Lions Tour 2025

[Wilson]

I recall Kefu saying they'd be calling on Drua and Moana players in an early interview after his announcement as coach.

I found the quote from Waugh I was thinking of:

"For the First Nations and Pasifika game, it's players who are in the Australian Super Rugby squads, with the caveat that if there's a challenge around the depth of (the) team, then we can tap into the Moana Pasifika and Drua team.

Rugby Australia rules Folau ineligible to play British & Irish Lions

Rugby Australia has set out its criteria over player eligibility for an historic First Nations & Pasifika XV team, ruling one of the greatest Wallabies' performers out of making a triumphant retur...

nit.com.au

So potentially a few, but only around the edges it seems. Samoan test match players are likely out, given they have a match on the Friday beforehand. Fiji's last game I can see is this Saturday and Tonga don't appear to have anything booked in so they're probably still somewhat available. I'm guessing it'll also have to be players with ongoing contracts with the Drua/Moana too, which is going to limit the availability, particularly from Moana who have lost a lot of players in the off season.

 

[Wilson]

If any of the tour matches shone a pathway how to beat the Lions it was the Tahs match with their rush defence.

One remains hopeful.

I don't think that's a particularly useful take away for the Wallabies, it's not the system they run and trying to change to it now would be a recipe for disaster.

The more relevant take-aways from the tour games are the Lions vulnerability at the break down (tahs and Brumbies both kept in touch by going hard here) and on the restart (Lions had issues in every game), along with a surprising lack of set piece dominance in general. The success the Brumbies ahd going to width is also pretty relevant - there was already clear intent from the Wallabies to go wide against Fiji, and the injury Kinghorn is liekly going to further weaken the Lions' ability to defend the fringes.