The British and Irish Lions continued their 2025 tour of Australia, aiming for a third consecutive victory on Australian soil. After an initial defeat to Argentina in Dublin, the Lions had successfully defeated the Force and Reds, scoring over 50 points against both. However, the tour has been marked by disruptions, with key players like Tomos Williams (hamstring) and Elliot Daly (arm) being ruled out. Ben White joined as cover for Williams, while the controversial call-up of veteran Owen Farrell, son of head coach Andy Farrell, was made to replace Daly. Owen Farrell, playing in his fourth Lions tour, joined the squad ahead of the Waratahs match.

On Saturday, July 5, 2025, the British and Irish Lions secured a 21-10 victory against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney. Despite the win, the Lions' performance was largely considered unimpressive and scrappy, particularly given they were facing a second-string Waratahs side missing players on Australia duty. The tourists dominated possession and territory but were plagued by handling errors and a lack of clinical finishing, leading to frustration for head coach Andy Farrell and captain Tadhg Beirne. The Waratahs, despite their underdog status, managed to stay in the game and offered the Wallabies a glimmer of hope ahead of the upcoming Test series.

The first half was a mediocre display by the Lions, despite taking a 14-5 lead. Scotland centre Huw Jones was a standout performer, scoring two tries. His first came in the 12th minute, sprinting in off a superbly disguised short-ball from midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu. The Lions' dominant scrum, led by tighthead Finlay Bealham, created further opportunities, but errors prevented them from converting territory into points. The Waratahs initially looked to have scored through Charlie Gamble, but the try was disallowed for obstruction in the maul. Moments later, Jones secured his second try with a fabulous finish, demonstrating his stepping ability and power. However, four minutes before the break, Waratahs wing Darby Lancaster scored after a deft pass from Taniela Tupou, capitalising on a poor tackle attempt from Hugo Keenan.

The Lions made a dreadful start to the second half, conceding an early penalty that led to the Waratahs' second try through hooker Ethan Dobbins from a rolling maul, narrowing the score to 14-10. Josh van der Flier missed a clear scoring chance for the Lions, knocking on over the try-line. However, five minutes shy of the hour mark, scrum-half Alex Mitchell showed his class and pace to dummy his way over for the Lions' third try. Subsequent scoring opportunities were squandered, with replacement loosehead Ellis Genge having two tries disallowed due to a knock-on and obstruction. The Lions' persistent errors continued, including a penalty kick from hand by Marcus Smith that went dead and Duhan van der Merwe being forced into touch, preventing a fourth try.

Post-match, Andy Farrell expressed satisfaction with the win but acknowledged the team left many tries out there, citing the amount of dropped ball and turnovers. He noted the wet pitch conditions as a factor and highlighted the Waratahs' ferocious breakdown and high line-speed as good learning experiences. Lions captain Tadhg Beirne admitted it wasn't the step forward they were looking for, citing the scrappiness, slippery ball, and lack of cohesiveness, though he praised the improvements in scrum and lineout. Waratahs captain Hugh Sinclair expressed pride in his team's performance, stating they showed the Lions were