Welcome, everyone, to The 42′s live coverage of the second Test between Australia and the Lions in Melbourne!

The series is on the line at the MCG, where Andy Farrell’s Lions can take an unassailable 2-0 lead or the Wallabies can level things up and set up a gigantic third Test in Sydney next week.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

It’s Gavan Casey here, and I’ll bring you all the live updates you need from kick-off at 11am.

The Lions have nine Irish starters this morning, a record. The Wallabies were around 20 minutes late arriving to the stadium, which is unlikely to have delighted former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt…

A big morning ahead!

The Wallabies, who were outmuscled in the first Test, have welcomed back some big hitters in the shape of Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, and replacement Langi Gleeson.

La Rochelle's Will Skelton. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

For the Lions, Bundee Aki replaces the injured Sione Tuipulotu. Aki partners Huw Jones in midfield, with Garry Ringrose — who had been due to start — ruled out with a head injury.

Andrew Porter will start at loosehead this week, with Ellis Genge backed to make some of the bench impact that the Lions lacked in the first Test. Ollie Chessum replaces the injured Joe McCarthy at lock, while James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Owen Farrell and Blair Kinghorn all join the replacements.

Connacht and Ireland's Bundee Aki. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Your man in the middle will be Italian Andrea Piardi.

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 (captain).

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson.

LIONS: Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje (captain), Ollie Chessum; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Blair Kinghorn.

Referee: Andrea Piardi [Italy].

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Some pre-match reading for The 42 subscribers, if you fancy it: a brilliant sit-down interview by Murray Kinsella with the Sky Sports commentary team of Miles Harrison, Ronan O’Gara and Dan Biggar, whose chemistry and insights have proven revelatory throughout this tour.

You can read that here — or, if you’re not yet a subscriber, you can get your first month with The 42 for just a euro here.

Murray and I will also have a podcast for subscribers immediately after full-time, and we’ll have more pods from Monday as we build towards the third Test.

Today's skippers, Harry Wilson of Australia and Maro Itoje of the Lions. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Will the Lions get the job done or will the reinforced Wallabies take this thing to the wire?

Just under 10 minutes to go until kick-off at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.

This is less the Lions’ Everest, more a climb up the Sugar Loaf or something to that effect.

But the Wallabies will surely give it socks here for as long as they can. Skelton and Valetini’s returns, and a bit of do-or-die national pride, mean they can’t be ruled out today.

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Deariest of mes…

Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO

1′ – AUS 0-0 LIONS: Andrea Piardi sounds his whistle and Finn Russell gets the second Test underway at the MCG!

3′ – AUS 0-0 LIONS: Will Skelton immediately making himself known to the Lions in the carry.

A better, more physical start by the Wallabies — albeit after less than three minutes here.

Rob Valetini, too, makes a big carry over the Lions’ 10-metre line. Australia win a penalty advantage in Lions territory and their attack eventually breaks down.

5′ – AUS 3-0 LIONS: Tom Lynagh, making his second Test start for his country some 36 years after his dad played against the Lions, chips over the opening points.

Positive start by the hosts in what’s been the inverse to the first Test so far.

6′ – AUS 3-0 LIONS:Finn Russell with a genius restart. Spots space in the Aussie backfield and drills one deep into their 22′. It bounces into touch. Wallaby lineout on their own 5′.

They take it uncontested and Jake Gordon exits to his own 10′. Lions with their first attacking platform.

8′ – AUS 3-0 LIONS: Lions’ first attack looks a little bit mistimed and ends with an errant Russell pass into touch on the right.

This one feels like a proper Test match so far. Intensity levels from Australia are off the charts compared to last week.

10′ – AUS 3-0 LIONS: Powerful carry up the middle by Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i and the Lions are pinged for no clear release on their own 10′.

A chance for Tom Lynagh to double Australia’s lead here from 40-odd metres, just about right of centre.

11′ – AUS 6-0 LIONS: Lynagh sneaks it inside the right-hand post. Great start by the young out-half. Great start by Australia.

13′ – AUS 6-0 LIONS: After great work by Jack Conan at the restart, the Lions win a scrum outside the Aussie 22′. The tourists crush the Wallaby scrum and win a penalty.

Nice bit of handbags breaks out afterwards as Tadhg Furlong is hit late, if not particularly hard.

The Lions turn down three points and go to the corner!

15′ – AUS 6-0 LIONS: Conan crosses the line off the maul but spills forward in his effort to ground the ball. Lions, though, had a penalty advantage for offside.

They’ll go again from five — this time with the tap.

