British & Irish Lions

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The Lions are only two games away from taking a 100% winning record back home from Australia.

Flanker Henry Pollock said last week that he and his team-mates are targetting a Test series whitewash to stake their claim for being the "best Lions team ever".

No Lions team has ever won every game on a tour before. Even the legendary 'Invincibles' of 1974, drew their 22nd and final match on an epic trip around South Africa.

Of course, the 1974 Lions might argue that they didn't lose a pre-Tour warm-up. They might also argue that this year's Lions only have nine games to negotiate and have not had to face bruising Springbok teams twice a week for the best part of three months.

Lions tour of Australia: Fixtures, results and try-scorers

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A First Nations and Pasifika side – riled by the absence of ineligible flanker Peter Samu and inspired by the coming together of cultures – will have provided plenty for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to ponder before the second Test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

Firstly, Schmidt will have been impressed by their physical edge and competitive spiciness.

The Wallabies started too slow in Brisbane and the game was out of their reach before they mustered a fightback.

The First Nations and Pasifika, led by 2013 Lions series veteran Kurtley Beale and offering the heft of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Seru Uru, gave the Lions arguably their most competitive match so far down under.

Charlie Gamble's continual menacing of the breakdown suggested that the Lions, even if this was essentially a second-string touring side, could still be got at on the floor.

Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry will know their superb performances from the first Test may need to be repeated.

Two of the First Nations and Pasifika tries came from front-door close-quarters shunts from the forwards. Could a beefed-up Wallabies pack get over the whitewash in similar fashion?

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Owen Farrell captained the British and Irish Lions to a 24-19 win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.

It was Farrell's first full 80 minutes since the end of April and the former England captain produced a solid display at inside centre, setting up Jamie Osborne's first try with a deft chip.

However, both Andy and Owen Farrell never get too carried away when asked about each other by the media.

Journalist: "What did you think of your 12?"

Andy: "Owen, how do you think you did?"

Owen: "He asked you."

Andy: "Nice little chip off the left peg. Some good things from him. But there are always work-ons."

Owen added: "I enjoyed it. There is always things you can do better obviously. But I loved being out there. I loved that it was difficult, that it was hard. I feel like I've been in a tough match now. So I'm grateful for that."

Owen Farrell lost out to Marcus Smith for a place on the bench for the first Test against Australia.

Has he done enough to come in for the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday?

Darcy Graham's Lions debut was short but sweet.

The 28-year-old wing was called up to the British and Irish Lions last Monday.

Graham showed his worth by scoring the second Lions try against the First Nations and Pasifika XV.

But 17 minutes into his debut, Graham, in tears, was forced to leave the field with what looked to be an ankle injury.

He was later seen walking around the pitch in a medical boot and is set to have a scan.

"He's devastated," said British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell. "But to become a Lion and score a try, he should be proud of himself."

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BBC Sport's Nigel Ringland at Marvel Stadium: "If the Wallabies are to get back into the Test series then the First Nations and Pasifika XV are giving him a blueprint in how they might.

"From ferocious tackling and hitting the breakdown hard to great goal-line defence and getting off the line quickly to try and stop the Lions putting width on the game.

"Was Joe Schmidt watching and taking note?"

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2009 British and Irish Lion Ugo Monye at Marvel Stadium - "We haven't had many competitive games on this tour but I'm glad we've got this one tonight.

"It was definitely more entertaining and competitive than I was expecting."

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2013 British and Irish Lion Alex Cuthbert at Marvel Stadium - "Another solid performance from Jac Morgan with a few turnovers. He worked well at the breakdown with Josh van der Flier.

"Interesting he's off after 50 minutes. Like Ben Earl last week who made the bench for the first Test.

"Maybe that's my Welsh side just wanting him involved this weekend!"

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Australia centre Len Ikitau says he and fellow centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii need to go hunting the ball and be prepared to be more expansive in Saturday's second Test.

"I felt like I didn't really get him into the game as early as I wanted," said Ikitau of Suaalii in the hosts' performance in last weekend's 27-19 defeat by the tourists.

