The coach and co-captains of the AUNZ Invitational XV praised the concept of a trans-Tasman team and hope it won’t be thrown out with the bathwater after the combined Australian and New Zealand team were thumped by a clinical Lions outfit in Adelaide.
Hopes of a blockbuster spectacle between the trans-Tasman side and the best of Britain and Ireland were dashed by a ruthless Lions team, who ran in eight tries in a 48-0 victory - including a hat-trick to winger Duhan van der Merwe.
Huw Jones of the British & Irish Lions makes a break during the rugby match between the Lions and the AUNZ Invitational XV Credit: AP
The difficulty of putting together a scratch team, with many players who didn’t know each other, and then playing a humming Lions side seven days later was laid bare in the one-sided clash.
Lacking the connections required - both in attack and defence - the AUNZ XV were outgunned by the Lions, who defended superbly and didn’t allow any of the talented Kiwis or Aussies in the invitational side to get half-a-sniff at an opportunity.
The crowd of 43,145 - a record at Adelaide Oval for a rugby game - weren’t treated to a thrilling spectacle, with the Lions taking the air out of the tyres by taking an early lead and then clinically building it, particularly late.
But even with a lopsided scoreboard, AUNZ XV coach Les Kiss and co-captains David Havili and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto all said, unprompted, that the experience of playing for a combined Australia and New Zealand team was so rewarding that it should not be abandoned.
Havili said he hopes the 2029 Lions tour in New Zealand will also have an AUNZ XV fixture.
“The scoreline can tell one story, but there are other stories within it that are important to recognise as well,” Kiss said in his first question at the post-game press conference, when asked about the result.
“I think I would have the complete backing of the guys here (Salakaia-Loto and Havili) that that concept should be something that we continue to work on and make it work whenever we can. Without a doubt there were some moments that were tough for us, that we made tough on ourselves … with 26 to 28 points that they didn’t have to earn.
Tane Edmed of the AUNZ XV is tackled by Ben White Credit: Getty Images
“That made it a tough night in some ways and they’re the moments that the boys are disappointed with, just not being switched on. They’re a very good team, their defence, it’s hard to break down.
“But the concept of bringing guys together, I think I’d speak on behalf of the two guys that they would support trying to make sure those moments can happen more often than not.”
Kiss floated the idea of the team touring to the Northern Hemisphere and with a few more weeks together, the cohesion and connection would be there.
Havili, the 30-cap All Black star, said it was one of the best experiences of his career.
“When the Lions come back to New Zealand, hopefully we can get the same concept and the Aussie boys can come over to New Zealand and do the same thing because it’s great to be able to get teams like this off the ground. It’s just been a great, enjoyable week and really refreshing for myself,” Havili said.
uke Cowan-Dickie of the British & Irish Lions is tackled by the AUNZ XVCredit: AP
“The concept of this is awesome. A big thank you to the Australian Rugby Union for having us Kiwis over here. We really appreciate it.”
Salakaia-Loto added the week had been “unreal” and he also hoped it would continue.
The big lock was one of the best of the AUNZ side, with powerful carrying sending a message to Joe Schmidt after Salakaia-Loto was one of the unluckiest omissions from the Wallabies squad named on Friday. Pete Samu had nice touches and Tane Edmed was also stoic in the face of the Lions’ pressure. Shannon Frizzell was the pick of the Kiwis.
Marika Koroibete had precious little impact after hurting a knee in the first half.
But up against a Lions side led by impressive Scottish midfield pair Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, there were simply not enough firepower, or fire in the belly, for the AUNZ side to mount a challenge.
The Lions were pleased to get through the game relatively unscathed as the attention now turns to the first Test in Brisbane, although hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie was stretchered off with a head knock after trying to bring down Salakaia-Loto.
With news also coming through mid-game that Lions centre Garry Ringrose was out of the first Test mix due to concussion, Jones emerged as the front-runner to play no.13 - and that lifts Tuipulotu’s chances of starting as well, given their well-established connection.
“It was a very professional performance,” Lions coach Andy Farrell said.
“It is one of those games where you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. If you play a side with that amount of talent and give them a sniff, it gives them belief and it gives them confidence. We didn’t do that tonight.
“We are very pleased to finish off what’s been a tough block (of games) for all sorts of reasons.
“To get to this point where we get to the point we came over for, the Test series. It was nice to get a roll into a Test series in an nice shape as a squad as fasr our mentality. etc. I told the players in there selection (for the first Test) is going to be unbelievably difficult, and that’s how it should be.”
The Lions led 17-0 after a first half that quickly highlighted the difficulty of a new team playing a Lions side now clicking nicely into gear.
As seen in most tour matches so far, if you don’t take opportunities to stay in the Lions half, they exit and immediately put pressure back on you. And so it unfolded early for AUNZ, who lost an attacking lineout in the Lions’ quarter, and then gave away a penalty straight after.
A rare mistake from Havili saw the Lions score soon after, when the Crusaders skipper kicked out on the full and Lions fullback Hugo Keenan cannily run back upfield for a quick lineout.
The trans-Tasmanites were asleep and Duhan Van der Merwe crossed in the left corner.
More poor defensive connection from AUNZ saw them concede a second try two minutes later, when halfback Ben White scooted from a ruck and had no defence in front of him.
The hosts tried to get their game up and running, but it was tough against a strong and organised Lions defence.
Using what they’d cobbled together in a week, the AUNZ team tried some attacking shapes and even a few kicks, but the Lions didn’t give up any gaps. Soon it was reduced to one-off charges, which were handled well.
The Lions may also battle to train given their schuedule but the benefit of the existing Scottish combination of Tuipulotu and Jones was clear on both sides of the ball.
Van der Merwe scored a second in the 20th minute when sustained pressure produced an extra man on the left wing.
The second half saw a steady progression of more tries for the Lions, particularly after the benches came on and after Frizzell was yellow carded in the final quarter.
