Australia v British & Irish Lions live: Latest score and updates from second Test battle at the MCG

The MCG is a pretty inspiring place, so much sporting history etched into an iconic colosseum of sport. Can the Wallabies channel some of the past Australian greats to hit back and square the series?

The Lions are without Joe McCarthy after the lock sustained a foot injury during the first Test, with Ollie Chessum promoted from the bench to partner captain Maro Itoje. Bundee Aki comes in to midfield at the expense of the unfortunate Sione Tuipulotu, born in Melbourne but out with a tight hamstring. Garry Ringrose had been due to be stationed at outside centre but stood himself down after experiencing lingering symptoms of a concussion.

Andrew Porter is preferred to Ellis Genge as the starting loosehead. Andy Farrell freshens up his bench after the unit failed to fire in Brisbane: James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn come in after starting the midweek win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV.

Lions XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jack Conan; 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Finn Russell; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Tommy Freeman; 15 Hugo Keenan.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jac Morgan; 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Australia are bolstered by the availability of Will Skelton, David Porecki and Rob Valetini, who all add quality and size to Joe Schmidt’s forward pack. The Wallabies backline is unchanged from the first Test as Tom Lynagh is backed again at fly half.

On the bench, Langi Gleeson is another welcome returnee as one of six forwards readied to make an impact. Tate McDermott, impressive in the first Test, and Ben Donaldson provide backline cover.

Australia XV: 1 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki, 3 Allan Alaalatoa; 4 Nick Frost, 5 Will Skelton; 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.); 9 Jake Gordon, 10 Tom Lynagh; 11 Harry Potter, 12 Len Ikitau, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Max Jorgensen; 15 Tom Wright.

Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Carlo Tizzano; 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Ben Donaldson.

The Wallabies have only just rocked up to the MCG – the hosts are 20 to 25 minutes behind schedule, I reckon, with the Lions here a little while ago. What impact might that make? No news yet of a delayed kick off or anything like that.

Let’s take a look at the two teams…

Johnson presented the jerseys to Andy Farrell’s team as a surprise guest speaker at a special ceremony before dinner as part of the build-up to the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The former England lock captained two Lions tours, overseeing a series triumph against South Africa in 1997 and a defeat to Australia four years later, and drew on his experience to outline what will be required against the Wallabies.

The Lions are hoping to seal the series at the MCG on Saturday after beating Australia rugby in Brisbane last weekend to take a 1-0 lead after an excellent first-half performance.

They are strong favourites to win in Melbourne and win the quadrennial affair with a game to spare, though are bracing for a Wallabies backlash after a slow start from Joe Schmidt’s side a week ago.

The return of Will Skelton, a former teammate of Itoje’s at Saracens, and Rob Valetini are significant boosts for the home side as they bid to match the Lions physically.

A crowd of 90,000 or more is expected at the MCG and Itoje believes his side have to be ready for both their opposition and the occasion.

This feels like a pivotal occasion for this Austrlaian side, with Melbourne far from rugby union country. AFL dominates here, leaving the public perhaps needing an inspiring Wallabies performance to really get behind Joe Schmidt’s team:

Ollie Chessum has challenged the British and Irish Lions to leave Melbourne Cricket Ground without regrets by rising to the occasion in today’s collision with Australia.

Victory in the second Test would establish an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against the Wallabies and place them alongside the 1997 and 2013 Lions as the only successful tours in the professional era.

But Chessum insists Australia will be transformed from the side that was overpowered in the Brisbane opener following the return from injury of influential forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini.

Even with Garry Ringrose and Joe McCarthy ruled out, there is a heavy Irish (and Leinster) influence running through the second Test team.

Garry Ringrose had been due to start for the British and Irish Lions today, with the Irish centre named in the squad internally on Wednesday night. By Thursday, and the public announcement of the 23, Ringrose was ruled out, though – with the Irish centre still dealing with the lingering impacts of a concussion sustained against the Brumbies.