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Key events
34 min: Van der Merwe juggles inside his own 22. He’s looked shaky fielding loose balls. He eventually gets it under control and hoofs the ball out inside his ow half.
32 min: That was so, so good! Jones is having a sensational game. AUNZ get a free kick at the scrum and kick ahead but van der Merwe is carrying ti back. Keenan knocks on as he tries to catch a ball around his shoelaces. They went for an elaborate play with Morgan acting as the lynchpin for Smith on a waraparound. It went quickly to Tuipulotu who couldn’t quite connect with Keenan. AUNZ get another scrum and they carry this time to halfway.
29 min: We have a scrum on the left inside Lions territory. Ben White will feed it with no blindside to work with. Van der Merwe, not for the first time, is standing close to first receiver. It goes to Jones who steps a tackler. Earl carries well. They’ve made about 30 metres in no time. Jones has it again and he’s up to the 22. White onto Hansen who wriggles free of a tackler and offloads for Cowan-Dickie with the line at his mercy. But the hooker spills it in the corner! Brilliant play from the tourists but that should have ended with a try.
26 min: The Lions exit and then win the ball back thanks to Beirne stripping Koroibete in the tackle. Shortly after the skipper tries to kick upfield but skews it straight out around halfway. Van der Merwe then nails Blyth down the short side adter a line-out. AUNZ don’t want to mix it with the Lions midfield as the line speed has been impressive. Very good defensive sets so far.
25 min: Has Frizzell dotted down? No, he’s held up! Or has he had it pinched from him right between the poles. It came from a tap and go. I think Jones has stripped this from Frizzel but the Scottish centre was on his knees as he did so. No, the strip was clean, but they come back for a knock-on before that as a heavy hit from Schoeman forced the spill. The Lions will feed the scrum five from their own line. Solid defence there. They look like a team tonight.
24 min: There’a a penalty for jumping across the line-out so AUNZ get the chance to kick to the corner. They’ll have the throw inside the Lions 22. Another penalty for off-side. Edmed hoists a hopeful high kick with the advantage but that was a bit aimless. They come back for the penalty around five out from the line.
TRY! AUNZ 0-17 Lions (van der Merwe, 21)
The big man has a brace! So slick from the Lions. Tap and go, they win the collision and continue to crunch the gainline as they snake to the right. Then they go to the left after sucking in defenders. With front foot ball Tuipolotu holds his pass for Smith who then spirals it to his left. Simple passing finds Duhan who strolls over in the corner. Smith can’t curl in the conversion from the left tram.
19 min: Pollock is held up over the line! Excellent from the Lions. Off the line-out they went through the hands. Some lovely touches. Duhan in midfield contributing. Keenan to Hansen who steps from the right wing and makes space before unfurling an offload to keep it going. They’re five out and go back towards the left tram where Pollock collects and makes a dart for the corner. But he can’t dot down. It’s OK, they have the penalty advantage and will tap and go within touching distance.
17 min: AUNZ back on the ball. A chip ahead almost finds a man in gold and white but it’s the Lions who come away with it. Jones gathers and runs upfield, he kicks ahead, it bounces in the 22 and Edmed has to mop up. He’s forced past his own poles and kicks while peddling backwards. That’s a mighty fine touch finder from the fly-half. Relentless pressure from the Lions who will have the line-out on the 22 towards the left. No they won’t actually, that kick took a Lions hand on the way out. AUNZ get the line-out and they clear further upfield.
14 min: Better from the home side who keep hold of the ball for a sustained period. Samu got things going by hammering a ruck and Edmed had a dart on Smith. 10 on 10 violence. It’s shifted wide to the right where Laumape has it. Samu again on the ball. They’re into the 22. 10 phases. They lose patience and a cross-field kick looking for Koroibete on the left wing is overcooked and Hansen marks. He then tries to kick upfield into space but skews it out of touch.
12 min: Van der Merwe has put his team under pressure. Or has he. A kick to the corner was destined for touch but the winger slid in and tried to knock it back infield. He got away with it as the ball had indeed gone out before. Lucky as that could have ended badly. The Lions secure the ball from the throw and Smith clears wit a kick past between the 22 and halfway.
