British and Irish Lions 2025: Farrell names team for second Test

Australia v British & Irish Lions

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Date: Saturday, 26 July Kick-off: 11.00 BST

Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app with post-match analysis on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has named nine Irishmen - seven from Leinster - in his starting team to face the Wallabies in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Garry Ringrose had originally been named in the team ahead of Huw Jones but the desperately unlucky Irishman withdrew himself from the side after feeling concussed at the end of training on Thursday. Ringrose also missed out on possible selection for the first Test due to a head injury.

Sione Tuipulotu, returning to his home city, has been left out in favour of Bundee Aki. The Scot has a tight hamstring but the signs are that Aki would have started ahead of him in any event.

Jones and Aki start in the midfield for the first time since the Queensland Reds game. Hugo Keenan keeps his place at full-back as do the underperforming wings, Tommy Freeman and James Lowe.

Andrew Porter takes over from Ellis Genge at loosehead, a move possibly intended to beef up the Lions bench. It's an all-Irish front-row with Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong. With Joe McCarthy ruled out through injury, Ollie Chessum partners Maro Itoje at lock with Farrell opting for the same back-row that did such damage to the Wallabies last Saturday.

Jac Morgan has been included among the replacements. James Ryan, the Leinster lock, is also in as are Owen Farrell who will cover fly-half 12 and Blair Kinghorn who will cover full-back and wing.

The Wallabies welcome back heavy-hitters Will Skelton and Rob Valetini along with hooker Dave Porecki. Joe Schmidt has gone with a 6-2 bench.

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