It is the third of four scheduled matches against Super Rugby Pacific opposition as the Lions prepare for a three-Test series against the Wallabies that begins in Brisbane on July 19, with the ACT Brumbies to come in Canberra next.
However, it’s not all been smooth sailing and there remains plenty to work on ahead of those all-important Tests, for which Australia have their only warm-up fixture against Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday.
Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions date, kick-off time and venue
The British and Irish Lions battle the New South Wales Waratahs today, Saturday July 5, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 11am BST. That is 8pm local time.
The match will take place at a likely sold-out 45,500-capacity Allianz Stadium in Sydney, which also plays host to Sydney FC of the A-League and the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.
How to watch Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions
TV channel: Sky Sports has exclusive broadcasting rights to the 2025 Lions tour in the UK. Coverage on Saturday begins at 10am BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
Live stream: Those with a Sky Sports subscription can also watch the game live online via Sky Go. The match is also available to stream via NOW.
Live blog: Get full coverage of the game with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions team news
Owen Farrell is due to join up with the Lions squad in Sydney on Friday, though this game will come too soon for him.
However, Blair Kinghorn arrived earlier this week after helping Toulouse to retain their Top 14 title against Bordeaux and makes his first Lions appearance out on the wing, with fellow debutant Hugo Keenan at full-back after, having just recovered from a calf injury, becoming a late scratch for the game against the Reds through illness.
His replacement, Elliot Daly, suffered a fractured forearm in that game in Brisbane and will play no further part on the tour along with Tomos Williams, who hurt his hamstring while scoring his second try against the Western Force last weekend.
Ben White will be on the bench in Sydney as he gets set for his first Lions outing, having flown over from New Zealand, where he was with the Scotland squad ahead of their summer Tests against Fiji and Samoa.
With regular captain Maro Itoje not involved on Saturday, the squad is instead led by Tadhg Beirne, who follows hooker Dan Sheehan as the second Irish skipper on the tour.
Debut: Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn will start on the wing for the Lions after joining the squad this week
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The Waratahs are without star man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who has now recovered from a broken jaw but will play for Australia against Fiji.
However, prop Taniela Tupou and wing Andrew Kellaway both start after being released by Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt for this game.
Likewise wing Darby Lancaster and newly-signed lock Matt Philip, who is on the bench after a spell in Japan. Max Jorgensen, Jake Gordon, Langi Gleeson, Angus Bell and David Porecki also remain in the Australia camp.
Veteran back-rower Hugh Sinclair captains the team in his last ever game in professional rugby. Rob Leota, Tane Edmed and Lalakai Foketi also bring Wallabies experience.
Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions lineups
Waratahs XV: Creighton; Kellaway, Foketi, Walton, Lancaster; Bowen, Wilson; Lambert, Dobbins, Tupou; Lee-Warner, Amatosero; Leota, Gamble, Sinclair (c)
Replacements: Vailanu, Barrett, Botha, Philip, Adamson, Grant, Edmed, O’Donnell
British and Irish Lions XV: Keenan; Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Kinghorn; F Smith, Mitchell; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Bealham; Beirne (c), Ryan; Pollock, Van der Flier, Earl
Replacements: Sheehan, Genge, Furlong, McCarthy, Cummings, Morgan, White, M Smith
Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions head to head (h2h) history and results
The Lions beat the Waratahs 47-17 on their last tour to Australia in 2013, with 30 points from Leigh Halfpenny.
They also won 41-24 during an infamous bad-tempered clash in 2001, most remembered for Duncan McRae’s shocking flurry of punches on Ronan O’Gara that earned him a seven-week ban.
Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions prediction
Both the Western Force and Queensland Reds have given the Lions stiff initial challenges before folding badly in the face of their vastly superior depth and firepower.
We can likely expect a similar scenario to unfold in Sydney this weekend as Farrell’s side continue to fine-tune for the Australia Test series and look to ramp things up further while ironing out the remaining issues, still searching for their best combinations in a couple of important areas.
Ronan O’Gara was left bloodied by a shocking barrage of punches from Duncan McRae in 2001
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The Waratahs – who aren’t as good as the Reds – have been boosted by the release from Wallabies camp of the likes of Tupou and Kellaway, but Suaalii is an enormous miss and they surely won’t have enough to stop the Lions from racing clear again emphatically after half-time.
Lions to win by 30 points.
Waratahs vs British and Irish Lions match odds
British and Irish Lions to win: 1/200
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
