Why the British & Irish Lions Must Win this Series

Can George North produce this much inspiration in Sydney on Saturday?

So we go to Sydney for round 3 with the series locked at 1-all.

Will the Lions experience deja vu from previous series or can they finally end their 16-year drought without a series win with victory over an apparently resurgent Wallabies side?

South Africa 1997 - the last time the Lions won a series

There is so much at stake for both sides. For the Wallabies, victory would possibly mean an extension for coach Robbie Deans and give them confidence going into the tough Rugby Championship. It would also give a boost to rugby union in Australia which has floundered somewhat when up against the super rich NRL and AFL.

James Horwill will be able to skipper the Wallabies in Sydney

While it is imperative for the Wallabies to win the series on Saturday night, it is even more so for their opponents from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The very survival of the British & Irish Lions is hugely dependent on the full time result at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney - no series wins since 1997 in South Africa really puts into question the relevance and viability of the Lions.

With the Lions set to tour New Zealand in 4 years time and South Africa after that, should the Lions fail to win the series in Australia, it is quite likely the drought could become 24 years and even more - the Lions have only won once in New Zealand, back in 1971 and their record in South Africa is not exactly flash.

The Lions will find it hard to end a drought against the All Blacks in 4 years time - they were walloped 3-0 last time

16 years without a series win even if they only play every 4 years is a long time and questions must certainly be asked if the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish unions can put together a united team competitive enough to beat the best of the Southern Hemisphere in the professional era.

Yes, ok, the performance of a team that only plays every 4 years doesn't quite tell the full tale of the true nature of British and Irish rugby given that the unions would be more competitive on their own as they play together every season. But it is sad when the results are so lopsided in favour of their opposition.

And with rugby becoming faster and more physical than ever, and more games being played in both sides of the hemisphere, sides like the Barbarians and Lions are threatening to become an endangered species and likely to be the first to be culled in a bid to maintain player welfare and keep the number of games played by professional rugby players at a sane level.

Lions tours have always been popular with the British and Irish fans - it's a chance to use their summer holidays to support their team and visit the likes of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Many have saved up and signed up for official tours and proudly walk around Australia's biggest cities, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne with their Lions jerseys and jackets.

Sean O'Brien will be key and must replicate his form in the weekday games in Sydney

Whether that - and the fact that players from the United Kingdom and Ireland still consider it an honour to be part of the Lions - will be enough to keep the Lions team itself alive remains questionable. For all rugby fans, it is hoped that the Lions will prevail and live on even if the results aren't quite there.

Lions organizers certainly hope that the results can come - sponsors like HSBC and Adidas definitely want to see a successful Lions team and no offence to this Wallabies side, but they should be beaten by this Lions team who were so dominant for 3 halves of this test series so far.

Warburton limps out of the test in Melbourne - and the series

Therefore, I hope the Lions can somehow unite without their skipper Sam Warburton - out with a hamstring tear - and produce the performance of their lives to beat the Wallabies, the favourites now after last weekend's win in Melbourne and James Horwill being cleared - thankfully and sensibly - of stomping by the IRB.

Meanwhile enjoy some highlights from key Lions deciders in the past.

EDIT: The British & Irish Lions team for the test in Sydney has been named - veteran centre, Brian O'Driscoll has been dropped although Jamie Roberts is back in the squad. Welsh lock, Alun-Wyn Jones has been named as captain with Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau, Mike Phillips, Alex Corbisiero all returning to the starting lineup. Justin Tipuric returns to the bench where Vunipola is sitting this week after starting last week in Melbourne.

Lions: 15-Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), 14-Tommy Bowe (Ireland), 13-Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12-Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11-George North (Wales), 10-Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), 9-Mike Phillips (Wales), 8-Toby Faletau (Wales), 7-Sean O'Brien (Ireland), 6-Dan Lydiate (Wales), 5-Geoff Parling (England), 4-Alun Wyn Jones (captain, Wales), 3-Adam Jones (Wales), 2-Richard Hibbard (Wales), 1-Alex Corbisiero (England).

Replacements: 16-Tom Youngs (England), Mako Vunipola (England), 18-Dan Cole (England), 19-Richie Gray (Scotland), 20-Justin Tipuric (Wales), 21-Conor Murray (Ireland), 22-Owen Farrell (England), 23-Manu Tuilagi (England).

EDIT: George Smith to make sensational return to Wallabies lineup after retiring 3 years ago. I'll go start writing the Lions obituary.

Australia: Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'ifano, Joe Tomane, James O'Connor, Will Genia, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Ben Mowen, James Horwill (captain), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper, Nick Phipps, Jesse Mogg.