"We knew there were opportunities with their line speed and how they want to attack us in defence but I think just being able to pull the trigger when the opportunity comes and just being able to back our ability to pull the trigger.

"There were a few times I think we were just conservative and held the ball where there's opportunities out wide."

Meanwhile former Australia captain Michael Hooper has suggested that Queensland Reds' Hunter Paisami should come into inside centre for the second Test, with Ikitau shifting out to 13 and Suaalii playing on the wing.

"You get a lot of punch with Hunter, and then you start to open up a bit of space for Joseph in the wider channels and the aerial threat, which we've already seen has been a big factor in this game, so a bit of a rejig there," Hooper told Stan Sport., external

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British and Irish Lions wing Darcy Graham says he wants to stay with the squad until the end of the tour in Australia.

The 28-year-old, who was a notable omission from the initial touring party, was called up to Andy Farrell's squad last Monday and will make his Lions debut against First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.

Scotland's Graham, who will start in Melbourne on the right wing, is joined in the matchday squad by fellow late call-ups Jamie George and Jamie Osborne in the starting team, while Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Tom Clarkson and the latest call-up, Gregor Brown, all fill the bench.

Assistant coach John Dalziel has admitted some of recent call-ups that are helping to protect the Test team could fly home after the game on Tuesday.

"It is awesome and something I have dreamed about my whole career," Graham said.

"It has been an emotional rollercoaster to get to this point but we are finally here. Open those doors and let me out on that pitch.

"It was about staying emotionally involved in the Lions and watching the games to see how all the Scottish boys are getting on.

"I was buzzing for them but watching it and not being involved is hard.

"When Ben White got called up [earlier in the tour], I was delighted for him but gutted to miss out again. To get that call was a dream come true."

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The Edinburgh winger travelled from Auckland to Brisbane last week in time for first Test preparations, while his international team-mates Ashman, Sutherland and Brown all flew out after beating Samoa on Friday.

Having that extra time with the squad has motivated Graham to perform and stay on tour.

The Lions play the second Test against Australia on Saturday at Melbourne Cricket Ground, before the final Test in Sydney.

"I got the call and had about an hour and a half to two hours to pack my stuff and get to the airport and try to get visas sorted, which were a nightmare," he added.

"We finally got it sorted at the last minute before boarding and got out straight away.

"I was glad I did as I got two days training to spend time with the boys and really settle down, it made a huge difference.

"I feel a huge part of the squad and don't want it to end. I want to be here to the end now I've been in.

"After that game on Saturday, I was like 'I want a jersey, 'I want a cap, I want to play'. Now I am going to get that opportunity and I want to go out there and stay until the end.

"This is the last chance for boys to put their hand up for Test two and three, so there is that bit of added pressure."

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British and Irish Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby said that Thomas Clarkson and Jamie Osborne "fully deserve" to be included in the squad against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.

The Leinster duo were late call-ups to the Lions squad as cover after featuring in Ireland's summer tour.

Osborne will make his debut at outside centre, partnering captain Owen Farrell, whilst Clarkson is amongst the replacements and Easterby believes their displays for club and country merit their inclusion.

"It goes without saying the quality of those two individuals. Tom has fought through a pretty tough position at Leinster, never mind in the Irish squad, and he's put in some brilliant performances," he said.

"Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer and his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13 or wing, it's pretty impressive the positions he can cover and the quality he brings.

"I'm really pleased for the two of them, they fully deserve being here and I have no doubt they will perform tomorrow."

The Lions starting team does not include any of the players who featured in the first-Test win against Australia.

Easterby dismissed the idea that Tuesday's game is a "distraction" ahead of the second Test against Joe Schmidt's side on Saturday.

Instead, he urged the players that are involved to take the Pasifika game as a chance to force their way into Andy Farrell's plans with a good performance at the Marvel Stadium.

"The players know there is an opportunity there," Easterby added.

"Faz [Andy Farrell] in his selection overall has given guys opportunities based on the performances they have created on tour.

