He might not have got the No.10 jersey in his last game for the Waratahs against the Lions, but Tane Edmed will get the chance to impress national selectors on Saturday night in the final tour match before the three-match Test series.
Edmed – the one-Test playmaker, whose debut against Ireland was cut short last year because of a concussion – will wear the No.10 jersey against the Lions at Adelaide Oval at a time when the Wallabies are still searching for their preferred playmaker.
The 25-year-old had started in 11 of 13 Tests in Schmidt’s first year as Wallabies coach and the Japan-bound playmaker had been all but rubberstamped in the role for the Lions series after starting against Fiji.
But surgery on Tuesday has scuppered those plans.
Tane Edmed made his Test debut for the Wallabies in Dublin and will wear the No.10 jersey in the AUNZ Invitational side to take on the Lions in Adelaide. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Wallabies selectors and AUNZ Invitational head coach Les Kiss resisted the chance to draft in an older head for the match, with rising Reds playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips selected in the Queensland-heavy side.
Eight All Blacks, including David Havili and Shannon Frizell, were named in the run-on side to take on the Lions.
All Blacks prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Aidan Ross, who is now eligible to play for the Wallabies, were named to start in the front-row alongside Test hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
It’s an all Queensland and Test locking pair, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto named alongside Angus Blyth. Matt Philip will come off the bench.
The back-row had a nice blend of power and dynamism, with All Blacks Hoskins Sotutu and Frizell named alongside Waratahs recruit Pete Samu.
All Blacks halfback Folau Fakatava starts in the halves alongside Tane Edmed.
All Blacks back David Havili will feature in the midfield in Les Kiss’ AUNZ side to take on the Lions. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
They’ll play inside Test midfielders Havili and Ngani Laumape, while it’s an exciting back three featuring Shaun Stevenson at fullback and AJ Lam and two-time John Eales Medallist Marika Koroibete.
There’s a nice trans-Tasman balance on the bench, including Kurt Eklund, while Reds fullback Jock Campbell squeezed out Mac Grealy,
Salakaia-Loto and Havili will captain the side.
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,” Kiss said.
“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.”
It’s the second time players from Australia and New Zealand have come together, with the previous Anzac side losing to the Lions 19-15 in Brisbane in their only previous fixture in 1989.
While the result isn’t a part of the Lions series, all eyes will be on Edmed.
Although Schmidt won’t name his Wallabies squad to take on the Lions until Friday afternoon, and will have likely already determined who his replacement for Lolesio will be, how the Brumbies-bound playmaker fares could well shape his thinking going forward.
Current Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt (L) and incoming Wallabies Head Coach Les Kiss (R) in Sydney late April. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Edmed endured a roller-coaster final season with the Waratahs in 2025 as new coach Dan McKellar gave opportunities to his three playmakers, including Jack Bowen and Lawson Creighton.
It meant Edmed was in and out of the side despite coming off the bench in the Wallabies’ final Test of the year in 2025.
Despite his whirlwind season, Schmidt still included Edmed as his flyhalf cover in recent weeks ahead of the Wallabies’ first Test of the year.
AUNZ Invitational side (1-15): Aidan Ross, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Angus Blyth, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Shannon Frizell, Pete Samu, Hoskins Sotutu, Folau Fakatava, Tane Edmed, Marika Koroiete, David Havili, Ngani Laumape, AJ Lam, Shaun Stevenson
Replacements: Kurt Eklund, Josh Fusitu’a, Greg Dyer, Matt Philip, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughin-Phillips, Jock Campbell
