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Johnson expects Wallabies to be more competitive in MCG test
Nicholas Quinlan • July 26th, 2025 11:30 am
English Rugby Union great Martin Johnson believes that the Wallabies will be a more competitive outfit in the Second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
The Wallabies were defeated last week in the First Test against the Lions at Suncorp Stadium, losing 27-19 despite having more possession and being better in the scrums.
This now means that the Wallabies must win the remaining two games in the series to claim victory for only the third time in 126 years.
Coming into this do-or-die match, the Wallabies will be welcoming back experienced forwards in Rob Valentini and Will Skelton from injury into the starting 15. The Wallabies have also added David Porecki to the forward pack.
Johnson, who captained England to their only World Cup victory in 2003 and captained the Lions in their famous 1997 tour to South Africa and 2001 tour to Australia, thinks that this extra strength in the forward pack will make things difficult for the Lions.
“I think they will be a lot better for having that game last week,” Johnson told SEN’s The Captain’s Run.
“Coming in cold for a test match is always difficult. I think they’ve got a few reinforcements with Skelton back in. It will give them some weight and power up front.
“So, I think it will be a lot closer game than last week."
The Lions have also made three changes, including Melbourne-born Scotland representative Sione Tuipulotu being dropped.
However, Johnson attributes this to the nature of the Lions tour, with the four-nation side having already played seven matches up to this point.
“Yeah, they’re on a long tour and you’ll get injuries, and guys, they’ll get a few knocks,” he noted.
“So, they’ve got good depth, I don’t think it really affects the team too much, and they’ll be raring to go, I’m sure.
However, despite these changes, they’ll be hungry to close out the series in any manner, especially in Melbourne, where the Wallabies have won both times when the two sides have faced off in the Victorian capital.
“It’s been very difficult to win in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said.
“I mean, they’ve played some very good rugby in the first half, but Australia came back a little bit.
“And if you had said it would be (the full-time margin was) eight points at half-time, I wouldn’t have believed you.
“So, you never underestimated playing away, playing in the southern hemisphere, playing Australia.
“Let’s just from our point of view, let's just get the win.”
The Second Test takes place on July 26 (today) at the MCG with an expected crowd of 90,000+.
If the Lions win, they’ll retain the Tom Richards Cup and win their first tour since 2013.
If the Wallabies win, it will mean that the third Test in Sydney next Saturday becomes a decider.