"I believe the group is so competitive at the minute and I don't think that will be any different with the prize of featuring in the second or third Test."

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Former British and Irish Lion Will Greenwood has been analysing the Lions' second-half dip in the opening Test win in Brisbane.

"Why didn't the Lions keep up the intensity? Because it's not an aggregate score," he told 5 Live Breakfast.

"You have to get to two (to win the series). If you've got them beaten, then you start to think about next week.

"The reality is, they know where they can get to. You don't need to win by 50.

"You just need to make sure you win. Are they there to entertain or to win? They're there to win another series, which they don't do very often.

"But they need to put the Aussies away. We were 1–0 up in 2001 and lost."

Do the Wallabies have any chance in the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday?

"There's a chance if Rob Valetini is fit and Will Skelton comes back. They lost the gainline," he said.

"It's a real worry for the series and for Australia hosting the Lions, if they go down with another whimper."

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Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who starts at hooker for the First Nations and Pasifika XV against the Lions on Tuesday, says he is expecting another "war" with the tourists.

Paenga-Amosa has already faced the Lions for Western Force and the AUNZ Invitational XV.

"Every game the Lions play it is about physicality," he said.

"It is a physical fight up front, we know that is going to be a war, we are prepared for that, we are excited."

It was put to him that the Lions, who won the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday, were now concentrated on the Wallabies, rather than their final midweek opposition.

"We know that they are not really focused on us," he said. "And that is OK, but I guess we don't really want to talk about it too much.

"We just want to show them what we are made of and what we can do."

The First Nations and Pasifika team could come together to offer the Lions a pre-match cultural challenge.

"I don't want to give away too much, maybe, we'll see," added Paenga-Amosa.

"There has been a lot of good singing - a lot of hymns have been sung, a couple of devotionals.

"It has been good to be one with the culture and learning a lot about the First Nations as well, it has been great."

The Daily Telegraph in Australia says Tom Lynagh is "on track" to be the Wallabies fly-half at their home Rugby World Cup in 2027.

Lynagh, son of 1991 World Cup-winning fly-half Michael, made his first Test start in Australia's 27-19 first Test defeat by the Lions on Saturday.

'Aussie' Lion Sione Tuipulotu is also picked out after his comments that he returns to Melbourne with "a chip" on his shoulder.

The 28-year-old, who scored the Lions' opening try in Brisbane, left the Rebels in 2019.

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Chris Jones
Rugby union correspondent in Melbourne

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Wallaby loose forward Rob Valetini has declared himself fit and ready to return for the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday.

Valetini missed out on selection for the series opener in Brisbane as he recovered from a calf issue, with his absence coinciding with the Wallabies being physically outgunned by the Lions in the first Test.

But the imposing 39-cap back rower says he feels no extra pressure on his shoulders to lead the Wallabies backlash ahead of the do-or-die clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"I had a good week last week with training and came through alright, I'll be available for selection," Valetini said.

"I thought I would have been a shoe-in for the first Test but it was a smart idea to have a week off and get through more training.

"I was pretty down when I knew I was going to miss the first Test."

Melbourne born and bred, Saturday will be a special occasion for Valetini, who grew up in the city and regularly used to go to the MCG to watch his Aussie Rules team St Kilda.

While the Lions have played in 'The G' before, this will be the first time they have met the Wallabies in a Test match at one of the world's sporting meccas.

Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport in Melbourne

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Centre Sione Tuipulotu says he returns to his home city Melbourne with a chip on his shoulder going into the second British and Irish Lions Test with Australia on Saturday.

The 28-year-old, who scored the Lions' opening try in a 27-19 first Test win over the Wallabies in Brisbane, started his career at Melbourne Rebels but chose to play his rugby away from Australia after struggling to nail down a regular starting spot.

Following a move from Japan to Glasgow Warriors in 2021, Tuipulotu opted to represent Scotland, who he is eligible to play for through his grandmother.

"If you had asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say yeah, it's personal," Tuipulotu said.

