Many Australians trace the nation's obsessive interest in sport to the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 when the arrival of broadcast television coincided with the festival.

These likely lads are no strangers to controversy and, at the very least, should be cashing in some of their chips.

Asked on the Lions trip to South Africa four years ago what touring qualities galvanised such a group and spurred team unity, Brian O'Driscoll offered a simple explanation.

A handful of rugby players are born into Lionhood and the very best of them, the creme de la creme, grow to their fullest size in the red jersey. Brian O'Driscoll is among that number.

Within seconds of Lions manager Andy Irvine finishing his first test team announcement, journalists' fingers were hitting laptop keys to file that news.

A series win against the Lions will be a massive fillip for Robbie Deans' coaching longevity with the Wallabies.

After several false starts because of injury, Sam Warburton made his Lions debut in Brisbane.

Lions back-rower Jamie Heaslip is tipping NSW coach Michael Cheika will have the Waratahs pumped up for tonight's showdown with the unbeaten tourists.

Sam Warburton says his Welsh side's string of heart-breaking losses to the Wallabies makes him even more confident the Lions can end their 16-year rugby tour drought in Australia.

The Lions are a wonderful rugby anachronism and the last link to the heady days when sides made decent rugby tours instead of drive-by test visits.

Mako Vunipola stems from Tonga, was born in New Zealand, educated in England and is likely to become a test player for the red rose.

Unbeaten in 13 tests in 2012 and having produced outstanding rugby at times, the All Blacks under coach Steve Hansen are doing plenty right.