TRY! AUNZ 0-12 Lions (White, 11)
And another! Sharp from White around the fringe who picked the ball up at the back of a ruck, spotted the gap and sniped his way through to slide under the poles. Relentless pressure from the Lions who flooded forward following a line-out and a penalty advantage. Really swift breakdown work. The simple conversion is made from right in front.
10 min: Tuipulotu is on the charge again. Keenan is busy too. He’s having a good game. A penalty on the ground gives Smith the opportunity to kick to the 22 on the right….
9 min: White clears to halfway after the restart. The scrum-half has been impressive off the boot so far. The Lions are winning the kick battle.
TRY! AUNZ 0-5 Lions (van der Merwe, 7)
In a flash the try machine bags another! It came off the back of David Havili skewing a kick straight out of touch. Keenan took the throw quickly and some quick hands from the backs unleased Duhan who bolted up the left tram and scored in the corner. Fin Smith couldn’t curl his conversion back through the sticks.
4 min: AUNZ clear from their scrum and Keenan gathers. The fullback lifts a high kick that is secured so the Lions are on the attack. They’re working it down the right then go back towards the middle. Into the 22. All the way across to the left tram where the ball bobbles out for a line-out. They’re making progress but it’s not quite clicking. After another clearance kick from AUNZ the Lions come again. An up and under goes too long and it’s an easy mark for fly-half Tane Edmed. He hoofs it to halfway where the tourists will have the throw. A little stodgy so far.
2 min: A solid scrum has Tuipulotu on the front foot. He busts over the gainline. So does Beirne. It goes left to van der Merwe in the right tram who steps infield. It’s tidy until there’s a spill. AUNZ with the scrum inside their own 22 on their right.
1 min: The Lions kick off and AUNZ go through the hands in their 22. A big hit from Morgan forces a knock on so the tourists will have the scrum feed on the 22 with a short blindside down the right.
Just a few minutes to go so time enough for me to lambast the AUNZ kit.
God I hate it. It’s a four horizontal lines, with gold at the top followed by white, dark green and black at the bottom of the shirt.
With so much history and heritage, and rich indigenous art and culture to draw on, this feels like a missed opportunity to create something special. I hate it I hate it I hate it.
Right, that’s off my chest. The players are on the pitch.
Has there ever been a more divisive player than Owen Farrell?
Our first email of the morning, from Geoff Wignall, disagrees with me on his Farrell Jnr’s inclusion in the group. I bet if we asked 100 Lions fans 50 would be on my side and 50 would be on Geoff’s:
Good morning Daniel,
I’d beg to differ over Farrell jnr.’s right to be in the squad, not least because of George Ford’s superb form of recent months; but what really interests me about today’s team is how much more pace this lineup has compared with the last match.
This time out we’ll be seeing the three quickest backrowers together (and I agree fully that Morgan must be the test 7), along with the fastest centre in Jones and VDM might not be lightning but he has significantly more gas than Lowe.
I’m old-fashioned enough to believe in the need for speed at test level, in both mind and body.
Maybe we’ll get to see quick ball, well used.
Sam Warburton again. I could listen to him talk rugby all day.
Here’s his take for Sky Sports on Hugo Keenan:
Hugo Keenan has had a bit of a tricky start to the tour. So I think the Lions are desperate for him to play today, put in a good performance, and then they’ll be okay at 15.
If he picks up a knock today then it’s going to be interesting. That 15 shirt could then be open for someone like a Marcus Smith for that first Test or maybe they might do some shuffling around.
I think they’ll be keeping their fingers crossed that Keenan stays fit because he’s the only out and out 15 that’s left in the squad.
Rob Kitson is in Adelaide. Lucky him.
Our main man picks out five key selection posers for Andy Farrell.
The one I’m most interested in is the number 7 jersey. For my money Jac Morgan HAS to start. I’d then have Either Henry Pollock or Josh van der Flier on the bench. Sorry Tom Curry, you’re not in my team.
