Australia v British & Irish Lions third test betting picks | August 2, 2025

Australia take on the British & Irish Lions one last time this Saturday with the two sides clashing in Sydney for a dead rubber third Test.

Test two was rife with controversy as the Wallabies blew a hefty lead, losing in the final minute courtesy of a dramatic TMO decision. Still, the hosts showed that they can play razor-sharp footy when need be, blitzing the Lions with raw physicality and pace of ball in the first half.

This Test comes down to one factor: motivation. Does last weekend’s controversy fire up Australia to come out even harder on Saturday? Or has their failure to force a decider taken the wind out of their sails?

For the Lions, with the series already won, can they dig deep to produce another performance at the end of a long tour? Or will they fizzle with one foot on the plane already?

Key to this clash will be Australia’s personnel changes.

Rob Valentini – who put in a gargantuan shift last weekend – is likely to miss the Test. Joe Schmidt is also expected to make changes at halfback handing the fiery Nic White a start, pairing him with Tom Lynagh.

The lack of Valentini will be a big blow, while White is a wildcard for the team’s chemistry.

Bottom line, we expect the Wallabies to have plenty of flare and throw the kitchen sink at the Lions, but come up just short yet again.

Wallabies predicted team

• 15 Tom Wright
• 14 Dylan Pietsch
• 13 Joseph Sua’alii
• 12 Len Ikitau
• 11 Max Jorgensen
• 10 Tom Lynagh
• 9 Nic White
• 8 Harry Wilson (capt.)
• 7 Carlo Tizzano
• 6 Tom Hooper
• 5 Jeremy Williams
• 4 Will Skelton
• 3 Taniela Tupou
• 2 David Porecki
• 1 James Slipper

Bench: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.

British & Irish Lions predicted team

• 15 Hugo Keenan
• 14 Mack Hansen
• 13 Huw Jones
• 12 Sione Tuipulotu
• 11 Blair Kinghorn
• 10 Finn Russell
• 9 Jamison Gibson-Park
• 8 Jack Conan
• 7 Josh van der Flier
• 6 Jac Morgan
• 5 Tadhg Beirne
• 4 Maro Itoje (capt.)
• 3 Tadhg Furlong
• 2 Dan Sheehan
• 1 Ellis Genge

Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman.

Australia v British & Irish Lions betting picks

Given the number of changes to each side – and the fact that this is a dead rubber – this clash should go over the 47.5-point line easily.

The Lions winning by 1-12 is the most logical outcome, as it accounts for the two most likely scenarios: Australia come out firing, but fizzle due to a lack of physical depth; or, the Lions start strong but the Wallabies throw caution to the wind and close the gap late.

For those after a higher return, rugby union betting sites offer decent odds for Tom Curry to score first. The English flanker has scored in each of the first two Tests and is as good a bet as any to complete his trifecta early.

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