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

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Feel free to delete but I couldn't find a thread for this one, with some big names being dropped from across the dutch, I'll add the confirmed squad members below as they trickle in.

NZ:
Folau Fakatava
Shannon Frizzell
Joshua Fusitu'a
David Havili
Ngani Laumape
Hoskins Sotutu? (he was firming but no confirmation yet?)
Shaun Stevenson

AUS:
Marika Koroibete
Pete Samu
Brandon Paenga-Amosa

Potential Side:
1. Joshua Fusitu'a
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3.
4.
5.
6. Shannon Frizzell
7.
8. Pete Samu
9. Folau Fakatava
10.
11. Marika Koroibete
12. David Havili
13. Ngani Laumape
14.
15. Shaun Stevenson

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.

Great to see some reasonably big and talented Kiwis named to build some hype and actually represent the NZ component of AUNZ, RugbyAU to hurry up and sort it out so we can get some Aussie names.

A fair few of these guys featured in that BaaBaas side that got demo'd by the Boks last week, I'll have to check out that game.

Who do you want to see named and who do you think reasonably will be named? Given those two answers probably aren't the same. lol

 

[Brumby Runner]

Tupou must be a chance of playing if comes through the Tahs game in a bit of form this weekend. BPA probably at Hooker although I think both Asiata and Lonergan are in better form. I'd expect no Brumbies who play on Wednesday will front up again three days later. On thast basis, if Tom Hooper misses Wednesday, he would be a chance for the AUNZ side.

Otherwise, I think the fringe players still in the Wallabies squad are all a chance of getting game time. The match is a week before the first test, so injuries aside there is sufficient time to recover if needed for the test.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

I think based on the two provincial games so far I'd like to see guys like Paisami, Flook, Uru, Pietsch, Faessler, Robertson, White, CdC and Grealy fill out the squad and get another crack. We'll see what the Tahs match looks like but I'd hope Tupou, Reilley, Leota, Kellaway and Wilson have decent games and also put their hands up.

 

[Alex Sharpe]

Release of names of Aussie players will be hugely dependant on what's going on in camp Wallaby. Would not expect much until after the FIJI game

 

[Dctarget]

Koroibete, BPA & Samu all named. Fantastic start. Surprised not to see Kerevi yet.

 

[Wilson]

Koroibete, BPA & Samu all named. Fantastic start. Surprised not to see Kerevi yet.

Was very confused reading that Samu Kerevi was both in and out until I realised that was Pete Samu included but not Samu Kerevi

 

[Dctarget]

I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of players released. No dirt trackers yet.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Koroibete, BPA & Samu all named. Fantastic start. Surprised not to see Kerevi yet.

Now we're cooking with gas. Boys trip to Adelaide anyone?

 

[Dctarget]

From parkfooty's team above. Dire need of locks, an openside and a flyhalf.

Hopefully Philip and Leota will be named after the 'Tahs game. My prediction is that Philip will sneak onto at least the bench of the Wallabies by Test 3.

Maybe Salakaia-Loto and/or Uru could help out at lock. Swain could be released.

Flyhalf is tough.. Edmed? I thought Bernard Foley could be a choice, he was actually aiming for the Wallabies squad this year so he's fit & ready and in apparently great form.

Would be good to see JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) and Ross named too now that they're free.

 

[Alex Sharpe]

From parkfooty's team above. Dire need of locks, an openside and a flyhalf.

Hopefully Philip and Leota will be named after the 'Tahs game. My prediction is that Philip will sneak onto at least the bench of the Wallabies by Test 3.

Maybe Salakaia-Loto and/or Uru could help out at lock. Swain could be released.

Flyhalf is tough.. Edmed? I thought Bernard Foley could be a choice, he was actually aiming for the Wallabies squad this year so he's fit & ready and in apparently great form.

Would be good to see JTA (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) (Jeffery Toomaga-Allen) and Ross named too now that they're free.

JOC (James O'Connor) at 10?

 

[zer0]

Presumably you'd want more players from AU than NZ which would mean five more NZ players, at most (not counting Sotutu atm). Maybe something like:

Ricky Riccitelli/Ioane Moananu (hooker)
Josh Beehre/Naitoa Ah Kuoi (lock)
Tom Christie/Ethan Blackadder (openside)
Hsokins Sotutu (eight)
Emoni Narawa/Mark Tele'a/AJ Lam/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (wing)

Or just load up entirely on forwards.

EDIT: idk if Laumape can play at centre. So it could also be Laumape at IC, Havili at fullback, and Stevenson on one wing. Or one of them on the bench.

 

[Wilson]

Flyhalf is tough.. Edmed? I thought Bernard Foley could be a choice, he was actually aiming for the Wallabies squad this year so he's fit & ready and in apparently great form.

Might be a good chance to get Lynagh some game time if he's not quite ready for the Fiji game.

 

[Dctarget]

Could Tizzano play?

 

[Wilson]

Could Tizzano play?

If he's not in the 23 against Fiji he absolutely should, but it sounds like he will be with the injuries to Skelton and Valetini so it'll probably depend on how many minutes he gets and how he and McReight pull up.

 

[Super Hooper]

When are they gonna start to train? No matter how good are the players, if they don't train together for some weeks, they are gonna get smashed by the Lions

 

[Slim 293]

Koroibete, BPA & Samu all named. Fantastic start. Surprised not to see Kerevi yet.

Apparently...

The Roar understands Rugby Australia baulked at the idea of shelling out a five-figure sum to insure Kerevi’s contract, which is worth more than $1 million in Japan.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/07/03/koroibete-one-of-three-wallabies-named-in-aunz-clash-but-theres-one-glaring-omission/

 

[Dctarget]

Apparently...

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/07/03/koroibete-one-of-three-wallabies-named-in-aunz-clash-but-theres-one-glaring-omission/

How very boring

 

[Strewthcobber]

There were some recent Reddit posts about what players can demand for the Barabarian's match fees. Huge $$$ - and presumably that's what RA will have to fork out for this game as well.

Someone linked this gem of a story

 

[drewprint]

Apparently...

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/07/03/koroibete-one-of-three-wallabies-named-in-aunz-clash-but-theres-one-glaring-omission/

This wouldn't affect him/RA during the actual full 3 Test series right? I'm guessing this is because the invitational game falls outside the proper Test window. Still sucks. There's been so little news on Kerevi; I'm kind of hoping they are quietly training and priming him for a curveball surprise inclusion in the team and he shreds it.

 

[Wilson]

I had thought Kerevi was off contract at this stage. This was definitely the 2nd season of his 2 year deal with Uaryasu, and I could've sworn I saw a goodbye post of something to that effect. I can't find it now though, so if there's a big insurance bill it must mean he has re-signed with them (or signed on with another foreign team).