SYDNEY :The Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV to face the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide this weekend features eight All Blacks and six Wallabies with winger AJ Lam the only uncapped player in the starting line-up.
A powerhouse back row featuring Hoskins Sotutu, Pete Samu and Shannon Frizell is bound to test the Lions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday in their final run out before the test series.
Two-cap All Black Folau Fakatava will link up with one-cap Wallaby Tane Edmed in the halves but there is plenty of test experience in a backline featuring centres Ngani Laumape and David Havili as well as winger Marika Koroibete.
Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and All Black Havili will co-captain the team, which has been coached by Les Kiss with the assistance of former New Zealand boss Ian Foster, Simon Cron and Zane Hilton.
“After speaking with all the players we thought the co-captaincy model with natural leaders like David and Lukhan would really suit this team and what we represent,” said Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach next year.
“This week has been building nicely and the boys have put a lot of time into getting to know each other. In forming new bonds many of them have discovered they have more in common than they originally thought.
“We have named an experienced, powerful starting side for Saturday and we know our bench will make an impact when they get their opportunity.”
The Lions have won their first four tour games against Australia’s Super Rugby teams and also face a First Nations & Pasifika XV between the first test on July 19 in Brisbane and the second test a week later in Melbourne.
Team: 15–Shaun Stevenson, 14–AJ Lam, 13–Ngani Laumape, 12–David Havili, 11–Marika Koroibete, 10–Tane Edmed, 9–Folau Fakatava, 8–Hoskins Sotutu, 7–Pete Samu, 6–Shannon Frizell, 5–Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4–Angus Blyth, 3–Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1–Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16–Kurt Eklund, 17–Joshua Fusitu’a, 18–George Dyer, 19–Matt Philip, 20–Joe Brial, 21–Kalani Thomas, 22–Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23–Jock Campbell
