NSW Waratahs v Lions preview, teams and how to follow

Huw Jones, who scored the seventh try in Wednesday's win over Queensland Reds, is the only player to keep his place in the starting XV

New South Wales Waratahs v British and Irish Lions

Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 11:00 BST

Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

The British and Irish Lions will play their third tour match in Australia on Saturday against Super Rugby Pacific side New South Wales (NSW) Waratahs.

Following a 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin, the Lions travelled to Australia and comfortably defeated Western Force and Queensland Reds, scoring eight tries in both matches.

Including Saturday's match the Lions players only have three games to stake their case for a place in the Test team, with the first match against the Wallabies taking place in Brisbane on 19 July.

From Waratahs' form, to team news and how to follow the game on BBC Sport - here's all you need to know.

Where is the match being played?

Saturday's match is taking place at the 45,500-capacity Sydney Football Stadium and will kick off at 11:00 BST (18:00 local time).

The Lions ran out 47-17 winners when the teams met during the 2013 tour with Leigh Halfpenny racking up a 30-point haul.

Johnny Sexton, one of the assistant coaches on the 2025 tour, grabbed a try, with Tom Croft and Jonathan Davies also crossing.

How can I follow the game on BBC Sport?

You can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up starting from 10:00 BST.

There will also be post-match reaction and analysis online and via Radio 5 Live and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, which is now producing daily episodes.

Make sure to follow BBC Sport's dedicated British and Irish Lions page for updates from our reporters in Australia.

The game is being shown live on Sky Sports.

NSW Waratahs' recent form

NSW Waratahs finished eighth in Super Rugby Pacific, winning six of their 14 games.

Western Force were the only Australia side to finish below the Waratahs in the league last season, but Dan McKellar's team did beat the Brumbies, who reached the semi-finals, 28-23 at home in March.

McKellar's side have won only one of their past six games, ending the season with a disappointing 46-6 defeat by New Zealand side Blues.

However, this year was a big improvement after finishing bottom of Super Rugby Pacific in 2024 with only two wins.

"I've said to the players all week this is a Test match," said McKellar.

"We are not playing Super Rugby or anything else. We are playing a high-quality Test team, but they've got two arms and two legs, and you just have to put them under pressure.

"The Force and the Reds, they have done that but being able to do it and sustain it for long periods of time is the challenge.

"They bring on eight high quality Test players off the bench. It's a fair challenge, but as has been proven in the past, it's certainly doable. You just have to be very good."

British & Irish Lions team news

The Lions make 14 changes from the one that saw off the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

Ireland's Tadhg Beirne will captain the side for the first time and partners James Ryan, who is making his first start, in the second row.

Hugo Keenan will make his first appearance at full-back with wing Blair Kinghorn also making his Lions debut.

Huw Jones, the only player retained in the starting XV from Brisbane, lines up alongside his Scotland midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu for the first time on tour.

Northampton half-backs Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell take over from Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park.

Henry Pollock, who played at number eight against Western Force, is back in the line-up at blind-side flanker.

Beirne said the team would be looking to take another step up as the Lions players press for inclusion in the Test side.

"That's the ultimate goal, isn't it?" he said. "For everyone here, they want to play in those Tests, and the only way to do that is to play well in all these games.

"If you're not producing in these games, you're not giving yourself a fighting chance."

Owen Farrell, called up to the squad on Thursday, has yet to join up with the Lions.

Who is in NSW Waratahs' team?

Wallabies Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway have been included in the NSW Waratahs starting team to face the Lions.

Prop forward Tupou, kicknamed the 'Tongan Thor' because of his size, power and Tongan background, has been capped 51 times by Australia and started for Joe Schmidt's side in November against England and Ireland.

"He's very disruptive, to say the least, and good at what he does," said Lions head coach Andy Farrell.

"Ireland played against him last year and we saw the pace that he had. He went straight up the middle of the field. He's not just a disruptive scrummager, he's certainly got power and pace on both sides of the ball."

Wing Kellaway started in November against all the home nations and has scored 13 tries in his 39 caps.

The Waratahs are without several key players who remain with the Wallabies ahead of their Test match against Fiji on Sunday.

They include code-crossing star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, scrum-half Jake Gordon, dynamic Ulster-bound prop Angus Bell and hooker David Porecki.

In the back row, Hugh Sinclair captains the side in what will be the last game of his professional career.

Line-ups

NSW Waratahs: Creighton; Kellaway, Foketi, Walton, Lancaster; Bowen, Wilson; Lambert, Dobbins, Tupou, Lee-Warner, Amatosero, Leota, Gamble, Sinclair.

Replacements: Vailanu, Barrett, Botha, Philip, Adamson, Grant, Edmed, O'Donnell.

British and Irish Lions: Keenan, Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Kinghorn, Smith, Mitchell; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham, Cummings, Ryan, Beirne, Van der Flier, Earl.

Replacements: Sheehan, Genge, Furlong, McCarthy, Morgan, White, M Smith, Van der Merwe

* Pollock withdrawn on day of match as a precaution because of a tight calf. Scott Cummings called in to start in second row with Beirne moving to the back row

Who are the match officials?

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (New Zealand)

Assistant Referee 2: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)