Overview
- Lions need one win in Sydney to complete a 3-0 clean sweep that has eluded touring sides in Australia since 1927.
- Coach Joe Schmidt recalled veteran scrum-half Nic White just hours after his retirement announcement, relegating Jake Gordon and Tate McDermott.
- Australia will be without key loose-forward Rob Valetini after he aggravated a calf strain in Melbourne, testing their back-row depth.
- Andy Farrell made only two changes to his Lions XV, bringing in James Ryan and Blair Kinghorn as he seeks a sustained performance.
- Critics continue to decry a ‘culture of excuses’ in Australian rugby even as Andy Farrell rejects calls to remove Australia from the Lions rotation.