The British and Irish Lions delivered a commanding performance in their final warm-up match ahead of the Test series against Australia, dismantling the Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV (AUNZ XV) 48-0 at Adelaide Oval on July 12, 2025. This emphatic victory marked the Lions’ fifth consecutive win on their Australian tour and showcased their most complete display of the summer so far, sending a strong message to the Wallabies ahead of the First Test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next weekend.
Andy Farrell’s side was relentless from the outset, combining ferocious defence with an electric attacking tempo that left their opponents, despite fielding 14 international players, unable to register a single point. The Lions scored eight tries in total, with Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe leading the charge by notching a hat-trick, while Ben White, Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings, Ronan Kelleher, and Henry Pollock also crossed the whitewash.
The match began with an immediate show of intent. Just six minutes in, after a poor kick from the AUNZ XV, full-back Hugo Keenan quickly took the line-out throw and set up Van der Merwe for the opening try. The Lions then struck again three minutes later when scrum-half Ben White, making his first start on the tour, exploited space from the back of a ruck and sprinted under the posts to extend the lead. Van der Merwe added a second try inside 20 minutes, capitalizing on slick passing and support play from wing Mack Hansen, who was impressive in the air and on the ground throughout the match.
Despite the Lions' dominance, the game was not without its concerns. Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered a head and neck injury following a collision with AUNZ co-captain Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and was stretchered off the field wearing a protective brace. Thankfully, Cowan-Dickie was later seen walking unaided on the sidelines, but the injury is expected to sideline him for the upcoming First Test. England’s Jamie George was promptly called up as cover.
Adding to the injury woes, Ireland centre Garry Ringrose was ruled out of the Brisbane Test after suffering a concussion in the midweek victory over the ACT Brumbies, and Blair Kinghorn is engaged in a race against time to recover from a knee injury sustained in the same match. The squad has already lost Elliot Daly and Tomos Williams to tour-ending injuries, prompting Farrell to draft in Ireland’s Jamie Osborne as training cover.
The Lions continued their onslaught after the interval, with Sione Tuipulotu scoring the fourth try following a quick tap penalty under the posts. Shortly after, Owen Farrell made his first appearance on this, his fourth Lions tour, replacing Huw Jones at inside centre. Marcus Smith came on for Fin Smith at fly-half, with Tuipulotu shifting to outside centre. Farrell’s introduction injected further energy and precision into the Lions’ play.
Breakdown efficiency, which had been a concern in recent matches against the New South Wales Waratahs and the Brumbies, was notably improved. The Lions dominated the breakdown despite the AUNZ XV fielding a formidable back row including Shannon Frizell, Pete Samu, and Hoskins Sotutu. Frizell was sin-binned for collapsing a maul as the penalties mounted against the home side’s beleaguered defence.
Scott Cummings added the fifth try just minutes after replacing captain Tadhg Beirne, benefiting from strong support play by White and man-of-the-match Ben Earl. Van der Merwe swiftly completed his hat-trick, continuing the Scottish dominance in scoring. The seventh try came from replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher, who cleverly combined with Pierre Schoeman at the front of a lineout before shrugging off two defenders to cross the line.
Henry Pollock rounded out the scoring with the eighth try after capitalizing on a loose ball, marking his first try of the tour. This was the third time the Lions have scored eight tries on this tour, having previously achieved the feat against the Western Force and Queensland Reds.
The AUNZ XV, assembled for the first time since the 1989 Lions tour, struggled to find cohesion with only a week of training together. Defensive lapses and handling errors were exploited ruthlessly by the Lions, who executed their game plan with precision and intensity. The match was completed in the final minute when prop Josh Fusitua was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous clear-out on Jac Morgan, capping a miserable night for the home side.
Ben Earl, the Lions’ number eight, was named player of the match, highlighting the physicality and work rate that defined the Lions’ performance. Earl commented, "There's sore bodies, there's no denying that but in terms of getting up and playing for this shirt, (it's) so easy. We had one training session, we knew we had to just rely on the basics and the work we've done together over the last three, four weeks. So for the most part, we've done that and we're really pleased with that. I think you can see how we want to play going into next week. I think it's a good start."
Hugo Keenan’s performance at full-back was particularly reassuring, given the injury to Blair Kinghorn. His alertness and quick thinking set the tone for the early scoring. Jac Morgan was influential at open-side flanker, showcasing the energy and intensity the Lions will need in the upcoming Test series. Huw Jones also impressed in midfield, forming a convincing partnership with Sione Tuipulotu before being substituted to manage his workload.
Owen Farrell’s entrance was met with mixed reactions from the crowd, but his impact was undeniable. Playing at inside centre, he demonstrated his trademark intensity and rugby intelligence despite limited game time on this tour so far. His involvement in the build-up play to tries by Scott Cummings and Henry Pollock underscored his value to the team.
As the Lions prepare for the First Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19-20, head coach Andy Farrell faces some tough selection decisions. The midweek rest given to many first-choice players and the injury setbacks mean that competition for places is fierce. The emphatic nature of this victory, however, provides a confident platform for the Lions to build upon as they aim to maintain their unbeaten run Down Under.
With the Test series looming, the Lions have sent a clear warning to the Wallabies: they are firing on all cylinders, blending physicality, skill, and tactical nous in a way that makes them a formidable force. The Adelaide demolition may well be remembered as the moment the Lions truly hit their stride on this tour.
