AUNZ squad lean on BaaBaas after SA loss

NEWS: The first four players from New Zealand have been called up to the Australia-New Zealand Invitational XV squad to take on the British and Irish Lions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, July 12.

Head Coach Les Kiss will lead the first combined AUNZ team since 1989 in what will be the Lions’ final match before the Test series against the Wallabies.

The first confirmed additions to the squad are:

Shannon Frizell: The 31-year-old loose forward has scored eight tries in 33 Tests for the All Blacks.

Born in Tonga, Frizzell headed to Japan after the 2023 World Cup to link with Brave Lupus, having previously represented the Highlanders on 68 occasions and recently represented the barbarians against South Africa.

Shaun Stevenson: The 28-year-old is a prolific, try-scoring fullback who has tallied 112 games for the Chiefs ahead of a move to the Spears in Japan for the next two years.

He has played one Test for the All Blacks and represented the Māori All Blacks on 12 occasions.

David Havili: The 30-year-old centre was captain of the Crusaders side that lifted the Super Rugby Pacific trophy this season.

He has represented the club on 142 occasions and has crossed for nine tries in 30 Tests for the All Blacks.

Folau Fakatava: The 25-year-old is an electric, running scrumhalf who has been capped twice for the All Blacks.

Born in Tonga, whom he represented in touch rugby at the age of 15, Fakatava has scored 12 tries in 61 appearances for the Highlanders.

The remainder of the AUNZ Invitational XV squad will be announced in due course.

Les Kiss leads a staff that includes former All Blacks mentor Ian Foster as well as Simon Cron and Zane Hilton from the Force and Reds, respectively.

Rugby Australia Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, said the side would be empowered to deliver an entertaining brand of rugby against the Lions in Adelaide.

“There is plenty of excitement about this fixture, and that’s been demonstrated by the number of quality international players eager to be involved,” he said.

“We are delighted with the quality of the New Zealand contingent announced today and look forward to naming more players as the squad comes together.

“We want this team to entertain the big Adelaide crowd and provide the Lions with a tough contest as they head into their three-Test series with the Wallabies.

“The last time the Lions played a combined Australia-New Zealand side, it went right down to the wire – and we’re hoping to deliver another competitive contest.”

The AUNZ squad will assemble in Adelaide this weekend to begin preparations for the highly anticipated fixture.