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'It would be a belter': ANZAC team could take on B&I Lions in 2025

Rieko Ioane tackles Andrew Kellaway. (Photo by William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Rugby Australia have “talked to the Kiwis” about having an ANZAC team take on the British and Irish Lions at the MCG during their 2025 tour.

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The two fierce Trans-Tasman rivals haven’t combined since the ANZAC XV took the field at Ballymore, Brisbane, during the Lions’ 1989 series.

Seven All Blacks players were originally invited to take part in the match, including prop Steve McDowall.

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Three New Zealanders lined up in the starting XV along with some Wallaby legends including David Campese, Michael Lynagh and Nick Farr-Jones who captained the side from scrumhalf.

In front of the Brisbane crowd, the Lions managed to win the historic encounter 19-15.

But speaking with the DailyMail, Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan said New Zealand Rugby is “considering the idea”, with the Melbourne Cricket Ground a potential venue for the blockbuster.

“We’ve talked to the Kiwis about hosting an ANZAC team against the Lions in 2025 and they’re considering the idea,” Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan said.

“I’m in no doubt it would be a belter and we’d sell the MCG out with 100,000 fans.

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“The best of the Wallabies and the All Blacks against the Lions would create enormous global coverage.”

This match would certainly interest rugby fans from all around the world, ahead of the traditional three-Test series between the Lions and Wallabies.

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1 Comment
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Willie 956 days ago

Load of twaddle.

RA should get its house in order rather than promoting stunts.

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RedWarriors 6 hours ago
'Not a normal rugby team' - The Leinster flex that floored Jake White

I was actually at the match. Leinster were the outstanding team in the league stage. Leinster’s squad depth meant the Bulls could only nick a late win in Pretoria against an understrenght Leinster. Simple put, Leinster are significantly better this year compared to last. The Dublin match last year was a big win by Leinster. Yes they won by a point in the RDS three years ago but thats not relevant to yesterday.

As Leinster are such a dangerous team, it forces an opponent to focus on a strategy to undermine them and that way get their game on the pitch. Leinster allowed that against Northampton. But that was not going to happen again. The Bulls attack in last 10 minutes of the first half was as savage as anything in the URC this year. Yet Leinsters coaching plan repelled them allied to savage commitment from the players. The defense was outstanding, pressure at breakdown outstanding. Leinster did not win the European cup but arguably at their best this year no other European team could reach that height. They reached that yesterday. Leinster completely removed Bulls ability to hurt them.

And Croke Park….100 years ago the Brits fired machine guns into spectators injuring 100s and killing loads. No Irish team ever performs badly there. Same with Irish supporters. Opposition players might as well be Brit Tommies with machine guns.

I think a great Leinster team, played a great game plan, to the height of their power in a horrible stadium for opponents. If Bulls score before half time they were back in the match. They went down, but they went down fighting.

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