Skelton And Valetini Return For Wallabies

Australia v British & Irish Lions, 2nd Test

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground Date: Saturday 26 July Time: 11.00 BST

Coverage: Live matter commentary connected nan BBC Sport website and app pinch post-match study connected nan Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

Lock Will Skelton and flanker Rob Valetini are backmost successful nan Australia starting XV for Saturday's must-win 2nd Test against nan British and Irish Lions successful Melbourne.

The return of nan elephantine duo gives nan Wallabies an other beingness magnitude aft nan hosts were underpowered successful nan bid opener successful Brisbane, which nan Lions won 27-19.

Elsewhere, Dave Porecki starts astatine hooker but nan backline is unchanged pinch Tom Lynagh astatine fly-half and Len Ikitau and cross-code prima Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii successful nan midfield.

Back rower Langi Gleeson has recovered from wounded and is among nan replacements arsenic coach Joe Schmidt opts for six forwards and 2 backs connected nan bench.

Despite being overwhelmed by nan Lions successful nan first half astatine nan Suncorp Stadium, Australia managed to activity their measurement backmost into nan game, winning nan 2nd half 14-10 to put immoderate gloss connected a chiefly one-sided contest.

And aft starting slow successful Brisbane, Schmidt says his broadside will beryllium amended prepared this week to meet nan Lions' strength from nan off.

"The squad has recovered good aft a very beingness first trial and nan week's mentation present successful Melbourne has allowed america a spot much clip together," he said.

"We took immoderate assurance from nan 2nd half past week, but we cognize we'll request to amended further against a Lions squad that will bring plentifulness of occurrence to nan title connected Saturday night."

Skelton and Valetini some missed nan bid opener arsenic they recovered from calf injuries, and will beryllium tasked pinch providing ballast to nan Wallaby battalion astatine nan Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It will beryllium a important juncture for nan Melbourne-born Valetini, who grew up watching his Australian Rules squad St Kilda play astatine nan MCG, while nan Lions are good alert of nan unsocial threat of nan 6'8" and 21-stone Skelton.

Lions skipper Maro Itoje played alongside Skelton for Saracens, arsenic nan Australian won 2 Premierships and nan Champions Cup successful his 3 years successful northbound London.

"He is simply a awesome subordinate and a talisman for immoderate broadside he plays in. He adds a consciousness of dynamism, size and powerfulness to nan team," Itoje said.

"Due to nan size of him and his strengths, Will presents different challenges to your accepted lock."

A crowd of adjacent 90,000 is expected astatine nan MCG connected Saturday, which would beryllium a grounds attendance for a Lions Test match.

Australia: Wright, Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter, Lynagh, Gordon; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Valetini, McReight, Wilson.

Replacements: Pollard, Bell, Robertson, Williams, Gleeson, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson.

British & Irish Lions: Keenan, Freeman, Jones, Aki, Lowe, Russell, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Itoje, Chessum, Beirne, Curry, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Genge, Stuart, Ryan, Morgan, Mitchell, Farrell, Kinghorn.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)

Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)

Assistant Referee 2: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Foul play reappraisal serviceman (FPRO): Marius Jonker (SA)