"There's still a chip on my shoulder. What has got me to this point is having that chip on my shoulder. But in terms of me being bitter about Australian rugby, not at all.

"I wasn't good enough to play for the Wallabies when I was in Melbourne. It wasn't a selector problem, I wasn't good enough, that's plain and simple.

"I owe everything to Scottish rugby because they've made me the player that I am today.

"Now I get the chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series. The stars have aligned for me and I feel very grateful."

The Scotland captain watched the Lions Test series with Australia in 2013 with his brother Mosese, who plays his rugby in Scotland with Edinburgh.

''My little brother, Mosese, was flag-bearer for the game. It was pretty cool man. It's crazy that 12 years later I'm playing in one of these Test games," he added.

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Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Melbourne

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Tadhg Furlong has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.

The veteran prop was making his seventh Test match start for the Lions and any doubts anyone had if he was worthy of his place after two seasons of stop-start rugby for Leinster and Ireland because of niggling injuries were dispelled as he produced a performance to match any in his stellar career.

In 2017, Furlong was a member of the Lions squad that lost the first Test in New Zealand but came back to win the second and tie the third.

Four years later in South Africa, the Lions went one-nil up before losing the series as the Springboks came roaring back.

Furlong has experienced the physical and mental struggles of being ahead and behind in a three-match series and heading into the second Test in Melbourne, he's unlikely to hop on an emotional rollercoaster.

"There's two sides of the coin," explained Furlong.

"Obviously it's on us that we don't get complacent and we learn the lessons.

"We have a midweek game again. It's great to see the boys go out and see who puts their hands up. If the lads go well on Tuesday then it will put them in contention.

"The other side of that is we know what it means to the Aussies.

"The desperation is all in there for them next weekend.

"Every series is different but some things remain the same no matter what.

"There is a flow to it. The group is edgy. We don't know each other, we don't know the Australians and they don't know us and what it's actually like on the pitch.

"You watch all the video. You do all your prep.

"There's a realisation after that of what it takes and what it felt like in the game."

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Furlong was feeling so good on Saturday night that at one stage he threw a 20 metre pass with unerring accuracy, not always a prop's greatest strength.

"A floaty one, he admitted.

"I thought it was good. I know it was on penalty advantage but your confidence is there.

"It was that kind of game where I was attacking well and getting through a few carries."

On his third tour, Furlong has never missed a Test match, all that's missing is being part of a series win.

He'll get that chance in Melbourne on Saturday.

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Kurtley Beale will face the British and Irish Lions on a second tour after being named captain of the First Nations and Pasifika XV for Tuesday's game.

The 36-year-old will start at fly-half in Melbourne for the Lions' final midweek game on tour.

In 2013 the 95-cap utility back slipped when attempting to convert a match-winning penalty to win the first Test for Australia.

Beale played in all three Tests 12 years ago but missed the opportunity to face the Lions again after a hamstring injury prevented him from playing for Western Force in the opening tour game.

"Kurtley is the most experienced player in the squad and was the natural selection for captain," said First Nations and Pasifika XV head coach Toutai Kefu.

"He is an extremely talented footballer and has been there and done it on the big stage."

Beale is one of only 15 indigenous Australians to have represented the Wallabies and is one of six indigenous players in the matchday 23, with the rest of the squad made up of players with Pacific Islands heritage.

Tonga-born prop Taniela Tupou, who has 58 caps for Australia, starts after being released by coach Joe Schmidt to play the game.

The 29-year-old has struggled to reach his previous best form and missed out on selection for the first-Test defeat by the Lions in Brisbane Lions on Saturday.

Flanker Charlie Gamble starts in the back row after impressing against the Lions for New South Wales Waratahs.

There is no place for Champions Cup winner Pete Samu after he was ruled ineligible for the fixture.

The Lions face the Wallabies in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

First Nations and Pasifika XV: Muirhead; Reilly, Foketi, Feliuai, Daugunu; Beale, Thomas; Ieli, Paenga-Amos, Tupou, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Gamble, Tualima.

Replacements: Asiata, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, McLeod.