16′ – AUS 6-0 LIONS: Aussies hold firm on their line but they’re pinged once more for offside. Huge pressure from the Lions on their hosts here.

Another tap and go from the 5′.

16′ – TRYYYYYYYY FOR THE LIONS! IT’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! WAIT… THAT’S DAN SHEEHAN!!!

Sheehan taps, goes, and dives — literally dives — over the would-be tacklers to score!

You’re not allowed to jump over tacklers in rugby, but you are allowed to jump for the try-line once it’s in the act of scoring.

Smart play by Sheehan, and an incredibly athletic finish by the Ireland hooker!

Russell’s conversion is off the mark — poor kick by the Scot, who’s been excellent from the tee to this point.

20′ – AUS 6-5 LIONS: Tidy attack down the right by Australia. Max Jorgensen chips ahead and Huw Jones is unable to keep his feet in play as he gathers the ball just inside his own 22′.

Wallaby lineout, and a strong attacking platform for them. Break in play, though, as their left wing Harry Potter receives treatment.

20′ – AUS 6-5 LIONS: Ooft. That’s a big blow for the Aussies. Potter is going off — and they’ve gone with a 6-2 split on the bench, meaning scrum-half Tate McDermott has to replace him on the wing.

McDermott is a baller, and he’s quick, but you’d expect the Lions to put him under savage pressure under the high ball now.

21′ – AUS 6-5 LIONS: Skelton and Valetini again blast their way deep into Lions territory. Australia win a penalty about 10 metres from the try-line.

This time, they kick to touch. Five-metre lineout. Chance for Joe Schmidt’s men!

22′ – AUS 6-5 LIONS: Lions commit two penalty offences — Aki off his feet and Russell plays the nine. Piardi gives Itoje a final warning.

Wallabies go back to the line on the Lions’ 5′.

23′ – TRYYYYY FOR AUSTRALIA! JAMES SLIPPER BURROWS OVER ON HIS 146TH CAP!

And Tommy Freeman is sent to the bin as the fall guy for the Lions’ repeated offences!

A double whammy for the Lions, albeit Lynagh is off the mark with his touchline conversion from the left.

We’ve got a serious game on our hands here!

26′ – AUS 11-5 LIONS: Tom Wright with a monster of a 50-22 after some superb attack out of their own 22′ by the Wallabies!

They look a team utterly transformed so far.

The Wallabies are taking the fight to the Lions in this second Test!

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

28′ – TRYYYYYYY FOR AUSTRALIA! JAKE GORDON! IT’S ALL AUSTRALIA!

After Tom Wright’s 50-22, the Wallabies batter away at the Lions and Gordon snipes through a hole from nine.

Pretty much under the sticks, Lynagh converts. The Australians lead by 13 at the MCG!

30′ – TRYYYYYYYYY FOR AUSTRALIA! THIS IS SENSATIONAL! TOM WRIGHT!

The Wallabies spot an isolated Bundee Aki inside their own half, with space left by Tommy Freeman’s yellow. Joey Sua’ali’i makes the best break of the Test series so far, exploding into Lions territory.

Sua’ali’i feeds Wright on his outside and the fullback takes it to the house. The MCG erupts!

Lynagh misses the extras but the Wallabies are destroying the Lions here!

35′ – TRYYYY FOR THE LIONS! TOM CURRY!

Superb by Gibson-Park and Conan to tee up Curry on the right wing! The Lions, back up to full complement, respond immediately upon Freeman’s return, and the wing was heavily involved with a big carry, too.

Russell’s kick from the right is again off the mark, but the Lions have narrowed the gap to 13.

37′ – AUS 23-10 LIONS: Lions win a pen in their own half and Russell absolutely wallops his side into touch, near the Wallabies’ 5′!

Big chance for the tourists here!

38′ – TRYYYYYY FOR THE LIONS! HUW JONES! WHAT A TEST MATCH!

After Russell’s incredible kick to touch, the Lions bash their way towards the Wallabies’ line.

The hosts cannot deal with the Lions’ power and Huw Jones eventually crashes over, leaving Russell with a simple conversion.

That’s an incredible response by Farrell’s side, in fairness. From 18 points down to six in the space of five minutes.

This is some game, folks!

Three tries apiece in the first half. The Wallabies went up 23-5 while Tommy Freeman was in the bin but the Lions have responded with back-to-back tries since returning to full complement.

Brilliant from the hosts. Strong finish to the half by the tourists. It’s set up for a brilliant second half! Catch you in 15.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

41′ – AUS 23-17 LIONS: Tom Lynagh restarts proceedings. Test series on the line.

