AUNZ XV player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

ADELAIDE: The AUNZ Invitational XV failed to click on Saturday evening, lacking cohesion as they were beaten convincingly by the British & Irish Lions 48-nil at Adelaide Oval. Duhan van der Merwe scored in the sixth minute and the Lions never looked back, making a statement.

Crusaders captain David Havili and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto shared the captaincy duties, leading a star-studded side into battle – a team which included 17 internationally-capped players.

Here’s how the AUNZ XV rated:

1. Aidan Ross – 5/10
After a solid performance against the Lions for the Queensland Reds, Aidan Ross got a second shot at the touring side after being picked in this invitational side. Ross contributed to a scrum which, after giving away an early free kick, was largely solid – but the prop was quite absent around the park against a confident Lions outfit.

Moerat on his partnership with Nortje

Moerat on his partnership with Nortje

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 6
2024 Wallaby Brandon Paenga-Amosa was practically perfect at the set-piece, with only one of 11 throws into the lineout failing to hit the mark. Paenga-Amosa regularly found either Lukhan Salakaia-Loto or Pete Samu at the set-piece, which proved to be a surprising strength for this AUNZ side. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing, with the hooker failing to make a memorable difference in both attack and defence.

3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen – 4
While the AUNZ scrum was solid enough, former All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen wasn’t exactly among the standouts overall. Toomaga-Allen was a workhorse in defence, but some costly mistakes overshadowed any good work.

Toomaga-Allen was probably at fault in the lead-up to Ben White’s try, and the tighthead also missed a key tackle on Hue Jones later in the first half. In attack, Toomaga-Allen was largely absent, not running the ball much at all.

4. Angus Blyth – 5
Angus Blyth was absent against the Lions. At the set-piece, Brandon Paenga-Amosa usually threw to ether Lukhan Salakaia-Loto or Shannon Frizell, which is where Blyth usually impresses at Super Rugby level with the Reds. Around the park, Blyth ran the ball three times and only made five stops in defence.

5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 7
When the Wallabies squad to take on the Lions was announced, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s name wasn’t read out during the event at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday. That’s what makes Salakaia-Loto’s performance against the Lions so fascinating – it was a statement of sorts.

Salakaia-Loto was a general at the set-piece, carried well in attack, was like a brick wall on the defensive side of the ball, and even won a penalty at the breakdown. If the Wallabies need to make a forced change at some point because of an injury, Salakaia-Loto will be ready to go.

6. Shannon Frizell – 7
2023 Rugby World Cup finalist Shannon Frizell was one of the AUNZ’s best. Frizell came within a metre or so of scoring the first AUNZ try of the match in the 24^th minute, but it wasn’t to be as the ball was stripped out of the blindside flanker’s grasp.

Frizell put a decent shot on Fin Smith around the 30-minute mark and was also a regular option at the set-piece. By the end of the match, Frizell stood out as one of the game leaders for total carries, and also finished among elite company for total running metres.

7. Pete Samu – 5
Pete Samu had some good involvements against the Lions, but it wasn’t anything great. Instead, the former Wallaby went missing for decent periods of the match, only running the ball six times and making eight stops in defence – which was seventh overall for AUNZ representatives.

8. Hoskins Sotutu – 7
When Hoskins Sotutu walked off the field in the 66^th minute, the former All Black was third overall for total carries with 11 and was seventh for running metres. Sotutu also led the way for the AUNZ side for tackles completed with 10, with the backrower working supremely hard on a difficult night for the home side.

9. Folau Fakatava – 5
Folau Fakatava had some positive involvements but for the most part, the halfback kicked too much ball away and had some ineffective runs at the Lions’ defensive line. Fakatava’s kicking game is probably the bigger talking point, with the No. 9 giving easy ball back to the Lions time and time again.

10. Tane Edmed – 6
Tane Edmed was among the leading contenders to replace Noah Lolesio in the Wallabies squad ahead of the Lions Series, but coach Joe Schmidt backed experience instead, selecting James O’Connor in the 36-man group. That made this AUNZ match so crucial for Edmed, who like some others, had a chance to make some noise by making a statement of sorts.

Edmed controlled the AUNZ attack, in a way all good playmakers should. While Edmed and the AUNZ side weren’t able to make too much damage, the fly-half never stopped trying – taking the line on, kicking well enough, and passing onto others with composed play.

11. Marika Koroibete – 4
Marika Koroibete was injured early in the second half, bringing a quiet performance on the left wing to an early end. Koroibete was ineffective during the first term, making a couple of errors with limited opportunities. If you compare Koroibete’s performance to Lions wingers Mack Hansen and Duhan van der Merwe, the difference was noticeable and significant.

12. David Havili – 4
It was a less-than-ideal start to the match for AUNZ co-captain David Havili, who knocked the ball on less than 30 seconds into the contest. Havili kicked the ball out on the full only seven minutes later, with Duhan van der Merwe in the blink of an eye afterwards.

Havili was better from there, standing up as a playmaker by throwing some well-worked cut-out passes to players unmarked out wide. The midfielder was otherwise fairly disappointing, actually missing the most tackles out of any player with five.

13. Ngani Laumape – 6
Former All Black Ngani Laumape was at times a shining light for the AUNZ backline, with the centre pulling off an impressive try-saving tackle on Henry Pollock during the first term. Laumape also had some noticeably powerful carries, but the midfielder didn’t run the ball enough for that attacking impact to have any meaningful difference.

14. AJ Lam – 4
When AJ Lam left the field, the right winger had made the most tackles out of any AUNZ player, with Duhan van der Merwe running riot for the Lions down that channel. Van der Merwe scored two tries which has to count against Lam to some degree was well. Lam was otherwise absent for long periods, only carrying the ball three times for four metres.

15. Shaun Stevenson – 5
One-Test All Black Shaun Stevenson was incredibly quiet during the first half, with the No. 15 not doing anything too memorable. Stevenson was better during the second term, running for more than 30 metres which was a team-high with five minutes left to play. On the defensive side of the ball, Stevenson completed three tackles from five attempts.

Replacements

16. Kurt Eklund – 5
17. Josh Fusitu’a – 4
18. George Dyer – 5
19. Matt Philip – 5
20. Joe Brial – 4
21. Kalani Thomas – 5
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – 4
23. Jock Campbell – 5