Les Kiss’ AUNZ Invitational side dreamt of denting the Lions’ confidence ahead of their three match Test series. If anything, they played them back into form on Saturday night.

After struggling to put the Brumbies and Waratahs away over the past week, the Lions turned up at the Adelaide Oval – their first appearance at the famous ground in 137 years – and almost posted a half-century. Had they kicked straight, they would have.

Instead, Andy Farrell’s men left Adelaide with a comprehensive 48-0 win to head to Brisbane bouncing ahead of the July 19 opener as Rugby Australia’s decision to back youth and a Reds-heavy side, including 11 players, came back to bite them.

Lions winger Mack Hansen returned to form against the AUNZ side at Adelaide Oval on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Spare a thought for Stephen Larkham’s group of Brumbies, who thoroughly deserved a chance to run out a second time to push their Test case, but instead watched the game from their loungerooms.

Even Corey Toole, the flying Brumbies winger, who spent much of the year with the Wallabies last year but didn’t get a cap and is back in Joe Schmidt’s camp, would have benefitted and likely welcomed another chance to press his Test claims.

Others like the Lonergan brothers – Ryan and Lachlan – and Luke Reimer also would have craved a second chance to go at the Lions just days after pushing them deep in the nation’s capital.

Instead, the Lions battered the AUNZ Invitational side, who had few answers to a hungry red outfit eager to give Farrell something to think about.

Several did, including the Lions’ Scottish midfield combination of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones. And with Finn Russell likely to wear the No.10 jersey and Garry Ringrose now in doubt for the first Test, the Scottish trio has a tasty feel to it.

The Lions looked a completely different outfit to the clunky side they had been over the past week as passes stuck, the set-piece fired and the defence held up like a brick wall.

“Delighted,” Lions acting skipper Tadhg Beirne said. “I think we did everything that we set out before the game. We fronted up. Most pleasing is to keep them to zero. It gives us a massive confidence boost ahead of next week.

“It’s huge, every opportunity to wear this jersey is an honour. We’re just trying to build the performance, and we needed to up it and we showed a lot more tonight. We were always connected and got off the line and fronted up physically.”

Tane Edmed was one of the AUNZ side’s better players during their heavy loss to against the British & Irish Lions at Adelaide Oval on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

In contrast, the AUNZ side barely fired a shot as they tried to go around the Lions, instead of through them. It didn’t work.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was one of the AUNZ side’s best as the lock gave Joe Schmidt something to think about.

While Tane Edmed had a couple of nice touches.

But, ultimately, the AUNZ side were outclassed and outcoached.  

“The Lions are a tough side and you can see why they’re the best in the world,” AUNZ co-captain David Havili said.

“We didn’t get the performance, but we can certainly be proud of what we achieved throughout the week.”