Enjoy!

41′ – AUS 23-17 LIONS:Angus Bell and Tom Robertson on in the Wallabies’ front row. Big blow, though: Rob Valetini has gone off at half-time.

Not a bad replacement in Langi Gleeson, at the same time.

47′ – AUS 23-17 LIONS: Langi Gleeson making an impact so far, picking up where Valetini left off.

Hugo Keenan just rescued a near dead-cert 50-22 by the Wallabies — incredible piece of backfield cover.

Will Skelton is coming off now — either tank emptied or injured. He’s been exceptional but the Wallabies will feel his loss.

49′ – AUS 23-17 LIONS: Lions are putting the Australian scrum — even with its new props — under all kinds of pressure. Hasn’t yielded much return from ref Piardi yet, but pens are surely on the way.

52′ – AUS 23-17 LIONS: Australia attacking in the Lions’ 22′ with a penalty advantage after a nice break down the left by replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott, who’s on the wing!

53′ – AUS 26-17 LIONS: Wallabies move back into a two-score lead, just reward for their start to this second half in which they’ve had virtually all of the territorial pressure.

Tom Lynagh with the chip-over three points.

55′ – AUS 26-17 LIONS: Australia make big inroads again but spill forward in the Lions’ 22′.

Ellis Genge, James Ryan and Jack Morgan all on for the Lions, for Porter, Chessum and Curry respectively.

Curry with a potential try-saver as his last action, forcing that knock-on.

57′ – AUS 26-17 LIONS:Heading towards the final quarter and the Wallabies have totally controlled this second half so far.

Lions’ momentum from the end of the first half has been long lost. Let’s see if the bench can make the desired impact.

59′ – TRRYYYYYYY FOR THE LIONS! TADHG BEIRNE! GAME ON AGAIN!

An exceptional Lions attack, after multiple phases, results in a try for Beirne in the left-hand corner. Brilliant finish by the Munster captain, who rode two tackles to score after a sublime offload by James Lowe.

It all started with a big Bundee Aki carry up the middle.

Big Irish influence on that score — and Scotland’s Russell converts from the left-hand touchline!

61′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Owen Farrell on for Huw Jones, so Bundee Aki out to 13. Blair Kinghorn on for James Lowe who set up that Beirne try.

63′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Maro Itoje with a captain’s moment, winning a jackal penalty on halfway.

Finn Russell blasts another line kick to the Aussies’ 5′. That’s his second where he’s just walloped it and given the Lions a huge scoring chance!

64′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: The Lions come within inches but Carlo Tizzano wins a poach penalty on his own line! Incredible defence!

67′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: This game is right on the edge, now. Wallabies regenerating some serious energy and the Lions look switched on once more.

Fun stuff.

73′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Sizzling break by Blair Kinghorn but the Lions’ excellent attack is ended by a silly roll forward on the ground by Will Stuart when he had clearly been tackled.

The tourists get another foothold, however, as they choke the Wallabies’ subsequent lineout maul inside the hosts’ 22′.

Lions scrum — which has won three pens at this stage — deep in the Aussie half.

First one results only in a reset. They’ll go again.

74′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Time off as Will Stuart changes his boots — he’s borrowing a pair straight off the feet of Tadhg Furlong, ha!

Scrum still to come.

75′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Free-kick off the scrum eventually and Conan taps and goes.

Lions just outside the Australian 22′.

76′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Genge, who has been exceptional, knocks on in contact on the Australian 22′.

Home crowd at the MCG goes nuts.

Wallabies just over four minutes away from an incredible victory here. They have a scrum on their own 22′.

77′ – AUS 26-24 LIONS: Exit kick by Jake Gordon finds touch on halfway.

Lions lineout. Time ticking away.

80′ - Hugo Keenan has scored a try for the Lions in the last minute — but there’s a TMO check on an involvement by Jac Morgan in the build-up!

Incredible drama! We await the decision!

80′ – TRYYYYYYYYYYY FOR THE LIONS IS GIVEN! HUGO KEENAN WINS THE SERIES!

The Lions’ last-minute pressure eventually breached the Wallabies with Keenan finishing well from close range. The Leinster and Ireland fullback becomes the hero.

That was an epic Test match. Australia were amazing. The Lions probably weren’t — but they found amazing moments where they needed them, and Hugo Keenan has written himself into Lions lore.

Wow, wow, wow.

That’ll do it for me — I’m off to record a podcast with Murray Kinsella.

Catch you folks next week. Thanks for joining us for live updates!