'I probably won't play for the Lions again'published at 10:34 British Summer Time 2 August
10:34 BST 2 August
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Tom English BBC Sport
Image source, Getty Images
The Lions should have plenty of motivation beyond such
things as history. One piece comes in the giant form of Tadhg Furlong, who is
about to start his ninth consecutive Lions Test. Everybody loves Furlong, a
bear of a man and a giant of a player.
The prop is in thrall to the Lions, eloquent, but in trying
to explain what being here means to him, almost halting and unsure of his
words. But like the Lions at the MCG, he found a way.
"I've heard a lot of people explain Lions tours and I
probably haven't found an explanation in a verbal form that matches how you
feel about it as a player, " he said. "It's a special thing. It
really is.
"It's not hard to motivate yourself (when the series is
already won). My motivation is obvious. I probably won't play for the Lions
again (he'll be 36 in New Zealand in 2029). It's been very good to me.
Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it
to be a good one."
What will it be like for him out there on Saturday? "I
nearly get calmer as it comes to the game," he said. I don't like getting
too pumped up and then you go out and you have to sing an anthem. I like to
take it all in. I like to run out and see the stadium. I like to look up to the
rafters and have a think. Just concentrate on the simple things, really."
Another epic venuepublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 2 August
10:30 BST 2 August
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Chris Jones BBC rugby union correspondent at Stadium Australia
As Nigel mentions below, this is another magnificent venue in a country full of magnificent venues.
Last week it was the wonderful MCG and tonight it's Stadium Australia, which has hosted some of the greatest moments in Australian sporting history.
A year after Cathy Freeman's heroics at the Sydney Olympics - and there is a stand named after her here - this was also the scene as John Eales' Australia beat the Lions in an epic series decider.
That was when Wallaby rugby ruled the world, and the Wallabies of 2025 will need to summon the spirit of 24 years ago if they are to avoid the ignominy of being whitewashed at home.
'Watch Kinghorn be massive'published at 10:27 British Summer Time 2 August
10:27 BST 2 August
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Ugo Monye 2009 British and Irish Lion on BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast
The style of player is often reflected in their personality. Kinghorn loves life and would have celebrated hard at the weekend.
Lots of players would have felt the nerves in the last 20 minutes. Kinghorn had thrown two interceptions that week [against First Nations and Pasifika] but he did not care. He was rinsing Joseph Suaalii.
They were getting territory through his pace. He was so good in that last 20 - watch him be massive.
Through boot, line breaks or aerial ability, he will be a big, big player.
Atrocious conditionspublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 2 August
10:24 BST 2 August
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Chris Jones BBC rugby union correspondent at Stadium Australia
The weather in Sydney tonight - and I don't say this lightly - is absolutely atrocious.
It has rained for four straight days and it seems like the weather Gods have saved their worst for last.
The officials have just asked for the lines on the pitch to be repainted because they were being washed away by the torrential downpours. Joe Schmidt is supervising the Wallaby warm-up under an umbrella.
There were eight tries scored in Melbourne last week; it would be staggering if there was the same again in these conditions.
Stadium Australia - host of the 2000 Olympicspublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 2 August
10:11 BST 2 August
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Nigel Ringland BBC Sport at Stadium Australia
This stadium was built for the 2000 Olympic Games and is the centrepiece of Sydney's Olympic Park.
It's where First Nations athlete Cathy Freeman lit the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony and then went on to unite this nation when she won gold in women's 400m, carrying the Australian and Aboriginal flags on her lap of honour.
Jonathan Edwards and Denise Lewis won gold medals here for Team GB and Kylie Minogue sang 'Dancing Queen' at the closing ceremony.
The Games were brought to a close by a rousing rendition of 'Waltzing Matilda'.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Cathy Freeman was the Australian star of the 2000 Olympics
Greatest Sporting Whitewashespublished at 10:06 British Summer Time 2 August
10:06 BST 2 August
Australia v Lions (11:00 BST)
Nigel Ringland BBC Sport at Stadium Australia
I'm not wanting to get ahead of myself but as the Lions go in search of a 3-0 whitewash....
Why not take a look at some of most famous in sporting history.
Better start by giving Australia their dues.
1. Ashes series 5-0 over England in 2013…and 2006.
2. Tennis - 1988 French Open final when Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva 6-0, 6-0 in 32 minutes.
Hasn't happened since…oh wait…this year you say…Iga Swiatek…I didn't know, I was following the Lions around Australia!
3. NFL Miami Dolphins 17-0 - the only perfect season ever
4. The All Blacks in 2013 when they became the only team ever to win all their games over a period of a year - 14 in all including wins over Australia, South Africa, England, France and Ireland.
5. 1984 Winter Olympics - Torvill and Dean win figure skating gold and make history by getting perfect 6.0s from all the judges. We'll call that a whitewash.
6. 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox 4-0 St Louis Cardinals - not the first World Series when a team has swept another but this ended the 86-year Curse of the Bambino for Red Sox fans when Babe Ruth was sold to their arch rivals the New York Yankees.
7. It's hard to get a whitewash in golf but in 2000 Tiger Woods won the US Open, the Open and the USPGA Championship and added the Masters in 2001 to hold all four Majors at the same time so that's close enough to count.
8. Frankel - 14-0 and never lost a race
This is all I could come up with at short notice. Will we be adding the Lions to the list today?