Jonathan Joseph's 2025 Lions column: Will Australia X-factor be enough against Lions?
Former England centre and 2017 British & Irish Lions tourist, Jonathan Joseph, analyses the 2025 Lions Tour to Australia so far as they prepare to face Wallabies in the first Test, as well as highlighting key players.
Warm-ups show Lions are improving
The warm-up games have probably gone how warm up games should in terms of having a load of great players who might not have the cohesion yet. As the games have gone on performances have improved and it was the same when I was in New Zealand.
The first few games are really hard to get everything clicking and there is only so much cohesion you can build in training, you need that game time to really get up to speed. It’s hard to fully judge how good they are at the moment based on the opposition that they are facing, but it is definitely going in the right direction.
As far as the Lions are concerned, they have beaten everyone they need to in Australia, mostly in convincing fashion. They have played a relatively loose game in some matches, but I think that’s something they will rein in for the Test series against the Wallabies.
It was good to do that during the warm-up games because it gives them the chance to see how good they can be and it can be hard to rein that ability in when you are playing a weaker opposition.
They will have analysed it to see where they pushed things a bit too far, but now that they have seen they can do it, they have the option of both flare and a more rigid game plan.
Key players for the 2025 Lions
In terms of individuals in the squad, there are some who have definitely stepped up and brought their club and international form to the Lions.
From an England point of view, so many of them have played well. Maro Itoje has been fantastic in a position that is often characterised by the unseen work, things like rucks, lineout defence etc.
He always seems to have big moments at the breakdown or his line speed, he never really has an off day and is so reliable. As captain you would imagine he will play all three Tests and playing at that level you would keep backing him to perform.
When I was playing with him I always thought he had potential to be a captain, but more so the way he plays and conducts himself off the pitch, he is clearly very driven and eager for success. Even from a young age he was mature beyond his years.
Another player who has impressed me is Henry Pollock and he is kind of the opposite to Maro in that all his performances are highlight reel moments. He’s an exceptional athlete and plays with this ‘no fear’ attitude, whether that’s in defence or in attack.
Every game he makes at least one line break; he seems to always be in the right place and that is a question of work rate. There aren’t many players who can do what he can do and if you’re a coach with a positive, front-foot attitude then you’ve got to have him in there, probably to introduce him from the bench.
The Lions head coach Andy Farrell is very big on people’s attitude and mentality towards the game, and I think he probably loves the way Pollock approaches it.
When Farrell was my defence coach with England he was brilliant. His level of detail was incredible and he has a very good rugby brain.
One of his big things is the stuff that doesn’t require talent. The squad is packed with talent but he loves the kick chase, the getting off the floor, the mentality and drive to keep going and keep going.
Owen Farrell’s Lions call-up
I thought Owen Farrell was brilliant when he came off the bench against the AUNZ XV. He didn’t put a step wrong and pretty much all of his involvements were massive positives.
He got the Lions on the front foot and his offloading, passing and kicks in behind were spot on. He’s the Owen Farrell that we all know when he’s playing at his best.
It’s obviously a big decision whether he is involved in the Test team. He hasn’t played much rugby recently but if I were coach, having someone like him to bring off the bench isn’t a bad thing at all.
We’ve seen what he can bring to a team and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the squad, but it might be later in the series that we see him join the Test team.
What the Lions can expect against Australia
Australia have come along quite a bit since the World Cup, when they went out in the group stage, but I still don’t think they have the same depth as the Lions which could be where they struggle.
I’m gutted that they lost Noah Lolesio to injury, but I’m excited to see how they go and I hope that they bring their A game.
Even without Lolesio they have X-factor and that is always dangerous because they will push things a bit more. When you know you have such talent in the squad you can try things a little bit more.
You never quite know which Australia team will show up, but they have so many quality players. I think the Lions will win but I’m hoping that Australia make a real spectacle of it and make it a close fixture.
