British & Irish Lions vs Australia (Second Test) – 26th July / Melbourne Cricket Ground
LAST TIME: Australia 16 – 15 British & Irish Lions (1-1)
The Wallabies equalised the series with a nail-biting one-point victory in 2013’s second test. Christian Leali’ifano made his return from suffering the aforementioned head injury, and slotted eleven crucial points to take the proposed clean-sweep away from the Lions. This match was one and lost from the tee, with all 15 of the Lions points coming from the well-trained boot of Leigh Halfpenny.
Adam Ashley-Cooper provided the Wallabies with lifeline try, as he crossed over after 74 minutes to narrow the Lions meticulously crafted lead. After an otherwise near-perfect performance from the tee, Halfpenny’s match winning shot at goal dropped just short of the posts, awarding Australia the win and taking the test match series to the decisive third test.
PENALTIES: Halfpenny (5/7)
AUGUST 2025
British & Irish Lions vs Australia (Third Test) – 2nd August / ACCOR Stadium
LAST TIME: British & Irish Lions 41 – 16 Australia (2-1)
It was all on the line the last time the British Lions met Australia for the third test match of the series. This could well be the case heading into August 2nd 2025, with the sides set for a colossal meeting some 12 years in the making. The odds were stacked against the Lions heading into the decider, with injuries to Captain Sam Warburton and veteran leader Paul O’Connell thinning out the command ranks.
A heavily Welsh-orientated Lions team took it to the Wallabies, with 10 countrymen selected in Warren Gatland’s starting XV. Alex Corbisiero scored an early break-through try, before Halfpenny added a significant tally of four penalties. The Lions built on this lead into the second half, with Jonny Sexton, George North and Jamie Roberts adding the tries for the Lions’ biggest test match victory of all time.
TRIES: Corbisiero, Sexton, North, Roberts
CONVERSIONS: Halfpenny (3/4)
PENALTIES: Halfpenny (5/5)