British & Irish Lions third Test news, reaction & odds: Caelen Doris 3-1 to lead 2029 Lions after Australia series ends 2-1

Ireland captain Caelan Doris is Hills' 3-1 favourite to lead the 2029 British & Irish Lions in New Zealand after this year's side suffered a 22-12 loss to Australia in the final Test.

The number eight missed out down under due to shoulder surgery but is seen as the most likely to be in charge on the field when the team takes on the All Blacks in four years' time.

Hills have Maro Itoje, who went off in the first half in Sydney due to a head injury, at 7-1 to captain the team again, but Doris leads the market at 3-1 ahead of 4-1 pair Jac Morgan and Dan Sheehan.

The British & Irish Lions can celebrate their 2-1 series victory despite losing the final Test in SydneyCredit: Getty Images

After winning in Brisbane and Melbourne, the Lions were 1-3 to convert their unassailable 2-0 advantage into a series clean sweep, but Graham Woods' ante-post advice for the tourists to triumph 2-1 at 9-4 came good as the Wallabies won the third Test at Accor Stadium.

The fixture was played in torrential rain and featured a second-half suspension due to electrical storms in the area.

Lightning didn't strike thrice for the Lions, though, and Australia perhaps got what they deserved after last weekend's final-minute loss in Melbourne, a result that coach Joe Schmidt described as "gut-wrenching".

An early try from Dylan Pietsch on Saturday was followed by scores from Max Jorgensen and Tate McDermott, both of whom also went over in the first Test defeat at Suncorp Stadium.

Rain hammered down for large parts of the final Test in SydneyCredit: Getty Images

Australia can now plan for the Rugby Championship, which they open against South Africa in Johannesburg on August 16, but their main priority is the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

They are a best price of 9-1 with Hills, Ladbrokes and Coral to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time and become the first host nation to win the tournament since New Zealand in 2011.

Recommended Offer

4/5

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

Deposit And Bet £10 To Get £40 Free Bets

NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

• Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

CLAIM OFFER

18+ T&Cs apply

18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. www.gambleaware.org #ad

2025 British & Irish Lions Tour results

Read more on the Lions Tour:

Graham Woods: Instinct and experience key for Lions punters 

Jack Ogalbe: Ignore the Lions naysayers and strap in for an amazing summer 

Australia vs British & Irish Lions Test series predictions, betting tips and odds: Expect a fierce battle for series supremacy 

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.