Martin Johnson Warns Lions of Wallabies Backlash in Crucial 2025 Melbourne Test
As the British & Irish Lions prepare for the second Test against the Wallabies on July 26, 2025, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, former captain Martin Johnson has issued a stark warning, drawing on the bitter lessons of the 2001 tour.
Speaking at a Rugby Club of Victoria fundraising dinner, Johnson recounted how the Lions, after a commanding 29-13 win in Brisbane, led 11-6 at halftime in Melbourne but collapsed, losing 35-14, and ultimately the series in Sydney. With the 2025 Lions holding a 1-0 lead after a 27-19 victory in Brisbane, Johnson’s caution—echoed by 2013 Lion Alun Wyn Jones—underscores the danger of a resurgent Wallabies side, bolstered by returning stars and fueled by wounded pride. This article explores Johnson’s warning, the 2001 parallels, and the challenges awaiting Andy Farrell’s squad in a high-stakes Melbourne clash.
The 2001 Tour: A Cautionary Tale
In 2001, Johnson captained a Lions side that stunned the world champion Wallabies in Brisbane, only to unravel in Melbourne. A pivotal moment came when Jonny Wilkinson’s intercepted pass and an unpunished elbow on Richard Hill shifted momentum, allowing Australia to surge to a 29-point second half and a 35-14 victory. Fatigue and a stolen lineout by Justin Harrison in Sydney sealed the Lions’ 2-1 series defeat, their first to Australia.
Johnson, the only postwar Lions captain to lose a series Down Under, warned the 2025 squad that small errors—like Wilkinson’s pass or lost lineouts—can compound disastrously. “He talked about the small margins in the biggest games and doing the fundamentals,” said Lions scrum coach John Fogarty, noting the team’s quiet reflection after Johnson’s jersey presentation.
Wallabies’ Potential for a 2025 Backlash
The 2025 Wallabies, coached by Joe Schmidt, are poised to rebound after a lackluster first Test. Missing key forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton in Brisbane, they struggled, trailing 24-5 early in the second half before late tries by Carlo Tizzano and Tate McDermott narrowed the gap. Now, with Valetini’s relentless carrying and Skelton’s 6’7”, 145kg presence back, plus a 6-2 forward-heavy bench including Angus Bell and Langi Gleeson, Australia aims to dominate collisions.
Schmidt’s meticulous analysis of the Brisbane loss is expected to yield a sharper game plan, with X posts noting his recall of veteran James O’Connor for experience. Lions lock Ollie Chessum acknowledged Skelton’s “unique strengths,” bracing for a “proper Melbourne melee” in rainy conditions.
Lions’ Vulnerabilities and Adjustments
Despite their Brisbane dominance, driven by Finn Russell’s flair and Tom Curry’s relentless tackling, the Lions face challenges. Injuries to Joe McCarthy and Garry Ringrose (concussion) disrupt the lineup, with Bundee Aki and Huw Jones forming a new midfield duo, potentially exposing cohesion issues.
James Lowe and Hugo Keenan have yet to hit peak form, and the forward pack’s breakdown work lacks ruthlessness, a concern echoed by former Lions. The bench, including Owen Farrell and Jac Morgan, offers firepower, but Andrea Piardi’s refereeing—marred by a past error in a Munster match—adds uncertainty. Johnson and Jones, recalling 2013’s narrow Melbourne loss, stressed that a clean sweep is rare; only in 1950 and 1989 did the Lions win the final two Tests in Australia.
Melbourne’s Electric Atmosphere
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, hosting its first Lions Test, expects over 90,000 fans, surpassing the 84,188 record from 2001’s Sydney decider. In 2001, a “sea of red” Lions fans dominated Brisbane, prompting Australia’s “Be Bold, Wear Gold” campaign to rally 56,771 supporters in Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium. This time, the Wallabies aim to harness a gold-clad MCG crowd, with local hero Valetini and wing Harry Potter, a Melbourne native, drawing inspiration from the iconic venue. Lions captain Maro Itoje, the second Englishman to lead after Johnson, warned, “We’re not playing a pub team,” emphasizing the Wallabies’ emotional drive to level the series.
Outlook: A Tight Contest Looms
Johnson’s warning resonates: the Lions must match Australia’s physicality and avoid complacency to secure the Tom Richards Cup in Melbourne. The Wallabies, with a bolstered lineup and home crowd, could be “a dozen points stronger,” per The Guardian.
A tight game may hinge on the Lions’ discipline and bench impact against Australia’s late-game tempo. While a Lions victory could make Sydney’s third Test a dead rubber, history suggests a fierce Wallabies response, making this a defining moment for Farrell’s squad.
