Anzac team should be quietly forgotten

The invitational side’s drubbing in Adelaide was predictable, although the 48-0 scoreline was worse than expected because of a spiky British and Irish Lions performance that will give their coach Andy Farrell some selection headaches. There’s no doubt the respective coaches and players in the AusNZ side got plenty out of the clash – who would say no to some bonding sessions and a game against the Lions at the end of it? – but for the people who really matter, the paying punters, the value of the concept is far less certain. There are definitely more worthy opponents for the Lions – Fiji beat Scotland in Suva at the weekend – and the smart money says the AusNZ team will not be part of the tour itinerary in New Zealand in four years’ time. When the time is right after the current tour, it would not be a surprise to see the Lions blow up about the quality of opposition before the three Tests against the Wallabies.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto breaks a tackle against the Lions on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s impressive audition

By selecting Josh Canham over Darcy Swain in the Wallabies squad, Joe Schmidt has signalled a preference for some more ball-carrying presence among his locks. That should mean the door isn’t entirely closed on Lukhan Salakaia-Loto if injuries strike during the next three weeks. Salakaia-Loto certainly put himself about in Adelaide, and if there was one criticism of the Lions it was that they did look a little vulnerable to the heavy carries by Salakaia-Loto and Hoskins Sotutu in the first half. A lack of rugby might have counted against Salakaia-Loto’s Wallabies hopes, but he has always been one of the few Wallabies who can genuinely put a dent in Test defensive lines.

Farrell makes a mockery of selection furore

Owen Farrell looked dialled in – and happy – in an impressive cameo for the Lions in Adelaide. Apart from his vast experience, his appeal is obvious: he can come at No.12 and give the Lions a wider attack with the breadth and accuracy of his passing.

Owen Farrell staked a strong claim in Adelaide for Test selection.Credit: AP

While the opposition wasn’t as rigorous as the Lions might have liked, Farrell must be a reasonable chance of landing a bench role in the first Test next weekend. The Lions’ midfield is probably their most contested selection area, but Farrell gives them something neither Bundee Aki nor Sione Tuipulotu can match off the bench, and he probably hasn’t travelled thousands of kilometres to sit in the stands.

Wallabies’ huge call at loosehead

James Slipper or Angus Bell? That selection is shaping up to be one of the Wallabies’ biggest calls this week because of the evolving storyline of the Lions’ scrum. Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong clearly started the tour underdone, but he has moved through the gears with each passing week and some of his touches against the Brumbies on Wednesday were the “old Furlong” – the get-out-of-my-way attitude with ball in hand. Furlong’s trajectory suggests that Lions will attack the Wallabies’ scrum on Saturday, something that didn’t look likely after the initial tour games. Slipper’s selection ahead of Bell for the Fiji Test has muddied the waters a bit – Bell started in three of four of the Wallabies’ spring tour Tests.

Can Moana Pasifika survive?

Doubts about Moana Pasifika’s future have re-emerged due to concerns about their sustainability, and although chief executive Debbie Sorensen insists their place in the 2026 competition is “confirmed”, the Rebels were similarly bullish before their eventual demise. Like all Super Rugby clubs, Moana Pasifika’s model is challenging and the Herald understands that New Zealand Rugby harbours real concerns about whether they can keep going. Should NZ Rugby pull the licence, do not be surprised about a return to a conference system in a 10-team competition, with the Australian teams plus the Fijian Drua and the New Zealand teams playing each other first before meeting up later in the competition. Watch this space, as the format for next year will have to be resolved in the coming months.

All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.