a setback in his recovery, though, forcing Farrell into a last-minute rotation, with Huw Jones reintroduced to the XV.
Farrell said: "Garry was actually selected and unfortunately, after training, he's had to pull out. It's head-related again. It was literally as I was walking off the field. He came to me, and once that's mentioned, that's that. There was no incident.”
Melbourne born back rower Rob Valetini will run out in front of his home town for the Wallabies returning at blindside flanker after recovering from injury and is one of three changes to the starting forward pack.
Lock Will Skelton and hooker David Porecki are set to face the Lions for the first time in a Test match. Porecki will link up with James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in an experienced front row while Skelton will partner with Nick Frost in the second row.
The backline remains unchanged from the one that started at Suncorp Stadium, with Jake Gordon and Tom Lynagh again the halves pairing. Len Ikitau and 21-year-old Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will continue to build on their midfield combination.
Melbourne product Harry Potter will play his first Test in his hometown on the left wing. Max Jorgensen lines up on the right edge and Clovelly Eagles junior Tom Wright will again start at fullback.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The squad has recovered well after a very physical first test and the week's preparation here in Melbourne has allowed us a bit more time together."
“We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we’ll need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest on Saturday night.”
• Australia have lost three of their last four international matches
• The Lions have won their last seven tour matches
• Australia have lost by eight points or less in their last two defeats
• The Lions have won three of their last four against Australia, with their 27-19 win in the first test meaning they have been perfect since landing in Australia (P7, W7).
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson.
British & Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby/Ireland), James Lowe (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); Finn Russell (Bath Rugby/Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster Rugby/Ireland); Andrew Porter (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (capt), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/Ireland), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland).
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby/England), James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/Ireland), Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Owen Farrell (Saracens/England), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/Scotland).
Match Officials
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
