LIVE: Lions v Melbourne Rebels - all the action as it happens from AAMI Park

The British and Irish Lions take on Super 15 side the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park this morning in their final tour match ahead of Saturday's second Test against Australia.
None of the XV from Saturday's 23-21 over the Wallabies start today but with Test places up for grabs those involved will be desperate to make a mark.
Sportsmail's Chris Foy and Luke Benedict are in Melbourne and will bring their own unique analysis and insight live right here. You can email your thoughts to 

  

Rebels 0 Lions 7

Rebels: Woodward; English, Inmar, Sidey, Mitchell; Hegarty, Burgess; Henderson, Robinson, Weeks; Neville, Pyle; Saffy, Delve (captain), Fuglistaller.
Replacements: Leafa, Ah-Nau, Alo-Emilie, Jones, Reid; Stirzaker, Roberts, Vuna.

Lions: Kearney; Maitland, Tuilagi, Barritt, Zebo; Farrell, Murray; Grant, Hibbard, Cole; Gray, Evans; Lydiate (captain), Faletau, O'Brien.
Replacements: Best, Court, Stevens, Croft, Tipuric; B Youngs, Twelvetrees, Hogg.
Try: Murray. Con: Farrell.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand).

 

Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'To be blunt it's the stage of a Lions tour where certain players are effectively just providing injury cover for positions. Conor Murray will not make his way into the Test squad unless Mike Phillips or Ben Youngs get injured, but he showed there what a bright, sniping, quick-thinking threat he can be.'

Sportsmail's Chris Foy at AAMI Park: 'The Lions have started with an intensity and purpose that suggests there is a real sense of grievance about their defeat in Canberra last Tuesday. The collective desire to round off the midweek schedule with a win has been typified by Wales lock Ian Evans, who has been more prominent in 15 minutes here than he has been in the whole of the rest of the tour.'

TRY! Rebels 0 LIONS 7 (Murray try)
That's the breakthrough... The Lions bulldoze the five-metre scrum up to the try line and scrum-half Murray is able to ground the ball off the back after shaking off the attentions of his opposite number. Farrell adds the extras from a tight angle.

14 mins: Lovely football from the Lions with Farrell once again at the centre of everything. He's playing very flat and bringing Tuilagi and Barritt into it at pace. Woodward does well to beat Maitland to Barritt's grubber though.

11 mins: The Lions forwards rumble forward off the back of a lineout until their progress is eventually halted just inside the Rebels 22 by a knock-on.

Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'This game started at a brilliant pace and there was a decent atmosphere brewing in the ground .... until the scourge of modern rugby killed the mood - the re-set scrum. The Lions tight five will be pleased with their second attempt and win the penalty.'

7 mins: A strong scrum from the Lions brings them a penalty in their own 22. The Rebels have started strongly here in the loose though and have had most of the territory so far.

Lock and load: Second row Ian Evans pops out a pass

5 mins: Hibbard's lineout is stolen but the Lions eventually clear their lines after being awarded a penalty for holding on by the Rebels on their 22.
Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'Fast start to this game and some lovely hands from the big men up front. Both Richie Gray and Richard Hibbard have already shown handspeed that would have made Brian O'Driscoll proud.'

2 mins: Nearly the perfect start for the Lions there... Lovely offloading from Gray, Hibbard and O'Brien allowed Farrell to feed Barritt, but the England man knocked on inside the Rebels 22 with a clear run to the try line ahead of him.

1 min: Owen Farrell kicks off for the Lions and Rebels fly-half Hegarty clears to just outside the 22.

Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'Full names listed in the programme tonight, so that's Tangaki Taulupe Faletau at No 8. Dare you to call him Toby ... '

Seeing red: Lions fans arrive at a sold out AAMI Park

10.37am: Out of the tunnel come the Lions, led by Dan Lydiate.

10.33am: Those of you who have been following all of the tour match will have noted the games have been kicking off up to 10 minutes later than scheduled, and (surprise, surprise) we're still waiting to get under way here...

Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'There is an all-English spine to the backline in Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi so the Lions' backs should look pretty well drilled. After the Brumbies disaster this time last week, there were plenty of excuses about having only one training session as a 23. Not so tonight, the midfield played almost the entire Six Nations together.'

Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'It really is a stunning stadium. It has a similar shape and new-build feel to the Otago stadium where England played their first two games of the 2011 World Cup, like somebody has only taken off the shrink wrap. Manu Tuilagi is hitting some pads with that right shoulder to check his nerves are okay after the "stinger" injury that kept him out for two weeks.'

Ready to roar: Lions fans descend on Melbourne

10.23am: Not long to go now then and the atmosphere is building at a sold-out AAMI Park. For some of these players it could be their last appearance on tour and they will be determined to go out with a bang and prove to Gatland they are ready if called upon.

10.16am: The Rebels have struggled in Super Rugby this year and with a victory in the offing for the Lions it presents an opportunity for wings Sean Maitland and Simon Zebo to lay down a marker for the final two Tests. With Ireland wing Tommy Bowe not involved today despite recovering from a broken hand it looks as though he will be at least on the bench on Saturday. Maitland - who was on the bench in Brisbane - and Zebo have a chance to possibly alter Gatland's thinking today.

10.10am: In an intriguing twist today's opposition are captained by Welshman Gareth Delve. The 30-year-old No 8 has picked up 11 caps for his country and spent nine years playing in the Premiership with Bath and Gloucester.

On a roll: Gatland will be looking for his side to build on their first-Test win

Sportsmail's Luke Benedict at AAMI Park: 'It's a stunning stadium from outside, glittering and flashing in the dark as thousands of red jerseys walk along the river from Melbourne's buzzing city centre.'

9.57am: Another man eager to impress today is wrecking-ball England centre Manu Tuilagi. He suffered a shoulder injury against the Reds early in the tour and has missed the last four games. Brian O'Driscoll and Jonathan Davies worked well as a pairing at the weekend but are similar players in the midfield. With Jamie Roberts out injured Tuilagi could be the joker in the pack for Gatland.

9.51am: Another player withdrawn from this match is prop Mako Vunipola. His exclusion comes as doubts linger over the fitness of Alex Corbisiero, who started Saturday's Test but was replaced after suffering a calf injury. That late change gives Ryan Grant and replacement Tom Court have a chance to impress in front row.

The scene is set: The view at the AAMI Park in Melbourne

9.47am: Selection for this match has been tinkered with somewhat due to injuries. With colossal Ireland lock Paul O'Connell ruled out for the rest of the tour with a fractured arm, Englishman Geoff Parling - due to be captain today - has been withdrawn from this match as he prepares to start the second Test. Starting in the second row therefore are Richie Gray and Ian Evans. Those two are effectively shooting it out for a place on the bench on Saturday, though Croft's ability to play in the second row could mean both miss out with extra back row cover included instead.

9.42am: None of the XV from Saturday's first Test are involved from the start today, with only Tom Croft from that side on the bench. Five of the eight replacements in Brisbane are given the chance to increase their march sharpness from the start though, with one of those - Welsh blindside Dan Lydiate - captaining the side.

9.35am: Rugby correspondents Chris Foy and Luke Benedict are both in Melbourne ready and waiting to provide you with their insights from AAMI Park.

9.30am: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the final non-Test match of the Lions' tour of Australia.

Chance to shine: Centre Manu Tuilagi (right) talks to the media alongside today's captain Dan Lydiate