AUNZ XV v Lions preview, teams and how to follow

Jac Morgan
Jac Morgan will start at open-side flanker in a final audition for the British and Irish Lions Test series with Australia [Getty Images]

Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV v British and Irish Lions

Venue: Adelaide Oval Date: Saturday, 12 July Kick-off: 11:00 BST

Coverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

The British and Irish Lions will play an Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV in Adelaide on Saturday in their final match before the Test series with Australia.

The tourists have won all four matches on Australian soil so far this summer following victories over Western Force, Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs and Brumbies, although their performances in the last two matches have been underwhelming.

Andy Farrell’s side now face the invitational AUNZ XV in their final warm-up game before the first Test of three on Saturday, 19 July.

For team news and how to follow the game on BBC Sport – here’s all you need to know.

Where is the match being played?

Saturday’s game will take place at the 50,000-capacity Adelaide Oval, kicking off at 11:00 BST (20:00 local time).

The tourists have not played in Adelaide since 1888.

How can I follow the game on BBC Sport?

You can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up starting from 10:00 BST.

There will also be post-match reaction and analysis online and via Radio 5 Live and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, which is now producing daily episodes.

Make sure to follow BBC Sport’s dedicated British and Irish Lions page for updates from our reporters in Australia.

The game is being shown live on Sky Sports.

Who is in the AUNZ team?

Incoming Wallabies head coach Les Kiss has named an invitational side which includes 63-cap Australia wing Marika Koroibete and All Blacks Hoskins Sotutu, Shannon Frizell and Ngani Laumape.

The ‘home side’ brings about a revival of a combined team which last played when the Lions toured in 1989.

Kiss, who will take charge of Australia in 2026 and lead them into their home World Cup, will be facing the Lions for the second time this summer after suffering a defeat as Queensland Reds head coach earlier this month.

Like Kiss, Reds players Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Jock Campbell will also get another crack at the tourists.

Tane Edmed, who made his Australia debut off the bench against Ireland in November, is at fly-half.

Pete Samu is also named at open-side flanker after playing an influential role in the back row for European champions Bordeaux-Begles this season.

Lions team news

Owen Farrell has been named in a matchday squad for the first time since being called-up as a replacement for his injured Saracens club-mate Elliot Daly.

The 33-year-old, who provides cover at fly-half and centre, is one of three backs among the replacements, alongside Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell.

Scotland’s Ben White starts at scrum-half and England’s Fin Smith at fly-half, with Wales’ Jac Morgan afforded another chance to impress at open-side flanker.

Henry Pollock and Ben Earl complete the back row, with Scotland centre partners Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones also starting.

If brought off the bench, Farrell will be playing his first game in more than two months after a concussion in a European Challenge Cup semi-final against Lyon at the start of May.

It was his final appearance in an underwhelming one-season stint at French side Racing 92, with Farrell’s search for form interrupted by a persistent groin injury.

Line-ups

AUNZ XV: Stevenson; Lam, Laumape, Havili (co-capt), Koroibete; Edmed, Fakatava; Ross, Paenga-Amosa, Toomaga-Allen, Salakaia-Loto (co-capt), Blyth, Frizell, Samu, Sotutu.

Replacements: Eklund, Fusitu’a, Dyer, Philip, Brial, Thomas, McLaughlin-Phillips, Campbell.

British and Irish Lions: Keenan; Hansen, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; F Smith, White; Schoeman, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Ryan, Beirne (capt), Pollock, Morgan, Earl.

Replacements; Kelleher, Porter, Bealham, Cummings, Van der Flier, Mitchell, M Smith, Farrell.

Who are the match officials?

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)

Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)

Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (Fra)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO): Marius Jonker (SA)

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