Predicting a realistic Australia-New Zealand combined team to face the Lions this Summer

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04/16/2025 09:25 AM

A highlight of the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour this Summer, will be the unique nature of when the Lions face a combined Australian & New Zealand team out in Adelaide. Taking place on July 12th ahead of the first official Test match against the Wallabies, this combined Aussie & Kiwi side has got us thinking about the exciting possibilities of who the Lions could line-up against.

We recently put together our picks, on what the ultimate combined Australia-New Zealand team would look like, if Joe Schmidt and Scott Robertson go all guns blazing into this match-up against the Lions. This article chose the best of the best, and disregarded France’s Summer tour of New Zealand, and Schmidt’s want to keep his top Wallabies stars in camp ahead of the first Test.

Picking the ultimate combined Australia-New Zealand team to face the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide

However, the article you’re reading now is one for the realists, in which we will separate the wishful from the possible, and piece together as accurate a side as we can. We’ve reviewed the current pecking order for both the All Blacks and the Wallabies, with consideration that the Maori All Blacks have a standalone exhibition of their own to plan for as they host Scotland, as part of their own Summer tour of New Zealand and Fiji.

REALISTIC XV: INVITATIONAL AU & NZ TEAM TO FACE THE LIONS THIS SUMMER

15. Ruben Love (New Zealand and Hurricanes)

Ruben Love is one of New Zealand rugby's brightest young stars. He’s a proud product of Palmerston North Boys' High School and the 23-year-old has quickly carved out a name for himself as a dynamic fullback, who also has the ability of leading the line at fly-half. Love has one All Blacks cap to his name, as he marked his debut with two tries against Japan, in the opening round of the 2024 Autumn Series. Bursting onto the scene with the Wellington Lions in 2019 and on to Super Rugby with the Hurricanes in 2021, fans in New Zealand’s capital city certainly ‘Love’ their main man Ruben.

14. Harry Potter (Australia and Western Force)

Fans of the Premiership would likely remember the unrelenting ‘magical’ puns, which followed wing Harry Potter throughout his time at Leicester Tigers. The 27-year-old flyer made his professional rugby break-out with Melbourne Rising, before he secured a contract with the Rebels in 2019. Potter would split his Super Rugby commitments with sabbaticals in the Premiership, as he made a home away from home at Welford Road, and quickly won the hearts of the Leicester Tigers fans.

Potter started on the wing for Leicester when they last reached the mountain top of English club rugby, as the Australian was apart of the side that claimed the 2021/22 Premiership title after Freddie Burns’ heroic drop goal. Potter returned to Australia full-time in 2023 with a move to Western Force, in a move which aimed to bolster his Wallabies involvement. Potter made his senior Australia debut under Joe Schmidt in the latest Autumn Nations Series against Scotland, and followed this up with his second and latest cap to date, as the Wallabies battled Ireland in Dublin.

13. David Havili (New Zealand and Crusaders)

With 30 caps for the All Blacks David Havili has proven his ability on the Test match stage, yet has had an inconsistent run within the famous black jersey. The centre made his debut in the 2017 Rugby Championship, with his best year for the All Blacks coming with eight appearances the 2020/21 season. Havili made two run-outs for New Zealand at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, yet is expected to take a back seat behind Reiko Ioane, Jordie Barrett and Anton Lienert-Brown for the incoming French tour. 30-year-old Havili would certainly bolster the AU & NZ effort, as an experienced head to take on the Lions

12. Joey Walton (Australia A and Waratahs)

Bringing youthful exuberance to the midfield to counter-balance the experienced old head of Havili, 24-year-old Joey Walton is a real contender for the AU & NZ combined team. A home grown product of New South Wales, Walton came up through the ranks of the NSW Country Eagles before moving across to New Zealand for a provincial run with Bay of Plenty. The midfielder penned his first Waratahs contract in 2022 and progressed on for his Australia A debut against Tonga the following year.

11. Caleb Tangitau (New Zealand Sevens and Highlanders)

An outside shout here, but there is no denying the high-octane excitement that Caleb Tangitau has brought to the Highlanders this season. Tangitau’s first international sevens honours were achieved at the age of just 19, and he was also apart of the New Zealand Sevens side that won bronze medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. A former Auckland Blues speedster, the rapid wing has come into his own at the Highlanders, with six tries in seven matches so far for the Dunedin side.

10. Tane Edmed (Australia and Waratahs)

When Carter Gordon ended his Wallabies career with a code switch to rugby league in 2024, a trio of contenders emerged in a triangular power struggle for the vacant 10 jersey. Brumbies man Noah Lolesio has established the strongest grip upon the shirt, with Ben Donaldson utilised off the bench by Joe Schmidt. Tane Edmed is just 24-years-old with much to prove, and a starring role against the British & Irish Lions would elevate his stock in the eyes of the Australian selectors. Edmed featured just once in the 2024 Autumn Series, with a replacement appearance in the defeat to Ireland.

