Kiwi players in a jersey swap at the Crows training session on Wednesday. Photo: ADELAIDE CROWS
LIONS RUGBY WATCH
For the first time in 36 years, an Anzac rugby team will take on the best of the British and Irish in Adelaide tonight.
The AUNZ side features current and former Wallabies and All Blacks, most of whom have been released by their Japanese club to play.
No current All Black will feature with New Zealand playing France in their second Test clash tonight.
The AUNZ front row features two Anzac players in props Aidan Ross and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen; both are former All Blacks and both now play for Queensland.
Australian-born, NZ-raised Ross just joined the Reds from the NZ-based Chiefs in time for their game against the Lions and is due to qualify for the Wallabies shortly.
The hooker is Wallaby Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
The locks are all Australian: Angus Blyth and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (co-captain).
Blindside flanker is the former All Black and hard-hitting Shannon Frizell, brother of Newcastle Knights NRL player Tyson.
The openside flanker is former Crusader and Wallaby Pete Samu while No. 8 is former All Black Hoskins Sotutu, of the Auckland-based Blues Super Rugby side.
Halfback is former All Black and Highlander Folau Fakatava, who is partnered with NSW playmaker (10) Tane Edmed.
On the left wing is former Wallaby Marika Koroibete with Blues (Auckland) player AJ Lam on the right.
Fellow co-captain David Havili from the Crusaders is at 12 with former All Black and ex-Warrior Ngani Laumape at 13. Fullback is Shaun Stevenson from the Chiefs (NZ).
Replacements (Australians unless mentioned otherwise): Kurt Eklund and Joshua Fusitu’a (both Blues), George Dyer (Chiefs), Matt Philip, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Jock Campbell.
A group of the Kiwi players also attended the Adelaide Crows (AFL) main training session on Wednesday.
The AUNZ game will be the final tour match for the Lions before they face the Wallabies in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium on July 19.
LIONS TEAM NEWS
Meanwhile, Lions coach Andy Farrell has named Irishman Tadhg Beirne as captain for the game tonight and the second time on tour.
World-class lock Maro Itoje (England) is sitting out the fixture ahead of the first Test.
Farrell also named son Owen for his first appearance of the tour off the bench, set for his 19th appearance for the famed team.
“We are in a great position just over a week out from the first Test,” Andy Farrell told Rugby Australia’s website rugby.com.au.
“(AUNZ coach Les) Kiss assembled a strong squad with lots of international experience.
“We know that he will have them well organised and they will bring a lot of physicality to the contest.”
The last time the two sides met, in 1989, the Lions won 19-15.
