Australia vs British & Irish Lions Prediction: 2nd Test Tips, Team News & Odds

The British & Irish Lions go head-to-head with Australia at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday (11am BST) in the second test with live coverage on Sky Sports.

Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell know each other well and this promises to be another ferocious contest as the Wallabies look to set up a decider in the third Test.

Australia vs British & Irish Lions Betting Tips

The British & Irish Lions emerged with a victory in the first Test, winning 27-19, but Australia made it much closer on the scoreboard than looked likely for large chunks of the contest.

The tourists dominated early on and might have felt they were going to exert complete control only for Huw Jones' try to be ruled out.

Second half tries from Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott made things very interesting and left just eight points between the teams at the end.

Schmidt welcomes back two of his biggest stars, firepower forward duo Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, for this MCG blockbuster in front of an expected 100,000 sell-out crowd.

Farrell has made four changes to his starting XV and the Lions are expected to grind out another win, with a similar margin of victory to last week.

Scotland centre Jones was unfortunate not to get his fourth try of the tour last week. He touched down in the first half but the eagle-eyed officials spotted his failure to release the ball following the completion of a tackle and correctly chalked it off.

Jones has looked sharp in attack and has three tries to his name already, two against the Waratahs and one against the Reds. He was set for a supporting role this weekend, but Garry Ringrose succumbed to a concussion worry, so Jones starts alongside Bundee Aki at centre field.

Aki, now 35, isn't perhaps as dynamic as he once was, and his partner in the centres should get a chance to cross the line and add a Test try.

The teams scored a combined 46 points last week in Brisbane, with three tries apiece and a total try line at over/under 4.5 looks generous.

The Wallabies are bringing some power into their starting XV and Schmidt has promised they don't intend on being “submissive” to the Lions.

Farrell's side, meanwhile, will be eager to wrap the series win up. With a bumper crowd roaring them on, it promises to be a frenzied atmosphere and a minimum five tries between these warring sides looks on.

Australia vs British & Irish Lions Team News

Wallabies head coach Schmidt welcomes back forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini in a bid to level the series. Their absence was felt in the First Test, and their return could be pivotal in shifting momentum back to Australia. Dave Porecki starts at hooker

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.

Farrell was set to name all-Irish pair Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose at centre but the latter withdrew from the side after feeling the effects of concussion in training.

Sione Tuipulotu, returning to his home city, makes way for Aki, but Huw Jones gets a reprieve. Andrew Porter takes over from Ellis Genge at loosehead, while Ollie Chessum partners skipper Maro Itoje at lock.

Amongst the replacements, Jac Morgan, James Ryan and Owen Farrell are added, along with Blair Kinghorn.

British and 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, Ollie Chessum; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.