9. Cortez Ratima (New Zealand and Chiefs)

The scrum half shirt is one of the more stacked areas of contention for the AU & NZ combined side, with up and coming All Black Cortez Ratima our pick for the jersey. Scott Robertson would likely utilise TJ Perenara to start against Les Blues this Summer, with Cam Roigard or Finlay Christie on the bench. Ratima earned his All Blacks debut last Summer against England, and has been pivotal to the Chiefs side that has reached back-to-back Super Rugby Finals in recent seasons.

1. Isaac Aedo Kailea (Australia and Waratahs)

On to the forward pack now, and we can see Isaac Aedo Kailea taking the loose-head spot for the combined Aussie-Kiwi alliance. With the likes of Angus Bell and James Slipper to contend with the Waratahs man has had limited involvement in the gold jersey, with just two replacement appearances in the latest Autumn Nations Series. Aedo Kailea also takes a back seat to Bell at the Waratahs, so a start against such imposing opposition like the Lions, could work wanders for the 24-year-old’s development.

2. Kurt Ekland (Maori All Blacks and Blues)

Taking the start at hooker for the combined side is Kurt Ekland, in what would mark the continued upward trajectory for the Blues man. Ekland has earned previous international appearances with the All Blacks XV, and more recently as the first choice front row for the Maori All Blacks. Ekland bagged himself a brace of tries in his last run-out for the Maori All Blacks, in an away Autumn Series win over Georgia in Tbilisi. A frustrating knee injury kept Ekland out of action for the first few months of the 2025 Super Rugby season, but the hooker is now back to his best for the Blues on the run up to an unforgettable Summer.

3. Fletcher Newell (New Zealand and Crusaders)

One of the more established All Blacks named in our predicted AU & NZ team, Fletcher Newell has been a mainstay with Canterbury and the Crusaders since his break-through in 2019. The tight-head has earned 22 All Blacks caps in his career, with his latest involvement being his sole contribution for the Autumn, as New Zealand defeated Italy to end their campaign. Newell has taken a recent Test level back seat to Tyrel Lomax, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and the versatile dual-headed prop Tamatai Williams. A big shift against the Lions could certainly bring the spotlight back to the Crusaders man.

4. Matt Philip (Australia and Yokohama Eagles)

The 31-year-old lock has enjoyed quite the globetrotting career, with previous club stints across Australia and France before he landed in Japan back in 2023. Philip was apart of the Wallabies squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but after just 31 minutes of action he decided to pursue pastures new in the Far East. Philip lines up alongside Springboks scrum half Faf de Klerk for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, and would bring a wealth of experience to the combined AU-NZ effort to take on the Lions.

5. Josh Lord (New Zealand and Chiefs)

Packing down the engine room alongside the experienced Matt Philip, is young gun bolter Josh Lord. A product of the Taranaki Bulls, Lord has locked horns in the All Blacks camp with senior second rows Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock, when he’s hammered on the door for a senior team run. Lord’s first of seven All Blacks caps came in a 2021 tour of the USA, yet he missed the grade for the World Cup squad of 2023. Whitelock’s international retirement has opened the door ajar for the 24-year-old, who is battling Sam Darry and Patrick Tuipulotu for additional All Blacks acknowledgements.

6. Wallace Sititi (New Zealand and Chiefs)

The stand-out name of our combined side, All Blacks back row Wallace Sititi has emerged as a real star for the future of New Zealand rugby. Sititi’s rise to promience began against England, when Steve Borthwick’s side toured New Zealand last Summer. The Chiefs man is only 22-years-old, but has already earned 10 caps for his country, the 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, and the professional endorsement of the All Blacks’ legendary eight-man Ardie Savea. A versatile talent who can play anywhere in the back row, Sititi could add another accomplishment to his belt with a hit-out against the immortal British & Irish Lions this Summer.

7. Luke Reimer (Australia and Brumbies)

We can see Joe Schmidt keeping hold of all his Wallabies Test match back rows to not risk an injury, with a contribution from Australia A likely to fill in on the flanks. Luke Reimer is the front running option from the emerging Wallabies side, with the 24-year-old Brumbies man progressing at an impressive rate. Reimer earned his senior Australian debut against the Springboks in the 2024 Rugby Championship, before adding an Australia A cap against England A this past November at the Twickenham Stoop.

8. Charlie Cale (Australia and Brumbies)

Rounding off our starting XV is Brumbies back row Charlie Cale, who has been earning his stripes in Canberra since 2022. Highly rated by all those around the Australian Capital Territory, Cale has risen through the ranks for a international call-up, as he played in two Tests victories over Wales last Summer. Cale suffered a lower back injury in the fifth round of Super Rugby back in mid-March, and looks hopeful to return in time for when the Lions head ‘down under’.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Billy Pollard (Australia and Brumbies)

17. George Bower (All Blacks XV and Crusaders)

18. Rhys van Nek (Australia A and Brumbies)

19. Isaia Walker-Leawere (Maori All Blacks and Hurricanes)

20. Peter Lakai (New Zealand and Hurricanes)

21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Maori All Blacks and Chiefs)

22. Tom Lynagh (Australia A and Queensland Reds)

23. Kini Naholo (All Blacks XV and Hurricanes)

WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES

2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
4 x Night's accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
7 x Night's accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
Additional events to be announced

The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.

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