"2 Years to Go" Picking Combined Wallabies & All Blacks Team for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour

We decided to dust off the crystal ball this week, and look to the future to predict the selected side of Trans-Tasman all stars. There are plenty of elements to factor in, to make this prediction as realistic as possible, despite how fun it would be to just pick a dream XV.

In 2025, the Wallabies will be keeping their top players in camp ahead of the the trio of test matches against the Lions. This narrows down the crop of available Australian stars, as we look to the fringes of the current squad, to see who may be allowed an exhibition run-about for the invitational side.

Also, the Lions fixtures against the Super Rugby sides are in contention, with the club sides unlikely to let their best players go should they risk an injury ahead of their own clash with the tourists. The calibre of All Blacks are expected to be strong, however, sabbaticals in Japan can also influence the available player group.

So, ahead of this weekend's all-important Bledisloe Cup match, which see's Eddie Jones' Wallabies battle against the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby Championship, we took a look to the future. Here are RUCK's picks for the 2025 Australia-New Zealand Invitation side that will take on the British & Irish Lions.

Be sure to check back on July 12th 2025, to see how many names we guessed correctly.

15. Damien McKenzie

14. Will Jordan

11. Corey Toole

With Beauden Barrett off to Japan after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he is expected to be out of the All Blacks fold for the foreseeable future with his plans set to take shape with Toyota Verblitz. Chiefs star Damian McKenzie will slot in at fullback, which he has done so confidentially in the past for the All Blacks.

McKenzie also guided the Chiefs to the 2023 Super Rugby Final from the 15 jersey, with it coming as a surprise to see him selected at fly half for the 2023 Rugby Championship. All Blacks teammate Will Jordan slots in on the right wing, with the Crusaders superstar ready to debut his match-winning magic to the British & Irish Lions.

Jordan partners up across the back three with emerging Wallabies winger Corey Toole, with the 23-year-old set to come into his prime in a couple of years. Toole has been recently making his breakthrough with Australia 'A', after an impressive few seasons with the Brumbies in Super Rugby.

13. Hunter Paisami

12. Jordie Barrett

Despite Beauden having external commitments to take on the Lions in 2025, his brother Jordie is expected to be more than available for the seismic clash. The centre recently surpassed the 50 cap mark, as the All Blacks took on South Africa in the Rugby Championship, and at just 26-years-old, is progressing far beyond his years.

We've picked Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami to sit outside of Barrett, under the assumption that Eddie Jones will utilise his services sporadically throughout the 2025 Lions Tour. Paisami seems to be behind the pecking order of Marika Korobiete and Samu Kerevi, as an MCL injury kept the Samoan-born centre out of action for an extended period.

10. Noah Lolesio

9. Finlay Christie

Eddie Jones has gotten all the competitive fire he asked for out of Brumbies fly half Noah Lolesio, to the point of that the halfback shouted out the name of his positional rival Carter Gordon, after scoring a try against Gordon's Melbourne Rebels. However, Lolesio remains vacated from the Wallabies squad, with Jones preferring Gordon and the veteran Quade Cooper.

Gordon will be withheld from this match, as saved for the following week when his Rebels battle against the Lions. In turn, Lolesio would likely slot in to this Trans-Tasman squad, with Cooper eyeing up the 2025 Lions Tour as his final run at 37-years-old, and All Blacks fly half Richie Mo'unga heading to Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan. Jones would be hard pressed to let one of his scrum halves go to the invitational side at risk of injury, which narrows the scope back over to the All Blacks.

Aaron Smith will be joining Beauden Barrett on a long-term move to Japan, and TJ Perenara also seems content in his spot at Osaka's Docomo Red Hurricanes. This leaves Scottish born Finlay Christie as the most viable contender to the number nine jersey, for the Australia-New Zealand invitational side.

1. Ethan de Groot

2. Samisoni Taukei'aho

3. Zane Nonggorr

The Wallabies would not want to risk an injury to the likes of Allan Alaalatoa or co-captain James Slipper, as they will take vital roles throughout the three test matches. However, Australia will want to through their wait at the tourists up front, with up and coming tight-head Zane Nonggorr being the ideal selection to weaken down the likes of Ellis Genge before the test matches.

The All Blacks would gift the other two front rowers, with Tongan-born Samisoni Taukei'aho a powerhouse option at hooker. The Chiefs man would thrive in the unpredictable environment, and would have more gas in the tank to burn than Dane Coles and Codie Taylor, who come 2025 will be 34 and 38 respectively.

Fiery All Blacks loosehead Ethan De Groot gets the nod to seal off the front row, as he progresses from strength to strength with the Highlanders, and will soon nail his name to the All Blacks number one jersey.

4. Josh Lord

5. Tom Hooper

From a Wallabies standpoint, Nick Frost will be 25 by the time the Lions come to town and if he continues on this upward trajectory, would have established himself in the row. Will Skelton will likely join him in packing down the test-match scrum, following recent selection trends from Eddie Jones.

This sees Tom Hooper selected for the Australia-New Zealand squad, as the young Brumby builds his international reputation in the famous gold and green. From an All Blacks perspective, legendary lock duo Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are moving on from Super Rugby, as Whitelock signs with Pau and Rettallick settles in with the Kobelco Steelers.

Scott Barrett will be 31-years-old in 2025 and has not yet left Super Rugby, so a lucrative offer could likely attract the Crusaders captain to Japan to re-unite with his brother Beauden. From New Zealand, we've selected Josh Lord to pack down the row with Hooper. The 22-year-old made his All Blacks debut last Autumn, and if he can avoid additional injury setbacks, will thrive for the Chiefs once more.

6. Rob Leatoa

7. Sam Cane (C)

8. Langi Gleeson

Despite being a mainstay in the Waratahs back-row, Langi Gleeson suffered a calf injury which ruled him out of the early Wallabies camp back in March. He has been unable to re-claim his spot from the Autumn series just yet, with Rob Valentini preferred at eight. Gleeson could well do damage in this invitational squad, along with his Wallabies teammate on the flank.

We've selected Rob Leatoa to occupy the blindside, and All Blacks captain Sam Cane to take charge from the seven jersey. Cane will also be the Australia-New Zealand matchday captain, and will be one of the biggest names on the starting xv for the combined country. Rob Leatoa was a frequent feature in the closing stages of the Dave Rennie era, yet we predict to see him take a back seat for the 2025 tour.

The replacement run down with All Blacks prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi, and hooker Codie Taylor adding front row experience from the substitutes bench. Wallabies and Waratahs young gun Angus Bell will bring a burst of energy onto the pitch at tight-head prop, before New Zealand supply the replacement loose forwards.

Versatile Chiefs forward Tupou Va'ai and Blues powerhouse Dalton Papali'i reinforce the ranks, before an uncapped Crusader makes an appearance at replacement scrum-half. Exciting young prospect Noah Hotham gets the nod to run on at halfback, in what could be a baptism of fire against international opposition.

Australia 'A' talent Jock Campbell adds flexibility across the back-three, as the Queensland Reds man has proven strength on both wings and also at fullback. The last name on this team-sheet is the hotly anticipated cross-code star Joseph Sau'ali'i.

In 2025, the Rugby League playmaker will be making the swap over from the Sydney Roosters to join the New South Wales Waratahs. Sau'ali'i could well utilise this exhibition match to shake any last ditch 'union nerves' before a Wallabies test match debut against the Lions.

16. Ofa Tu'ungafasi

17. Angus Bell

18. Codie Taylor

19. Tupou Va'ai

20. Dalton Papali'i

21. Noah Hotham

22. Jock Campbell

23. Joseph Sau'ali'i