The AUNZ Invitational XV went down after a strong surge from the British & Irish Lions saw the visitors continue their Australian tour undefeated, prevailing 48-0 in Adelaide.
The invitational side three early tries against the British & Irish Lions, down 17-0 going into halftime.
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Despite the result, it was an historic night, marking the first time a combined Australia and New Zealand side has played together since the 1989 Lions tour.
Queensland Reds second-row Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Crusaders centre David Havili co-captained the side, while the Lions welcomed back Owen Farrell to Lions colours.
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80+2' AUNZ 0 BIL 48 Lions attack well, they want a try to finish it off. They hound the line, can AUNZ hold them out? They can, Lions knock it on. That's full time.
80' AUNZ 0 BIL 48 AUNZ try to go wide as we head into the last minute - with Ben Earl winning player of the match! We're going upstairs, might be another card to AUNZ for a dangerous clear out. Fusitu'a is sent and we are back for a penalty as we head into the final minute.
77' AUNZ 0 BIL 48 An absolute blunder by AUNZ and Pollock looks to have scored? We're going upstairs - and it is a try! Smith converts.
75' AUNZ 0 BIL 41 Into the final 10 minutes. AUNZ make their best break so far, but Stevenson has a foot in touch. Lions try to run it and it gets messy, with the ball changing hands several times. Eventually the Lions kick into the AUNZ 22. Into the final five minutes.
70' AUNZ 0 BIL 41 Another penalty to AUNZ for tackling the player in the air off the repeat. Lions go quickly and attempt a dab ahead but it goes into touch. AUNZ with the lineout and clear. Lions attack but AUNZ rushes up well, but they concede another penalty for going off their feet. Another penalty, and Frizell is shown a card! Lions go to the corner, take a quick lineout, and score! Kelleher scores, but Smith fails to convert.
66' AUNZ 0 BIL 36 AUNZ concede another penalty for taking out the kicker, and the Lions go to the corner again. They fling it wide, and van Der Merwe is down for a hattrick! Smith attempts the conversion but it hits the post.
63' AUNZ 0 BIL 31 Another penalty and the Lions are looking dangerous again - going to the maul. The Lions go off the lineout, attack - and score! Cummings gets up to claim in. Marcus Smith converts.
60' AUNZ 0 BIL 24 Philip comes on AUNZ, as the Lions attack from their own territory. They bomb it but knock it on in the process. Scrum to AUNZ, and they get a scrum penalty for the Lions wheeling the scrum. Beirne comes off as AUNZ go to the maul, but then win a penalty back for holding on.
56' AUNZ 0 BIL 24 After a couple of scrum resets, AUNZ with the scrum and go on the attack, Lions turn it over and go quick but lose it just quickly, then conceding a penalty for not releasing the player. AUNZ win the lineout, go quickly, but the Lions strip it and try to score, only to be pulled back for a forward pass.
52' AUNZ 0 BIL 24 We have a new rugby crowd record in South Australia of 43,124 - as Farrell, Bealham and Marcus Smith comes on and AUNZ concede another penalty. The Lions are now into enemy territory, but knock it on. Scrum to AUNZ.
49' AUNZ 0 BIL 24 Offside penalty against the Lions, and AUNZ go to the corner. McLaughlin-Phillips also has come on, as AUNZ attack, with the Lions conceding another penalty. AUNZ tap and go, and look dangerous. They get to the 5m, but are penalised for obstruction.
44' AUNZ 0 BIL 24 A good jab through and the Lions attack well, AUNZ concede a penalty for not rolling away, and the Lions tap and go and Tuipulotu goes through to score. Conversion successful, as Campbell, Dyer and Eklund come on.
41' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 The ref blows the whistle and we're back underway for the second half, with AUNZ kicking off. The Lions sprint from the kick-off through Ben Earl but cough it up 40 metres out from their line.
40+1' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 AUNZ get some ascendancy and go forward with some good hit-ups, but it gets messy until they find a breakdown down the left flank. Frizell tries to link up but a Lions hand gets to it and the ball goes dead. That's halftime.
38' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 Cowan-Dickie is done for the night, off in the medicab with his neck in a brace. We restart and AUNZ go on the attack as we head into the last few minutes of the half.
36' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 Lions attack again, but Frizell puts good pressure on and the Lions knock on. AUNZ go on the attack, kick long, and Lions clear again. AUNZ make some progress, but concede a penalty - and Cowan-Dickie is out cold! He's taken a knee to the head. We're going to take a break for a bit.
31' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 A seesawing passage sees a scrum to the Lions in their own territory. They attack well and Jones cuts through the defence, but Cowan-Dickie knocks it on with the line begging! Scrum to AUNZ on their 5m line.
25' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 AUNZ have an advantage, and go on the attack. Forward pass but we go back for the penalty. They go to the corner, and go on attack, and Lions concede a offside penalty. AUNZ tap and go! We're going upstairs, has Frizell got that down? Nope, it was a knock on. Lions survive and earn the scrum
22' AUNZ 0 BIL 17 A poor passage of defence from AUNZ and their on their line, Pollock butchers a chance to score and is held up but they're brought back for offside. Lions tap and go - a few phases and they finally fling it wide, and van Der Merwe scores his second! Smith misses again.
18' AUNZ 0 BIL 12 Another passage and AUNZ attempt a cross kick, but Hansen takes the mark and clears. Lions are not out of danger yet, and a great Marika ball nearly comes off, but he knocks it on! Lions clear to their side of halfway, AUNZ attempt an over the top, but Huw Jones and he's off! Kicks ahead but Edmed regathers and clears.
14' AUNZ 0 BIL 12 Lions get a reprieve after a great kick from Edmed sees them on their own line. They clear and AUNZ have the chance to make an attacking play. They look dangerous, kick ahead, the Lions tidy up and attempt to clear but AUNZ charge it down and regather on 22. Off they go again.
11' AUNZ 0 BIL 12 A good passage of play by the Lions off the restart, they catch AUNZ around the ruck, and Ben White goes through to score under the sticks! Smith converts and it's two quick tries!
8' AUNZ 0 BIL 5 Lions attack well and make it to the 22, but the defence meets them and bundles Hansen into touch. AUNZ clear to the 10m line, Lions send to the sky, Edmed takes the mark and clears, Lions return, and Havili shanks it, out on the full, and the Lions catch AUNZ napping, take a quick lineout and score! Smith misses the conversion.
4' AUNZ 0 BIL 0 Early knock on by AUNZ and it's a Lions scrum, free kick and they go quickly! Look dangerous, but AUNZ holds well and they knock it on. Scrum to AUNZ and they clear well.
0' AUNZ 0 BIL 0 The ref blows his whistle and we are underway.
KO T-MIN 2: The teams are out on the field. The wait is over. Lets roll!
KO T-MIN 5: The team names are getting read out, with Mack Hansen, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock and Pierre Schoeman getting plenty of love, the Lions fans are out in force tonight! Now the AUNZ side are being read out, and there is plenty of love for David Havili, Marika Koroibete and Shaun Stevenson!
KO T-MIN 10: The Lions have departed the field, with AUNZ XV close behind them.
KO T-MIN 30: Both sides are in the midst of their warm up. Gaps are filling up quickly in the crowd, fans are still streaming in. Adelaide Oval is looking a picture!
KO T-MIN 40: Starting to see plenty of gold and even a few All Blacks flags around the ground as the crowd continues to filter in. AUNZ is now out on the ground too and have commenced their warm up.
KO T-MIN 50: The Lions players are out on the field and have started warming up, AUNZ are still to emerge. The crowd is filtering in nicely - with a very Red Lions section on the Riverbank stand.
KO T-MIN 60: Coin toss is happening now on the field, and... Lions have won the toss, will kick off, and AUNZ will receive and run south to north. Captains shake hands, and head off to commence preparations.
KO T-MIN 80: No changes confirmed for either side. The Lions have just arrived at the ground as the gates open and a decent crowd of people flood in. AUNZ XV are on their way over.
KO T-MIN 90: Hi everyone, and welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the AUNZ Invitational XV - British & Irish Lions match at the Adelaide Oval. We are expected to come close to a full house here tonight. Conditions are clear skies and not a breathe of wind in sight, although a little chilly at ground level. Should be a good night for rugby.
AUNZ Invitational XV 0
Tries:
Con:
Cards: Frizell (Yellow - 68'), Fusitu'a (Yellow - 79')
British & Irish Lions 48
Tries: van Der Merwe 3, White, Tuipulotu, Cummings, Kelleher, Pollock
Con: F.Smith 2/4, M. Smith 2/4
AUNZ (15-1): Shaun Stevenson; AJ Lam, Ngani Laumape, David Havili (co-capt), Marika Koroibete; Tane Edmed, Folau Fakatava; Hoskins Sotutu, Pete Samu, Shannon Frizell; Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (co-capt), Angus Blyth; Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Aidan Ross
Replacements: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a, George Dyer, Matt Philip, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell
LIONS (15-1): Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van Der Merwe; Fin Smith, Ben White; Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock; Tadhg Beirne (capt), James Ryan; Will Stuart, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Scott Cummings, Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
The Lions' clash with the AUNZ Invitational XV will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm (AEST) for the UK coverage and 7:30 pm for the Australian coverage.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:15 pm local time (7:45 pm AEST), but expect it to be closer to 7:30pm ACST/8:00 pm AEST
