Australia produced a battling, gutsy first-half performance in Sydney, taking an 8-0 lead over the British and Irish Lions in the third Test.
The Wallabies are trying to avert the humiliation of suffering a 3-0 whitewash defeat and began with fierce intent amid a downpour at the Accor Stadium.
Dylan Pietsch went over in the corner inside five minutes and the winger was an effervescent presence in defence, while captain and scrum-half Nic White was superb on his international farewell.
The Lions’ kicking game faltered, they were second best at the scrum and had coughed up four turnovers inside the first 20 minutes.
A relentless period of Australian pressure either side of the half hour concluded with Tom Lynagh putting over a routine penalty. Earlier in that passage of play, the Lions lost captain Maro Itoje to a mouth injury and his night was over when he failed an HIA.
MORE: Full schedule for the Lions’ 2025 tour
Australia vs. British and Irish Lions third Test score ScoreTries (Conv.)PenaltiesAustralia8Pietsch 7’Lynagh 34’Lions0——
Starting XVs:
Australia: 15. Tom Wright, 14. Max Jorgensen, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12. Len Ikitau, 11. Dylan Pietsch, 10. Tom Lynagh, 9. Nic White; 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Tom Hooper, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson (C)
Replacements: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Langi Gleeson, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Andrew Kellaway
Lions: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Blair Kinghorn, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Maro Itoje (C), 5. Ryan James, 6. Tadhg Beirne, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Jack Conan
Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Ollie Chessum, 20. Jac Morgan, 21. Ben Earl, 22. Alex Mitchell, 23. Owen Farrell
Australia vs. British and Irish Lions third Test highlightsHalftime
Australia very good value for their lead. White has been superb so far on his international farewell. Pretty ragged from the Lions and, if they’re going to turn this around, they’ll have to do so without skipper Itoje, who has failed a HIA after going off to have a mouth injury tended to.
34 mins: After turning down a couple of kickable penalties, the Wallabies eventually take the three at the end of a relentless spell of pressure near the Lions line. Offside is called and Lynagh pops a routine effort over. The weather remains absolutely wretched out there.
7 mins: Australia hit the front and it’s a wonderfully worked try as Pietsch goes over in the corner. Lynagh can’t add the extras. Australia 5-0 Lions
Available in the UK
First blood to Australia! Dylan Pietsch with a textbook finish in the corner! 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/Tft0jiZI36
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) August 2, 2025
Australia vs. British and Irish Lions third Test live stream, TV channelAustralia
All Lions matches in 2025 will be streamed live via Stan Sport. All the Test matches against the Wallabies will also be broadcast on Channel Nine.
UKTV channel: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports ActionLive stream: Sky Go app
Fans in the United Kingdom can catch the action live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning at 10 a.m. BST on both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
What time does Australia vs. British and Irish Lions third Test kick off?
The match takes place at Accor Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales. It will kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. BST).