British & Irish Lions

Chris Jones
Rugby union correspondent in Melbourne

Image source, BBC Sport

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

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Code Sports

Australia may have lost the first Test at Suncorp Stadium but economically the Lions had a big positive impact in Brisbane, according to Code Sports.

"The Lions turned Suncorp into their own crimson castle with a robust performance but all the action was at the nearby Paddington Hotel where bar takings were three times as much as the first State of Origin match, proving again there's nothing quite as thirsty as a Lions fan on tour."

Chris is live from Brisbane after the Lions beat the Wallabies 27-19 in the first Test. Former Lion Andy Nicol and ex Scotland captain John Barclay join the pod to give their expert analysis of what they saw on the pitch.

Both agreed it was a strong start by Andy Farrell's men – then things went a little flat... Australian broadcaster Quentin Hull also drops by to give his insight into this Wallabies side and asks was a slow start to blame?

Finn Russell, Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne were some of the Lions players that impressed Andy and John – and the guys also look ahead to expectations for the second Test next week.

Tulsen Tollett brings first test reaction as he's joined by 2005 British and Irish Lion Tom Shanklin, BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones and Former England winger Chris Ashton.

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2005 British and Irish Lion Tom Shanklin - "Tom Curry was awesome, maybe a little lucky not to get a yellow in the first half but he brought that engine and physicality. It is going to be tough for any player to break into that team, because the most important thing is winning the Test series.

"If everyone is fit, I cannot see it going anywhere else. Andy Farrell's job is to win the Test series and they looked good today."

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Former England wing Chris Ashton - "In the post match, Australia's players were mixing and mingling with the Lions, they seemed really happy. I cannot get my head around (that), it seems they are almost happy that the Lions are there."

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2005 British and Irish Lion Tom Shanklin - "It seemed weird that Australia were socialising with the Lions players, weird they kicked the ball off at the end, it was like it was a bonus-point loss.

"You want to see an Australia team deliver, to try and (show) some endeavour and they are lacking a lot in attack. At so many stages they were crowding around Tom Lynagh and they didn't know where to go."

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Former England wing Chris Ashton - "I was so confused why Joe Schmidt did not release his players to play in the club games, get some game time, a feel for what the Lions were about. If you have not faced them, even for 10, 15 minutes, how are you meant to expect the level or have some understanding in the first 20 minutes? You're not. And after 20 minutes, the game was almost over."

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2005 British and Irish Lion Tom Shanklin - "Finn Russell was amazing, him and Gibson-Park are quality, the way they pull the strings, the time they have on the ball, their decision-making makes everyone's jobs so much easier.

"This is probably the most competitive Lions squad ever, there is quality everywhere, two amazing half-backs, the power of the pack, people putting in 80-minute shifts in the back row.

"Fair play to Farrell, he has nailed it."

Image source, PA Media

Possession: Aus 57% - Lions 43%

Carries: Aus 149 - Lions 124

Line breaks: Aus 3 - Lions 9

Turnovers won: Aus 6 - Lions 6

Penalties conceded: Aus 7 - Lions 11

Tackle completion: Aus 77% - Lions 87%

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Man of the match Tadhg Beirne, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a proper Test match, the last quarter was a battle. Australia will take confidence from that going into next week.

"Discipline was right on the edge. That will be a big focus for us.

"We managed the game well but need to focus on discipline more.

"I loved it, some of the games leading up weren't my best. But I hopefully did the shirt justice."

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British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell was full of praise for flankers Tom Curry and Tadgh Beirne.

Both selections were questioned before the game because of their form on tour.

"Tom Curry and Tadgh Beirne were absolutely immense. Curry put in some shots defensively and Tadgh got the turnover very early doors. It didn't stop there," Farrell said.

"Conan's carrying was very much on the front foot. Those three guys I'm sure they'll be delighted with how they responded to being selected.

"Curry and Beirne are a man of their word and that's what they delivered."