Tupou and White return as Wallabies aim to avoid a British and Irish Lions’ series sweep

By Canadian Press on July 30, 2025.

SYDNEY (AP) — Taniela Tupou has been recalled at tighthead and Nic White will return for his final international appearance in a reworked Wallabies lineup trying to prevent the British and Irish Lions completing a 3-0 series sweep on Saturday night.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday unveiled three injury-enforced and one tactical change to his starting lineup and another two on the bench after the contentious, last-gasp 29-26 loss in the second test at Melbourne last weekend.

Tupou replaces the injured Allan Ala’alatoa and will combine with hooker David Porecki and 146-test veteran James Slipper in the front row.

Tom Hooper moved into the starting lineup on the side of the scrum to replace Rob Valetini and join a backrow containing No. 8 and captain Harry Wilson and openside flanker Fraser McReight.

White missed selection in the first two tests agains the Lions but has won a starting spot over Jake Gordon at No. 9 and will form another new partnership with flyhalf Tom Lynagh in one of two changes to the backline. It will be the 72-test veteran’s last test before retirement. Dylan Pietsch replaced Harry Potter on the left wing.

“The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week’s test in Melbourne,” Schmidt said, “but they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday.”

Lions coach Andy Farrell was due to announce his squad later Thursday.

The Lions are now 8-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test in Brisbane, the second test in Melbourne, wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams.

Hugo Keenan’s last-gasp try in Melbourne capped an extraordinary comeback win for the British and Irish Lions in the second test last, played in front of 90,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Lions rallied from 23-5 down in the first half to win the match and seal an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Wallabies captain Wilson remonstrated with the match officials, asserting that replacement flanker Carlo Tizzano had illegally been taken out of play as he stood over the ball. But Keenan’s try stood.

In 2001 and 2013 the Lions lost in Melbourne after winning the first match of a three-test series against the Wallabies and those series went to a decider in Sydney.

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Squads:

Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Lynagh, Nick White; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, David Porecki, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Wiliams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

The Associated Press

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