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

[Yoda]

Plenty to pick from.

 

[PhilClinton]

Being an exhibition game, could they potentially both pick extended benches?

 

[KOB1987]

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.

 

[Crashy]

Wonder where that leaves Gamble? Maybe Pacifica / Indig team.

 

[JRugby2]

He's been named in that side already

 

[KOB1987]

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]

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]

Being an exhibition game, could they potentially both pick extended benches?

TIME 2 MAKE THA CALL

​

 

[PhilClinton]

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]

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.

 

[Dctarget]

Coached by Kiss with a majority Reds team, hopefully that goes someway to helping cohesiveness.

 

[Wilson]

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]

Thrilled to see the quality of the squad that's come together, especially the healthy contingent of Kiwis 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!