How to Watch Australia vs. British & Irish Lions From Anywhere: Stream 2nd Test Rugby Union for Free

After a gripping first encounter in Brisbane, Australia will be looking to keep their series hopes alive today as the hosts go in search of a vital win against the Lions in the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the game isn't available where you are.

The Lions claimed a one-sided 19-27 victory last weekend at Suncorp Stadium, in a match which saw Andy Farrell's tourists completely dominate proceedings for the first hour.

The Lions starting XV for this second Test features three changes from last weekend, with Andrew Porter is in for Ellis Genge at loosehead, Ollie Chessum replacing injured lock Joe McCarthy, and Sione Tuipulotu left out in favour of Bundee Aki.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has also made three changes to his line-up, with Lock Will Skelton and flanker Rob Valetini coming in after recovering from injury, while Dave Porecki starts at hooker.

Australia takes on the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, July 25, at the MCG in Melbourne. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. AEST local time in Australia, which makes it a 6 a.m. ET or 3 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada. For rugby fans in the UK it's an 11 a.m. BST kick-off, while it's a 10 p.m. NZST start in New Zealand and a 12 p.m. SAST start in South Africa.

Rugby fans in the US can watch today's game on streaming service Paramount Plus, which has exclusive rights to show all three of this year's British & Irish Lions Tests in the US.

Paramount Plus subscriptions cost $8 or $13 per month, depending on the tier you select. Both give you access to today's game. The entry-level Essential plan is ad-supported. The pricier Showtime plan removes most ads and includes downloads and Showtime programming. You can also purchase a full year of either plan and save some money versus paying each month individually.

If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the international rugby action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.

It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. They can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins.

However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance.

If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.

The second test of the Lions' three-game series against Australia will be broadcast exclusively live via Sky Sports Main Event and Action from 10am.

If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada.

The great news for rugby fans down is that all three of the British & Irish Lions test matches are being broadcast for free across terrestrial channels Channel 9 and 9Gem.

That means you'll be able to watch the games online for free on the network's streaming service 9Now.

• With four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming rugby may vary.
• If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.
• If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.