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Live sport this Sunday on SNWhy Burke thinks Wallabies can pull off a series upset
Nicholas Quinlan • July 19th, 2025 10:00 am
Wallabies legend Matt Burke believes that Australia has a chance of delivering a major upset against the British and Irish Lions to win the series.
It proves to be a pivotal series for the Wallabies against the four-nation side as they look to emulate the feats of the 2001 Wallabies squad and reclaim the Tom Richards Cup.
Burke featured in that Wallabies squad, which was the first and only time that Australia has won a three-match series against the side.
When asked by Corey Parker as to whether Australia had any chance of pulling an upset and could win the series, the former Wallabies fullback believes there is hope, noting the need for a stronger defensive performance compared to what they showed against Fiji earlier in the month.
“I think there is (a chance),” Burke said on SENQ Breakfast.
“We’re going into a contest, and you blokes would know that if one (team) thinks they are a shoo-in or a lay down misère, they can really struggle.
"So, Andy Farrell’s men will obviously be primed for this. They’ve got the momentum certainly going into this game, having been on tour for four and a half weeks/five weeks to be able to work out what the best combinations are, work out who sits well and what player is going to act and respond under pressure.
“From the Australians’ point of view, they played that game against Fiji, and that was a tough outing.
“I don’t think people gave them enough credit as they should, and the big physicality of the game that they played will be a little bit different to when they play the Lions.
“When you get those Polynesian boys running at you, it is tough. You’re making passive tackles, and their defensive lines was very (much) let them push to the sideline.
“They (the Wallabies) are going to have to go hard, they have to be harder in defence and make sure they put so much pressure on their number 10 in Finn Russell, who's an outstanding player.”
Burke also noted the importance of implementing the lessons learnt from Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt during last year’s Spring Tour against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, particularly around maintaining possession during the breakdown.
“The biggest part of the game that they really be able to lock down is that breakdown,” he explained.
“Like in every game, when you’ve got this ability to be able to play and try and get some continuity happening, it makes it very difficult if you don’t do the basics right.
“So, the basics are for the Wallabies is their ability to get to the breakdown and clean their pilferers out, so to speak.
“So those guys who get on the ball and try and steal, they need to make sure that they get rid of them. What we saw in that tour at the end of last year was exactly that.
“They just started to understand the meaning of the breakdown and be able to have a bit of respect for the ball. Like anything, if you don’t respect the ball, you don’t get to play and these blokes under Schmidt have really worked on that sort of area and been able to up their game.”
The first Test of the series is this Saturday at Suncorp Stadium.
Kick-off will take place at 8pm (AEST).
For more of Burke’s preview of the first Test, press the play button below.
