Johnson's game of chess

Ever since we went one-up last Saturday, people have been asking me what I think about the historical potential of tomorrow's second Test.

Well, with no disrespect, if I wasted my time thinking about that we probably would be history. I'll tell you what I've been thinking about all week, what I am thinking today and what I will be thinking tomorrow. The thoughts never change and history doesn't enter into it.

First and foremost, I have to play well and not just make sure of being a good captain. I have to justify my position in the team, as well as taking care of other responsibilities such as tactics and motivation. Real issues concern me, all of which will have a crucial bearing on the game. I'm concerned about what John Eales does at the front of the line-out defending my ball; what his partner, David Giffin, does in the middle of the line-out attacking his ball; how George Gregan attacks round the blindside of rucks or round the openside of mauls and other sources of danger. If you start looking beyond that to speculating about winning a Test series in Australia, you are taking your eye off the ball and we all know what happens then.

If we do everything as well as we can, if we play with the confidence and determination of last week plus a bit more, we have a chance of winning. Equally, we could do all that and lose because Australia are so good. The players are all sufficiently motivated, without my going round telling them that this is the biggest game of their lives. That could make some players even more anxious. I'm far more concerned trying to anticipate what the Wallabies will do and they, of course, are trying to do exactly the same with us. It's like a game of chess, a mental matter of ensuring that everyone is in the right frame of mind which explains why we have done less physical work this week than in the four previous weeks. The trick in the hurly-burly of a Test match is to keep thinking of the game plan, not to get caught up with the passion of the game. That's not going to win you the series. A cool head will give you a better chance so there can be no mindless stuff. We did a fair bit of that during the last 20

minutes in Brisbane. We were protecting a lead and we conceded two tries for our sins.

I cannot see us having a lead of 26 points or anything like it this week. Keeping them out was very hard work and there are areas of our game which need improvement. We know we have to be very strong and ready for whatever comes our way. I am confident we are good enough to win but they are capable of scoring tries from anywhere on the field. You don't worry about the result, you worry about the performance because that determines the result. The mood is not as apprehensive as last week but we are still pretty anxious, which is a good thing. Having gained the advantage, we are determined not to let it slip.