AUSTRALIA V BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS: 2nd Test

29.06.2013

Venue: Docklands Stadium (Etihad Stadium),

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Preview
This is the first featured match this weekend. The other is the CAR Africa Cup clash in Division 1C between Morocco and Ivory Coast.

All eyes however will be on Melbourne in this crucial rugby test match. The Lions narrowly, and perhaps luckily, won the first test 23-21 last weekend in Brisbane. Despite injuries the Australians will be desperate to tie the series going into the final test in Sydney next weekend.

Both side have made changes for this rugby test match. Some for Australia have been injury-forced whilst for the Lions their changes have been positional.

Whatever happens it will be close. I’m going for an Australian win that will provide a sensational build up to the final test in Sydney.

Prediction: Australia by 2 points

Teams

Australia
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joseph Tomane, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Benjamin Mowen, 5 James Horwill, Capt. 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Benjamin Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements
16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Robert Simmons,
20 Liam Gill, 21 Nicholas Phipps, 22 Robert Horne, 23 Jesse Mogg.
Head Coach: Robbie Deans
If Mogg comes off the bench it will be his test debut. 

British and Irish Lions
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 George North, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Benjamin Youngs, 8 James Heaslip,
7 Samuel Warburton,Capt. 6 Daniel Lydiate, 5 Geoffrey Parling, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Thomas Youngs, 1 Makovina Vunipola.
Replacements
16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Daniel Cole, 19 Thomas Croft, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Alexander Cuthbert.
Head Coach: Warren Gatland