Lions team to play Australia: Andy Farrell makes FIVE changes for the third test

Sloppy handling, defensive frailties, and a lack of cutting edge allowed Australia to stay in the game far longer than they should have. With the third Test still to come, there's a real opportunity to sharpen up, reward form, and finish the tour on a high.

Here’s RUCK'S suggested XV to face the Wallabies in the final Test — a mix of strategic changes and form-based selections aimed at raising the standard.

Duhan van der Merwe replaces James Lowe on the wing. Lowe produced one brilliant assist for Beirne but was again shaky under the high ball and exposed defensively. Van der Merwe’s physicality and finishing threat make him the safer, more dangerous option.

In midfield, Sione Tuipulotu comes in for Bundee Aki, who was solid in parts but gave up a soft penalty and missed a key tackle for Australia’s only try. Tuipulotu adds a more controlled and balanced presence in the 12 jersey.

Ellis Genge earns the start at loosehead prop over Andrew Porter. While the Lions scrum functioned well, Porter was culpable in defence, missing crucial tackles that led to points. Genge brings energy, aggression, and ball-carrying impact.

Scott Cummings gets the nod ahead of Ollie Chessum, who had a quiet game and struggled physically against Australia’s locks. Cummings adds more dynamism and sharpness in both the tight and loose.

And at No. 8, I’ve gone with Henry Pollock over Jack Conan. With the series wrapped up, it's the perfect time to give the young flanker a start. Pollock’s pace, breakdown threat, and work rate could provide the injection of urgency the back row needs.

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Huw Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu (for Bundee Aki)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (for James Lowe)
10. Finn Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Ellis Genge (for Andrew Porter)
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje (C)
5. Scott Cummings (for Ollie Chessum)
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Tom Curry
8. Henry Pollock (for Jack Conan)

It’s the first time since 1997 that the Lions have wrapped up a series in the opening two Tests—but not everyone covered themselves in glory. Here are four players who flopped in Melbourne and should make way for the final Test.

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Despite a classy offload for Beirne's try and some composed moments, Lowe was error-prone under the high ball and defensively vulnerable once again. A mixed bag leaning heavily toward underperformance.

BALLS 5/10: "One good flicked offload to Gibson-Park. Spilled a high ball, early in the second half. Composed take and footwork, on 57 minutes. Great step and offload for Beirne's try. His best, and last, contribution of the game."

Planet Rugby 4/10: "His try assist was the highlight of an otherwise poor performance from the winger who missed three of his seven tackle attempts, conceded a penalty and struggled in the air. He is a big moments player and produced that with a brutal fend and offload, but far from a complete performance."

Telegraph 3/10: "Lovely offload to put Beirne over but was another disappointing display. A liability once again in defence and several handling errors."

RUCK 4/10: "Lowe has looked off the tempo in both tests and today was another story of that. He never got going and was exposed hugely in defence. In attack he was nothing to fear for the Wallabies apart from his assist for Beirne."

Replacement: Duhan van der Merwe

Grew into the game and made a crucial carry in the lead-up to Beirne’s try, but defensive lapses and an avoidable penalty undermined his overall contribution.

Express 5/10: "Not the huge carrier he is with Ireland, ineffective apart from one second half charge"

Telegraph 5/10: "Grew into the game and his carry set the platform for Beirne’s try. Suaalii slipped past him for Wright’s try and gave up a really dumb penalty."

Planet Rugby 3/10: " Caught out defensively by both Jake Gordon and Joseph Suaalii and conceded a penalty that Lynagh duly slotted. He made an incredible break which led to Tadhg Beirne’s try, but it was rather mystifying that he went the full 80 minutes today as he was a long way off his best."

Replacement: Sione Tuipulotu

Busy but largely ineffective, Chessum struggled with the physicality of Australia’s second row and couldn’t spark the partnership with Itoje. Lions missed McCarthy’s bite.

Planet Rugby 5/10: "Quietly went about his performance but was accurate and efficient in doing so. He stayed on the right side of the referee’s whistle but was guilty of four missed tackles and conceded a turnover. Replaced on 55 minutes."

RUCK 5/10: "Chessum was mainly a passenger and struggled heavily against Skelton and Frost in both physicality and tempo of the game. The Itoje and Chessum partnership just didn’t seem to click the way the Lions would’ve hoped."

BALLS 5/10: "Was kept busy, mainly in defence, in the first half. Solid lineout option. Made 13 tackles but missed four."

Telegraph 5/10: "Was busy without being particularly eye-catching. Felt that the Lions missed McCarthy’s physical strength in the exchanges with Skelton."

Replacement: Joe McCarthy (If fit)

Anchored a dominant scrum and worked hard in defence, but key missed tackles leading to tries exposed costly defensive frailties.

RUCK 5/10: "The Lion’s scrum was mighty, and more often than not, Porter was the first to show that to referee Andrea Piardi, he looked okay in attack but looked better defensively, but was caught short for Gordon’s darting try."

Telegraph 5/10: "Targeted by Australia in defence with both Gordon and Suaalii slipping through his grasp for tries. Still made 16 tackles, but misses were big black marks."

Planet Rugby 4/10: "Beaten for two of the Wallabies’ tries in the first half as he watched Gordon sprint past him before missing a tap tackle on Suaalii in the build-up to Tom Wright’s try. Conceded a penalty, and while his work-rate was top tier, his mistakes were costly. He was fortunate not to be penalised at scrum time too."

Replacement: Ellis Genge