Summary

  • British and Irish Lions defeat Australia 29-26, having trailed 23-5 in first half at Melbourne Cricket Ground, to clinch series win

  • Hugo Keenan crosses in last minute for match-winning try

  • Dan Sheehan, Tom Curry, Huw Jones and Tadhg Beirne also crossed for Lions

  • James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright scored first-half tries for much-improved Australia

  • Lions win first two Tests of a series for first time since 1997 in South Africa

  • Third and final Test of series is in Sydney on 2 August

  1. Postpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 23-5 Lions

    Lauren Jenkins
    BBC Sport at Melbourne Cricket Ground

    It was a case of big risk, big reward for captain Harry Wilson to decide to go for the line-out over taking the three points right in front of the sticks and they've won every battle since.

    It's a different Aussie team this week in terms of intensity in the carries and, for the first time in a while, the Lions are under scoreboard pressure.

  2. try

    Try - Australia 23-5 Lionspublished at 31 mins

    Tom Wright

    Australia running riot at the MCG!

    Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is magical. The big-money signing slices through the Lions' defence and feeds Tom Wright, who races clear.

    Wright celebrates with his arms out wide to the crowd.

    Australia's Tom Wright runs to grab the ballImage source, Getty Images
  3. Transformed Australiapublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 18-5 Lions

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent at Melbourne Cricket Ground

    What a performance from Australia so far.

    Their big men have shown up, they've bossed the contact, kicked cleverly and taken their chances. Valetini has been magnificent.

    The Lions look rattled and unable to read the referee as they continue to leak penalties.

  4. try

    Converted try - Australia 18-5 Lionspublished at 28 mins

    Jake Gordon (con Tom Lynagh)

    WOW!

    Jake Gordon snipes and goes over. The Wallabies look like a completely different team.

    Jake Gordon of the Wallabies celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 11-5 Lions

    Chris Ashton
    Former England wing

    The try from Dan Sheehan is the only opportunity the Lions have had and they've not looked like doing anything else.

    It's a very different Australia today to the one we saw last week.

  6. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Australia 11-5 Lions

    Rob Valetini and Will Skelton have made such a difference. The Wallabies are looking good for another score.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 26 July

    #bbcrugby, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    The Lions look disjointed and clueless at the moment. Farrell has got the selection horribly wrong based on this mess. Australia aren't even being challenged.

    Mark B

    This Lions team has never been quite right. Too many Irish players when Ireland were obviously not performing as well as in previous years.

    Tim

  8. Postpublished at 25 mins

    Australia 11-5 Lions

    What a kick!

    Tom Wright nails a brilliant 50-22. It is all Australia.

  9. try

    Try - Australia 11-5 Lionspublished at 24 mins

    James Slipper

    James Slipper squeezes his way over. It was coming. Tommy Freeman is sent to the sin-bin because of poor Lions discipline.

    Tom Lynagh just misses with the extras.

    James Slipper of the Wallabies celebratesImage source, Getty Images
    Tommy Freeman of the British & Irish Lions looks onImage source, Getty Images
  10. The perils of 6-2published at 11:31 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent at Melbourne Cricket Ground

    With a 6-2 replacement split, the last thing Australia needed was to lose an outside back.

    McDermott - a scrum-half - is now on the left wing. If the Lions get an opportunity then Tommy Freeman would expect to dominate him in the air.

  11. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    Another Australia penalty is fired into the corner. They want this try.

  12. Postpublished at 22 mins

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    The Wallabies pop a penalty five metres out from the Lions' line. A big call.

  13. The fans are into this game big timepublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    Nigel Ringland
    BBC Sport at Melbourne Cricket Ground

    We are up in the heavens in the media seats but the fans all around me are into this game in a big way.

    The sea of red is away to my left - singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'.

    Wonderful sporting occasion.

  14. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    Sharp hands and the Wallabies again challenge the Lions down the wing. This is as good of a start as they could have hoped for.

    Just as I say that, Harry Potter is off and Tate McDermott is on. They went for a 6-2 bench spilt which means they have a scrum-half now on the wing.

    Harry Potter of the WallabiesImage source, Getty Images
  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 26 July

    #bbcrugby, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Australia were always going to improve from last week but this has been a dreadful, messy, error-strewn start from the Lions.

    Gary

  16. Postpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    Matt Dawson
    1997, 2001 & 2005 Lions tourist at Melbourne Cricket Ground

    I think Valetini's physicality is making a huge difference and it's helping Australia break the defensive line at will.

    The Wallabies' line-out is also working well, they have shown a lot of innovation and different plays to fool the Lions.

  17. World-class Sheehanpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 26 July

    Australia 6-5 Lions

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent at Melbourne Cricket Ground

    Just when the Lions needed some points, and some calm, up steps Dan Sheehan.

    What a player he is.

  18. try

    Try - Australia 6-5 Lionspublished at 17 mins

    Dan Sheehan

    Dan Sheehan taps and powers over. That was easy.

    Though Finn Russell will be annoyed with that miss from the conversion.

    Dan Sheehan of the British and Irish LionsImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 16 mins

    Australia 6-0 Lions

    The Lions go wide and Hugo Keenan is taken down well. Great defence from the Wallabies.

    Back for another penalty.

    Hugo Keenan of the British & Irish LionsImage source, Getty Images
  20. No try - Lionspublished at 15 mins

    Australia 6-0 Lions

    Jack Conan drops the ball under pressure. We go back for the penalty.