Why 'disappointing' Australia will be 'totally different animal' in second British & Irish Lions Test as Andy Farrell faces James Lowe quandary
Updated 21/07/2025 at 13:50 GMT+1
The British & Irish Lions found the fast start they were looking for in Brisbane to take a series lead over Australia. The hosts only began to find their mojo later in the encounter, and with some big names likely to return for the second Test, head coach Joe Schmidt will be hopeful of carrying momentum forward. Ben Kay gives TNT Sports his take on the decisions facing Schmidt and Andy Farrell.
Farrell wary of 'desperate' Australia in second Test - 'We know what's coming'
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"We know what's coming."
The words of British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell after he saw his side win the first Test against Australia, as he discussed expecting a "desperate" Wallabies in Saturday's second Test in Melbourne.
Joe Schmidt's team looked overpowered in the first half of last Saturday's Brisbane opener, but are set to be boosted by the return from injury of Rob Valetini - the Wallabies' player of the year in the last two seasons - and giant La Rochelle lock Will Skelton.
Ahead of the critical second Test - expected to be watched by over 90,000 at the MCG - ex-Lions and England 2003 World Cup winner Ben Kay, currently in Australia, spoke to TNT Sports to give his take on how the Wallabies can wrestle their way back into the series.
Kay said: "The Wallabies were disappointing in the first half [in Brisbane], they did really well to come back in the second half, I think the Lions took their foot off the gas a little bit.
"Valetini hopefully should be back on Saturday, Skelton adding a bit of muscle as well, and Tate McDermott might well be in line for a start after his performance off the bench.
"Joe Schmidt said in his press conference in the lead-up to the [first] game that had it been the third Test, he probably would have played Valetini and Skelton.
"Maybe they've lost a bit of momentum by not doing that but he didn't feel he could risk them.
"They will be a totally different animal.
"We all know that Skelton probably has a little bit of occupation in some of the minds of those Leinster players with how he's performed over the years in the big games against La Rochelle.
"I think they will make an enormous difference in terms of challenging the Lions' defence.
"Every time in that first half Australia carried, they got knocked back, and every time the Lions carried they won the collision.
"So that [Valetini and Skelton's return] will drastically affect - if Tom Lynagh's given the nod again or whether Ben Donaldson comes in - how the 10 can play.
"If they put in a performance like they did in the second half with a bit more physicality, you never know, we might be going to a decider in Sydney."
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Lowe 'under a bit of pressure'?
Kay also assessed matters in the Lions camp, reflecting on the standout performances from the first Test, as well as suggesting some personnel changes that Farrell and his coaching staff might be considering.
"I thought Finn Russell, who has been my player of the series so far, had another absolute worldie, a couple of passes in the lead-up to the Sione Tuipulotu try just showing all his class and ability to find space and buy himself time," Kay said.
"The biggest performances were probably from two of the most controversial selections, a lot of people saying Jac Morgan should have started at seven and Ollie Chessum at six - myself included.
"Tom Curry was his usual big-game, brilliant self, full of raw strength and power and a complete nuisance in the opposition psyche the whole time.
"And Tadhg Beirne was absolutely superb as well, proving Andy Farrell absolutely right in his selection.
"It's tough on these tours, you have so many good, big-game players, and you have to narrow it down, and it's always going to cause a few problems for some of the fans."
Kay added: "I would have liked to see a bit more from the bench, whether there will be a few decisions that Andy Farrell might make around that.
"There are a couple of guys who might come back into fitness.
"Huw Jones did brilliantly with his break-making but didn't quite finish off a couple of the opportunities that he's had.
"James Lowe as well might be under a bit of pressure if Mack Hansen comes into the fold, or Blair Kinghorn, maybe [Farrell could] put him on the wing.
"So there is lots still to play out before the game on Saturday."
The Lions play their final midweek fixture of the tour on Tuesday, against a First Nations and Pasifika XV, with Owen Farrell to skipper the side.
Lions 2025 remaining schedule
| Date | Fixture | Location | Time (UK) |
| Tue 22 July | First Nations & Pasifika XV v The Lions | Melbourne | 11am |
| Sat 26 July | Wallabies v Lions | Melbourne | 11am |
| Sat 2 Aug | Wallabies v Lions | Sydney | 11am |
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