• Welcome to the forums of Green & Gold Rugby.
    We have recently made some changes to the amount of discussions boards on the forum.
    Over the coming months we will continue to make more changes to make the forum more user friendly for all to use.
    Thanks, Admin.

AUNZ Invitational XV v British & Irish Lions Saturday, 12 July 2025, 8:00pm Adelaide Oval

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
Well they haven’t picked extended benches for the 4 exhibition games so far. Squad of 30 is pretty normal isn’t it? A preferred XV plus a back up in every position to allow for the inevitable calf or Achilles training injury.
 

KOB1987

John Eales (66)
Does he even have an indigenous heritage? He might be elevated to the main squad if Joe watched saturdays game.

edit: just saw the above and note he has some Tongan blood. Still, my comment stands.
 

Wilson

Tim Horan (67)
I think this might be my 23 from that squad:

1 Ross (AU/NZ)
2 Asiata (AU)
3 Toomaga-Allen (c) (NZ)
4 Salakaia-Loto (AU)
5 Philip (AU)
6 Uru (AU)
7 Samu (AU)
8 Sotutu (NZ)
9 Fakatava (NZ)
10 Edmed (AU)
11 Koroibete (AU)
12 Havili/Laumape (NZ)
13 Lam (NZ)
14 Lancaster (AU)
15 Stevenson (NZ)

16 BPA (AU)
17 Fusitua (NZ)
18 Dyer (NZ)
19 Blyth (AU)
20 Frizzell (NZ)
21 Thomas (AU)
22 McLaughlin-Phillips (AU)
23 Grealy/Walton (AU)

8 AU, 6 NZ and one both (Ross) in the starters, 5 AU and 3 NZ on the bench for a 13/9 split with one as both. Feels about right for balance in an Australian lead Au/NZ team. I mostly tried to favour fringe Wallabies as starters with a few combinations. Lots of different ways you could arrange it with the players available though. Toomaga-Allen as captain as a senior guy who brides both camps.

I would've loved to see Tizzano get a proper crack at the Lions here, I think he really would've relished the challenge and I'm not sure how much opportunity he's going to get in the rest of the series.
 

Dismal Pillock

Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Being an exhibition game, could they potentially both pick extended benches?
TIME 2 MAKE THA CALL

35e1be2a-42b5-49c7-bc19-f83bb67cf496.jpg
 

PhilClinton

Paul McLean (56)
Well they haven’t picked extended benches for the 4 exhibition games so far.

You are probably right - but I consider the games against the clubs to be more 'tour games'.

This is a genuine exhibition game and being played purely for entertainment purposes (I guess technically all games are for entertainment, but you know what I mean).
 

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
8 AU, 6 NZ and one both (Ross) in the starters, 5 AU and 3 NZ on the bench for a 13/9 split with one as both. Feels about right for balance in an Australian lead Au/NZ team. I mostly tried to favour fringe Wallabies as starters with a few combinations. Lots of different ways you could arrange it with the players available though. Toomaga-Allen as captain as a senior guy who brides both camps.
Good team Wilson. Minor quibble, I'd probably start BPA for game time because I think he's closer to Wallabies than Asiata especially with Porecki being injured.
 

Wilson

Tim Horan (67)
Good team Wilson. Minor quibble, I'd probably start BPA for game time because I think he's closer to Wallabies than Asiata especially with Porecki being injured.
I'd end up using the front rows for 40 each so it doesn't make too much difference, but it's possible they'll want to limit BPA's minutes with Porecki injured again on the weekend. Tthe main reason I started Asiata though, is that Asiata, Salakaia-Loto and Uru make up the bones of an established lineout that is already coached by the coaches in charge of this side.

The other aspect is that he and Samu are the only Aussies in this squad who haven't faced the Lions yet, which means they should definitely be in the 23 for mine and probably starting. I'd also pick them on merit though, so that's just an added bonus.
 

parkfootyenthusiast2

Larry Dwyer (12)
Thrilled to see the quality of the squad that's come together, especially the healthy contingent of kiwi's given the debacle of 1989. I don't know how so many of them put their hands up to wear the most Aussie looking 'AUNZ' strip of all time though....

Pleased to see Grealy, Uru, Walton, Thomas, Lancaster etc. picked after encouraging outings in the state games. Brumbies into this game should make for a very nice week of footy ahead before the tests get underway. Excited!
 
Top