"Do we deserve to be called legends?" British and Irish Lions set to erase half-century-old record against Australia

The Wallabies tried to keep smiling this week, notably sporting a fake moustache at the time of the official photo, to pay tribute to their scrum-half Nic White, who will play his 73rd and final international match on Saturday at the age of 35. However, things are serious in Australia, where the Lions have been piling up successes since their arrival at the end of June. Andy Farrell's troops first dispatched the current affairs against the local franchises and selections before winning the first two tests against the Wallabies, without trembling in Brisbane two weeks ago (19-27) , then on the wire in Melbourne last Saturday (26-29) after having been led 23-5 .

Australia coach Joe Schmidt spoke on Thursday of an "ongoing mourning" over this already lost series. "We've given ourselves a few days to digest because this result hurt us," continued captain Harry Wilson. In the midst of the Australian rugby doldrums, two years away from a home World Cup, there remains only one honor to save this Saturday lunchtime in Sydney against the Lions who could write history the other way around. Never, since a tour of Argentina in 1927 (4 wins to 0), have they left their hosts fanny. Our British colleagues were instead referring this week in these rare glorious series to a tour of South Africa with three wins and a draw in 1974. Half a century remains a great source of motivation to write history.

The "sweep" - which can be translated as a sweep - is within reach with one last effort in Sydney (*). "We've made history, haven't we?" Andy Farrell was already delighted after the success in Melbourne, which sealed the first winning series for the British and Irish since 2013 and their last trip to Australia, already. Do we deserve to be labeled legends? Why not?"

"We have achieved our goal on this tour but we have the immense responsibility to finish the job."

For this final match, the Lions boss only marginally reshuffled his starting team, with Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn starting on the wing in place of James Lowe and James Ryan in the second row at the expense of Ollie Chessum. He also opted for a bench with six forwards and two three-quarters, on which his son Owen has again made a place. "I hope this tour will be remembered for the type of rugby we played , that's all ," Andy Farrell suggested before adding: "We achieved our objective on this tour but we have a huge responsibility to finish the job, as we promised ourselves before leaving for Australia."

In the opposing camp, the concern has not faded with injuries that have forced out flanker Rob Valetini, winger Harry Potter and then hooker Dave Porecki, while Joe Schmidt has therefore taken the gamble of bringing veteran Nic White back into the scrum but also starting Taniela Tupou at right prop, he who had been snubbed since the November tests. While the coach has insisted on his team's progress in recent months, no one is fooled: a "sweep" would be seen as a humiliation in the land of the Wallabies.