The Lions won the best-of-three
test series 2–1, after a convincing victory in the deciding third test followed narrow victories for both teams in the preceding two matches. The teams competed for the
Tom Richards Cup, which was first presented in 2001, the last time the Lions toured the country. Australia won the 2001 test series 2–1. Before the start of the 2013 series, the Lions had won 15 of their 20 tests against Australia dating back to 1899.
First test The Lions won the first test 23–21. Australia's
Christian Lealiifano, making his debut, had to be replaced after just 52 seconds when he was knocked out attempting to tackle Jonathan Davies. Australia recovered from that setback to score the opening try,
Israel Folau scoring on his debut with a sprint to the line after a chip through by scrum-half
Will Genia.
George North then added to a
Leigh Halfpenny penalty with a try of his own, evading
Pat McCabe and
James O'Connor on his way to the line. He might have had a second a few minutes later, but the television match official deemed him to have been in touch before grounding the ball, meaning that the Lions had to settle for another penalty. Instead it was Folau who picked up a second try, beating
Johnny Sexton and Halfpenny to cut the Lions' lead to a single point at half-time. After two more Australian backs –
Berrick Barnes and McCabe – suffered injuries,
Michael Hooper had to move into the centres, and
Liam Gill took his place in the back row. The Lions took advantage of Hooper's unfamiliar position and
Alex Cuthbert scored under the posts. An exchange of penalties left Australia within two points of the Lions going into the last five minutes.
Kurtley Beale had two late penalty opportunities for Australia, but missed twice, slipping as he made his second attempt with the last kick of the game.
Second test Australia won a close game. Leigh Halfpenny's penalty kicking gave the Lions the lead, but the Wallabies scored the only try of the game through Adam Ashley-Cooper in the 74th minute, eventually winning 16–15. In the last minute of the game, a Leigh Halfpenny penalty kick that would have won the game for the Lions dropped short of the posts, meaning that the series would be decided by the final test.
Third test The Lions made six changes to their starting team. Tour captain Sam Warburton and 2009 captain Paul O'Connell were both injured. Pre-game controversy focused on the decision of the Lions coaches to drop experienced centre Brian O'Driscoll, who had been widely expected to take over the captaincy, in favour of the Welsh combination of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies. The Lions' starting team included 10 Welshmen in all. Australia were unchanged except for the selection of George Smith, returning from international retirement, at openside flanker. Australia gave away possession at the kick-off, and Alex Corbisiero scored an early try for the Lions. The Lions extended this lead through four penalties from Leigh Halfpenny to one from Christian Leali'ifano. The Wallabies conceded several penalties, as well as a sin-binning, at the scrum, although in the period either side of half-time, they recovered to trail only 19–16. The Lions scored three further tries to win 41–16, thus recording the most points by a Lions side in a test match. ==Squads==