Can the Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions seal a series win at the MCG in Melbourne?
Watch Australia v British & Irish Lions in their second Test today as the tourists attempt to clinch the series in Melbourne.
Below you’ll find all the information you need to watch the Lions v Australia online, on TV and from anywhere – including details of how fans in Australia can watch for free. Scroll down to the end of the article for a preview and team line-ups.
How to watch the Lions second Test: At a glance
– Date: Saturday 26 July 2025
– Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
– Kick-off time: 11.00am BST / 6.00am ET / 8.00pm AEST (local)
– FREE STREAM: 9Now (Australia)
– Other TV channels: Sky Sports/Now (UK and Ireland) / Peacock (US) / Stan Sport (Australia)
– Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free
Free Wallabies v Lions live streams in Australia
As with all of the Wallabies’ home internationals, Aussie viewers can watch the second Test for FREE on Nine and its 9Now streaming service. Pre-match build-up for this Melbourne game gets underway at 7.30pm AEST this evening, with kick-off at 8.00pm.
Travelling outside Australia this weekend? Aussies overseas can still enjoy their free Wallabies v Lions live stream as if they were back home on the sofa. Below we explain how you can use a VPN, such as NordVPN, to take the second test with you on your travels.
How to watch Australia v British & Irish Lions from anywhere
By changing your IP address, a VPN (or Virtual Private Network) can make your smartphone, tablet or laptop appear to be in any country in the world. This handy function allows you to avoid the geo-restrictions that might otherwise block your usual streaming services when you’re in another country. A good VPN also improves your online security, which is always nice to know if you’re using an unfamiliar Wi-Fi network in a hotel or bar.
The tech experts at TechRadar have tested tons of VPNs, and NordVPN is currently their favourite.
Exclusive: NordVPN mega-deal
70% off, extra 4 months FREE, plus Amazon voucher
Rugby World readers can take advantage of an exceptional NordVPN deal for the Lions’ second Test. In addition to a 70% discount on two-year plans, you get an extra four months thrown in for free. As an added bonus, you’ll also receive an Amazon gift card, worth up to £50.
In the UK or Ireland? Watch the Second Test on Sky Sports
Every British & Irish Lions fixture this year is available on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, including this second Wallabies Test. Coverage on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action gets underway at 10.00am BST this morning, ahead of the 11.00am kick-off.
The Sky website has plenty of information on how to subscribe to the service – options include the Sky Go app for desktop, iOS, Android, PlayStation and Xbox.
Watch Australia v Lions in the United States
CBS and streaming service Paramount+ have exclusive rights to show the Lions’ second Test against the Wallabies in US. Set that alarm now, because the game gets underway at 6.00am ET/3.00am PT early this morning.
Even if you don’t have cable you can watch CBS through Fubo.
Paramount+ subscriptions start at $7.99 per month ($59.99 per year) for the Essential package, $12.99 per month ($119.99 per year) for Premium. New subscribers can also take advantage of a week-long free trial.
Stream Australia v British & Irish Lions in South Africa
Subscription broadcaster SuperSport hosts the Australia v British & Irish Lions live stream in South Africa. The match kicks off at 12.00pm SAST today.
There are various SuperSport packages available, covering traditional TV on DStv and direct live streaming.
Watch the second Test in New Zealand
Sky Sport NZ will be showing an Australia v Lions live stream tonight. The match gets underway at 10.00pm NZST.
You can subscribe to Sky Sport Now from $54.99 per month or $549.99 per year (equivalent to $45.83 per month). Day passes are also available for $29.99.
Other Wallabies v Lions viewing options in Australia
If you want to watch Australia v British & Irish Lions ad-free you can do so on subscription service Stan Sport. It’ll cost you $15 per month to add Stan Sport to your usual Stan plan.
Australia v British & Irish Lions second Test preview
There’s a lot riding on this second Test, played in the hallowed surroundings of the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground. Should the British & Irish Lions win, they’ll secure their first tour victory since 2013 and only their third since the game went professional in the mid-’90s. But if they win at a canter – as it seemed they would for much of last Saturday’s 27-19 victory in Brisbane – there’ll forever be an asterisk against the tour, a reminder that the Wallabies simply lived up to their billing as the sixth best team in the world.
Andy Farrell and his British & Irish Lions coaching team have decided to tinker with a winning side. At least one of those changes is forced by injury, as Joe McCarthy (who left the field early last week) is replaced by Ollie Chessum in the second row.
Garry Ringrose would have come into the starting XV at outside centre, but withdrew after reporting symptoms of concussion. That means Huw Jones retains his place from last week, but he’ll now start alongside Bundee Aki in midfield. Jones’ regular Scotland partner Sione Tuipulotu (a try scorer last week) has a tight hamstring, though Farrell may have preferred Ireland regular Aki anyway. Andrew Porter gets the nod at loosehead prop, with Ellis Genge dropping to the bench.
Welsh fans will be celebrating the inclusion of Jac Morgan (Wales’ sole representative on the tour) among the substitutes. Rónan Kelleher, Genge, Will Stuart and James Ryan also provide forward cover.
As for the replacement backs, Blair Kinghorn returns from injury, while Owen Farrell (on his fourth tour) is in line to win his seventh Lions Test cap. Alex Mitchell continues his run of being in the matchday 23 for all of the Lions’ fixtures this year, though the fact he didn’t make it onto the field against the First Nations & Pasifika XV means he can no longer participate in every tour match.
Even Lions fans will be hoping for Australia to put up slightly more resistance than they did last week, particularly in a first half when they were significantly outscored and outplayed. Head coach Joe Schmidt has brought out the very big guns, with Will Skelton and Rob Valetini returning to supply plenty of extra power to the Australia pack. Schmidt has also named a 6-2 split on the bench, as the Wallabies head to Melbourne looking for the victory that would keep the series alive.
Second Test line-ups and officials
Australia
Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, David Porecki, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (captain)
Replacements:
Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson
British & Irish Lions:
Hugo Keenan, Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje (captain), Ollie Chessum, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan
Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn
Italy’s Andrea Piardi is the referee for today’s game, assisted by Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand). Eric Gauzins of France is the TMO.
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.
Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
- Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
- Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.