If you’re on the same page as Sam Warburton you’re probably on the right page.
The former Lions skipper reckons Owen Farrell’s inclusion is a no-brainer. I agree and that makes me feel safe.
I understand where everyone is coming from because Owen Farrell hasn’t played international rugby for a couple of years. But having played with him, anyone who’s been in the room with him is like: ‘That guy is someone you need.’
That talent, skill doesn’t go. He’s still been playing top flight rugby, it’s not like he’s just suddenly wilted away. I think it’s the right call.
I understand why people might have thought there should have been a like for like change… Having his expertise, his skills, his versatility in the group is a no brainer.
Ugo Monye has identified a few reasons why the Lions have misfired so far.
It’s a long list.
The breakdown, the pressure of selection, not starting with the requisite vim and vigour. Andy Farrell has problems to solve before the first Test, says the former England and Lions winger:
In other news, WALES WON A GAME!
Before we fully turn our attention to the Lions, why not tuck into some Aussie chat.
The big story, indeed, one of the biggest rugby stories of the last few years, is the return of James O’Connor.
The fly-half was an “eleventh-hour call”, as Jack Snape calls it, after the neck injury to first-choice 10 Noah Lolesio.
The former Reds No 10 last played for the Wallabies in 2022, but helped the Crusaders to a Super Rugby Pacific title this year in a role coming off the bench. It’ll be quite something of 35-year-old plays a part over this series.
Angus Fontaine is backing him to come good:
Team news
Owen Farrell is a Lion once more. If you’re asking me he should have been included in the initial squad. I get the arguments that he’s not playing for England, that he’s not been in red hot form in France, that some might rankle that his dad is the coach. But he’s a Test animal and just gets what it means to be a Lion.
Will he produce the goods tonight to earn a spot in the Test team?
Keep an eye on the Scottish duo in midfield. Huw Jones at 13 and Sione Tuipulotu at 12 get to showcase why so many regard them as the best centre pair in the world.
Jac Morgan starts at 7 – as he should for the Test team – alongside Ben Earl and Henry Pollock in the back row. Expect fireworks.
Thanks to a couple of injuries Hugo Keenan has a run at the 15 jersey with Marcus Smith seemingly inked on as an impact player off the bench. Will the Irishman grab his opportunity?
Plenty to ponder.
British and Irish Lions: 15 Hugo Keenan; 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 James Ryan, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen Farrell
Les Kiss will take charge of the Wallabies in 2026, but now he’s leading the AUNZ side with 17 internationals.
Many believe that Marika Koroibete should be playing for Australia. He’ll no doubt be a menace on the wing here.
Shannon Frizell will test the Lions at the breakdown while Reds players Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Jock Campbell will also get another crack at the tourists.
AUNZ Invitational XV: 15 Shaun Stevenson; 14 AJ Lam, 13 Ngani Laumape, 12 David Havili (cc), 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Pete Samu, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (cc), 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 George Dyer, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
One last dress rehearsal. One last chance for some players to impress. One last chance for Andy Farrell to fine tune some combinations, to get a sense of who is in and who is out, to settle on 23 men worthy of taking part in the first Test next week.
The Lions have yet to fully impress. Last week, in 36-24 win over the Brumbies, a team billed as a Test side blew hot and cold, just as the men in red have done all tour. There were glimpses of some cohesion but the breakdown remained a mess while multiple attacks fizzled to nothing. Can they sort things out tonight?
This time they take on a combined Australia and New Zealand side with Owen Farrell on the bench. There’s an all-Scottish midfield and a dynamic back row to keep an eye on (more on the team in a bit).
Forget the result. Tonight is not about that. Tonight is about doing enough across the park to bag a place against the Wallabies.
Kick off at 11 am BST/7:30 pm in Adelaide.
Teams and further updates to come.
I’d love to hear from you. Send any thoughts. questions or anecdotes my way via email.
#AUNZ #Invitational #British #Irish #Lions #rugby #union #live #British #Irish #Lions
