MELBOURNE: James Slipper has defended Wallabies captain Harry Wilson's decision to boot the ball out instead of chasing a consolation try.

A relentless British and Irish Lions were ferocious in attack and solid in defence to edge a dogged Australia and win a bruising first Test 27-19 in Brisbane on Saturday, with skipper Maro Itoje “delighted”.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has confirmed that second row Will Skelton and back row Rob Valetini could be back for the second Test in Melbourne.

Sione Tuipulotu has no axe to grind over his Wallabies snub but is aiming to show them what they are missing again this weekend. The Scotland centre, a try-scorer in the Lions 27-19 win over the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday, was raised in Melbourne and played at the Rebels before moving north four years ago.

BRISBANE (Reuters) -British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has named his son Owen to captain the team to face a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday, the last of the six tour matches they will play in Australia.

Wallabies icon Toutai Kefu has called on Australia's forwards to bring fire and fury in the series-opener against the British & Irish Lions and defy the doomsayers tipping a 3-0 whitewash for the hosts.

Tom Lynagh will start at flyhalf for Australia against the Lions on Saturday, 36 years after his father, Michael, faced the combined British and Irish rugby team.

Coach Andy Farrell has cautioned the British and Irish Lions to be wary of a wounded Wallabies side in the second Test, and demanded they improve their discipline. "We are playing against a wounded animal,

The British & Irish Lions have rarely been as heavily favoured to win a test as they will be for their opening clash with Australia on Saturday, even if you might not guess it listening to coach Andy Farrell.