‘Complete backing of the guys’: Kiss calls for AUNZ XV concept to continue

ADELAIDE: Coach Les Kiss has backed the AUNZ Invitational XV concept to return despite a disastrous 48-nil defeat to the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, believing the combined side would have been much better with “three or four” weeks together in camp.

For the first time in 36 years, players from Australia and New Zealand ran out onto the field as one for a historic showdown with the Lions. Thousands of fans in Adelaide packed the stands – a record crowd for rugby union in fact – ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

This match had almost been built up as a fourth Test during the Lions’ tour of Australia, with the AUNZ squad boasting genuine talent across the board. Kiss selected 17 internationally-capped players in the 23, including former All Blacks centre Ngani Laumape and Wallaby Pete Samu.

Rassie on Wiese’s red card

Rassie on Wiese’s red card

But for all the hype and optimism among fans, the Lions showed their class and attacking flair one week out from the first Test, taking control early on and never looking back. Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick as the Lions put on a cricket score at Adelaide Oval.

While the scoreline wasn’t what many predicted, Kiss made it clear after the match that “there are other stories within it that are important to recognise.” With Havili and Salakaia-Loto sitting by the coach’s side, Kiss called for the AUNZ concept to continue.

“I’d have the complete backing of the guys here that that concept should be something that we continue to work on and make it work whenever we can,” Kiss said post-game.

“Without a doubt there were some moments that were tough for us, that we made tough on ourselves. The quick throw, we just weren’t ready… they’re the moments the boys are disappointed with, just not being switched on.

“They’re a very good team. Their defence, it’s hard to break down. Simon Easterby has done an incredible job with that defence, with a lot of people coming in over the last four or five weeks. Against the Argentinians they were found out a little bit but slowly and surely they’ve just kept building and building.

“The concept of bringing guys together, I think I’d speak on behalf of the two guys that they would support trying to make sure that those moments can happen more often than not.

“I know that if the right moment came up and you could get something together that could work,” he added. “Are there opportunities where you take a team like that to the northern hemisphere and try those things out?

“I think that the quality of people that you have in the team and three or four weeks to build that, I have no doubt that some of the things that probably caught us this week would not have caught us tonight.”

Van der Merwe scored the opener in the sixth minute before Ben White added another try to the Lions’ early advantage. Marcus Smith added the extras to give the visitors a 12-nil lead after 10 minutes, before van der Merwe scored again midway through the first half.

While the second ‘quarter’ of the match was scoreless, the Lions still played with a fair share of possession and territory. AUNZ’s best chance at scoring in the match was Hoskins Sotutu pulling up about one metre short of the line during the first half.

It’s been a common theme throughout the Lions Tour so far, that the touring side run away with matches during the second half, and this was no different. Sione Tuipulotu scored three minutes after the break, which was the first of five second-half tries.

Scott Cummings, van der Merwe, Ronan Kelleher and Henry Pollock also scored – with Pollock running back to halfway after the score with the infamous pulse check celebration. It was a masterful performance from the Lions.

But that hasn’t deterred the players, who also want to see the AUNZ XV return.

“It’s tough but it’s what it’s about. It’s about coming together and being able to put a team together that you can look back on and hopefully this concept can carry on,” Havili explained.

“Whenever the Lions come back to New Zealand, hopefully we can get the same concept and the Aussie boys can come over to New Zealand and do the same thing because it’s great to be able to get teams like this off the ground.

“It’s just been a great, enjoyable week and really refreshing for myself.”