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

[rugbyAU]

Roar reporting that LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Canham are likely to play in this fixture

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Updated with reports and shifted the backline around to zer0's liking!

I'd LOVE to see the NARD lead this team around... just make sure the footy is out of his hands for the game winning touch finder.

 

[Wilson]

AJ Lam the next one rumoured to be coming in from NZ

 

[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)

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Reports are that they're assembling in Adelaide this weekend to begin preparations.. surprised there's been no more leaks if that's the case?

Also, can we get some JOC (James O'Connor) and Kurt too?

 

[Braveheart81]

Tane Edmed, Darby Lancaster, Matt Philip and Dan Botha have been added to this squad.

 

[Braveheart81]

Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Aidan Ross added as well.

 

[Dctarget]

and Sotutu and Lam confirmed.

What a belter of a team.

 

[Dctarget]

You'd think the remaining will mostly be Aussie. So far 9/19 selected are NZ.

Potential Side:
1. Joshua Fusitu'a NZ
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa AUS
3. Jeff Toomaga-Allen NZ
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto AUS
5. Matt Philip AUS
6. Shannon Frizzell NZ
7. Hoskins Sotutu NZ
8. Pete Samu AUS
9. Folau Fakatava NZ
10. Tane Edmed AUS
11. Marika Koroibete AUS
12. Ngani Laumape NZ
13. AJ Lam NZ
14. Shaun Stevenson NZ
15. David Havili NZ

16.
17. Aidan Ross AUS
18. Dan Botha AUS
19.
20. Josh Canham AUS
21.
22.
23. Darby Lancaster AUS

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Thanks both, updated now. Humming along nicely. Probably need a back rower, a back utility or two and a hooker on the bench to round it out. My picks based on the games so far would be Uru, O'Connor/Beale, Grealy and Faessler?

 

[Wilson]

Will depend on how many minutes they get against Fiji and how the squad as a whole pulls up, but I'd like to see Hooper, Tizzano and Daugunu considered to ensure they get a crack against the Lions. As the squad stands it probably only makes sense to include one of Hooper or Tizzano though, in which case it's probably Hooper as I think he's the least likely to feature in the tests. Daugunu also has the advantage of being eligible for the First Nations/Pasifika game as well. They will need a few more guys than 23 in the squad though, so it still makes sense to call them in (possibly forcing some of the other out of the 23 too).

With that in mind I'd probably fill the gaps with Asiata, Hooper, Gordon (if fit), and Lynagh (if fit). I'd then have either Teddy Wilson or Kalani Thomas covering Gordon and ideally O'Connor covering Lynagh, but Burey or Stewart could be good options as a utility instead. Tupou, Swain, Faessler, CdC and Pietsch all make sense as coverage options they could bring in to round out the squad.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

I guess I didn't realise that a player could theoretically play in this game as well as the first test given it's a week later. I was going to say they probably wouldn't play Tizz, Hooper, Daugunu, Gordon etc. in case they're needed. Would definitely be good to blood the guys who haven't had a crack at the Lions yet if possible, pending fitness.

Do we think there's any reasonable way Koroibete can play himself into Wallaby gold if the old Marika shows up and does a job on them?

 

[PhilClinton]

Based on the absolute creamings the Lions have dished out to our SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) teams so far, I am actually more excited about this game than the first Wallabies v Lions test match. It feels like it will be much more fun and the stakes aren't as high.

The team being put together is actually exciting - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) in particular looked ready to rumble for the Reds and was close to our best on the park. Hopefully Itoje is starting again for this game and they have another battle.

 

[Wilson]

Do we think there's any reasonable way Koroibete can play himself into Wallaby gold if the old Marika shows up and does a job on them?

He'd probably need an injury or two to the guys already in the squad as well.

 

[Dctarget]

And play an absolute monster of a game, probably for the Pasifika team too. But would happily have him back, 90% of an inform Koroibete is better than current Toole and Kellaway.

Absolute travesty that we can't see Kerevi test his mettle in this game. Don't know why it's possible to get all those good All Blacks to turn out but his contract was too steep.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

You guys are that high on Potter and Jorg after 3 months off?