Australia vs British & Irish Lions Prediction: Lions to maul Wallabies in Melbourne

The British & Irish Lions will look to wrap up a series win on Saturday morning (11:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) when Andy Farrell’s men take on Australia at the MCG.

Below are my Australia vs British & Irish Lions predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the battle in Melbourne.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, James Slipper, David Porecki and Allan Alaalatoa form the front row, with locks Nick Frost and Will Skelton in the engine room.

Rob Valetini makes a welcome return for the Wallabies in a back row that also includes Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson.

Head coach Joe Schmidt has made no changes in the backline, meaning Jake Gordon and Tom Lynagh start in the half-backs.

Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii combine again in the centres, while Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright make up the back three.

Rugby Union Odds

As for the Lions, Farrell has gone with a front row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.

Maro Itoje again skippers the side from the second row alongside fellow England international Ollie Chessum, while flanker Tom Curry joins the Ireland pair of Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan in the back row.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell retain their places in the half-backs, while Sione Tuipulotu and Garry Ringrose miss out due to a minor hamstring injury and concussion issues, respectively, meaning Bundee Aki starts inside Huw Jones in the centres.

The back three from the first Test is retained, meaning James Lowe, Tommy Freeman and Hugo Keenan start from the off, while Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn are fresh faces on the bench

Australia vs British & Irish Lions Odds

After their 27-19 win in the first Test in Brisbane, the Lions are the 2/9 favourites for victory in Melbourne on Saturday.

The wounded Wallabies are 18/5, or a 21.7% chance, for the win at the MCG, while a draw is available at 20/1 in Victoria.

British & Irish Lions -10 handicap @ 1/1

The Lions made a blistering start against the Wallabies in the first Test, and they should have really won by more at Suncorp Stadium.

Keenan’s error at the back gave up a soft try for Jorgensen on that game, and if the tourists can cut out those errors and play for the full 80 minutes, it’s hard to see how the Wallabies will keep in touching distance.

With that in mind, the Lions with a -10 handicap looks to be the way to go for this one at the MCG.

Huw Jones anytime tryscorer @ 6/4

Unfortunate not to have scored a try in the opening Test, Scotland’s outside centre Jones is good value to go over this time for the Lions.

Jones had a try ruled out in the first Test for not releasing, and he will be determined to get on the scoresheet this weekend.

With Aki able to draw in defenders, Jones’ support lines, agility and pace make him a nightmare for defenders in open space.

The Glasgow Warriors star catches the eye at 6/4 to go over for his first Lions Test try in this monumental clash in front of around 90,000 supporters on Saturday.

Offers

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