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The British and Irish lions wrapped up their preparations for the first test against Australia next Saturday with an eight try display to blow away the Australia New Zealand Invitational XV on Saturday.
Tries
Merwe (6', 20', 63'), White (9'), Tuipulotu (43'), Cummings (61'), Kelleher (68'), Pollock (75')
Conversions
Smith (10', 43'), Smith (61', 75')
The British and Irish lions wrapped up their preparations for the first test against Australia next Saturday with an eight try display to blow away the Australia New Zealand Invitational XV on Saturday.
Duhan van der Merwe led the way with a hattrick, and there were tries from Ben White, Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings, Ronan Kelleher, and Henry Pollock at Adelaide Oval.
Owen Farrell made his first appearance of the 2025 tour when he came on for Huw Jones, who is now almost certain to start the first test at outside centre after it emerged that Garry Ringrose – who wasn’t playing – is out of the Brisbane clash after injuring his head.
Farrell came off the bench on 50 minutes and lined up at inside centre, but left kicking duties to the Smiths, Fin and Marcus.
There are also concerns over hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie who went off after taking a knee to his head in the first half that meant he went off on a stretcher. England’s Jamie George has been called up as cover.
The Invitational side looked exactly what they were, a side thrown together at short notice with little time to prepare, despite boasting 17 internationals.
For coach Les Kiss it is his second defeat to the Lions after his Queensland Red side lost earlier in the tour.
QUICK START
The Lions didn’t take long to find their stride and van der Merwe opened his account when he linked with Jones from Hugo Keenan’s quick lineout.
Soon after White spied space at a ruck and raced away, and while Pollock was held up in the corner, Tuipulotu and Fin Smith put Van der Merwe away for his second.
Cowan-Dickie’s head hit Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s knee, and he was carried off after having had treatment on the pitch.
Kelleher kept up the intensity after halftime, and his tapped penalty made its way through Ben Earls to Tuipulotu who stepped inside the ANZAC defence to score.
ENTER FARRELL
Farrell took the field soon after, and he couldn’t have asked for a better opposition to return against. The ANZAC’s lack of understanding allowed him a comfortable ride, but he still had his familiar snarl in place.
His charge set up the position that ended moments later with Cummings crashing through the ANZAC defence, and after Shannon Frizell was yellow carded, van der Merwe rounded off a flowing move featuring Farrell, Mack Hansen and Keenan.
Kelleher took advantage of the ANZACs switching off at a lineout to link up with Pierre Schoeman, then with five minutes to go Farrell kicked through, and Pollock took advantage of a mix-up between Tane Edmed and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to dive on the loose ball for his first Lions try.
It leaves Andy Farrell with plenty to ponder as the countdown to the first test begins.
Anzac XV Starting XV (1-15) Aidan Ross, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Angus Blyth, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Shannon Frizell, Pete Samu, Hoskins Sotutu, Folau Fakatava, Tane Edmed, Marika Koroibete, David Havili, Ngani Laumape, AJ Lam, Shaun Stevenson
Anzac XV Replacements (16-23) Kurt Eklund, Josh Fusitu'a, George Dyer, Matthew Philip, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell
British & Irish Lions Starting XV (1-15) Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Henry Pollock, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Ben White, Fin Smith, Duhan van der Merwe, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan
British & Irish Lions Replacements (16-23) Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell
