Lions Player Ratings vs AUNZ XV: Andy Farrell’s Side Produce Their Most Convincing Performance of the 2025 Tour So Far.
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Duhan van der Merwe tore through the AUNZ Invitational XV like a wrecking ball, bagging a hat-trick as the British and Irish Lions racked up eight tries in a sizzling 55-12 demolition job ahead of next weekend’s first Test against the Wallabies.
In a lively Adelaide outing, Owen Farrell made a return via the bench, but the night wasn’t all smooth sailing—Garry Ringrose is a doubt for Brisbane after a suspected head knock, while Luke Cowan-Dickie’s evening ended in grim fashion, stretchered off following a knee to the head.
The scoreboard ticked early and often, with Van der Merwe grabbing two in the first half and Ben White darting in for a classic scrum-half finish. After the break, the Scots went wild—Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings and Van der Merwe again made it six tries, all from tartan territory.
Ireland’s Ronan Kelleher barged over for the seventh, before England’s young gun Henry Pollock capped it off with his maiden try of the tour.
It was a performance full of firepower—but the Lions may pay a price in the casualty department ahead of their Brisbane blockbuster.
Scroll down for Lions player ratings vs AUNZ XV
AUNZ XV - 0
- Tries:
- Cons:
- Pens:
British & Irish Lions - 48
- Tries: van der Merwe (6', 20', 63'), White (9'), Tuipulotu (43'), Cummings (61'), Kelleher (68'), Pollock (75')
- Cons: F Smith (10', 43'), M Smith (61',76')
- Pens:
Lions player ratings vs AUNZ XV:
15. Hugo Keenan – 7
Keenan looked to have shaken off the rust from his earlier performances in Australia, showing sharp awareness to tee up van der Merwe’s first try. Now seemingly settled into the tour, this was a much-improved outing from the Irish fullback. The Leinster man may be in pole position to start the first Test, depending on the fitness of Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn, who departed early against the Waratahs.
14. Mack Hansen – 5
Hansen hasn’t done enough to show he deserves a Test role, with his tackling and kicking continuing to be an issue today. Competition on the wing is fierce from the likes of Tommy Freeman, James Lowe and Duhan van der Merwe, and Hansen looks to be out of the conversation to face his native Australia.
13. Huw Jones – 8
The Glasgow centre has been consistently impressive throughout the tour, putting in some strong carries and linking well with Sione Tuipulotu. While he didn’t make the scoresheet tonight, his early withdrawal on 55 minutes could suggest he’s being saved for a starting role in next Saturday’s first Test.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7
Tuipulotu was his usual solid self at inside centre, carrying hard and tucking home a neat try as part of the Scottish cohort on the scoresheet. Andy Farrell may choose to favour his familiar pairing of Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose in Brisbane, but 'Huw-ipulotu' have given him a difficult decision to make when the time comes to pick the squad.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 9
The big man has arrived. After a quiet start to the tour, van der Merwe returned to his best against the invitational side. A hat-trick of clinical finishes on the left wing—taking full advantage of well-crafted space—puts him firmly in contention to start opposite Tommy Freeman in the first Test.
10. Fin Smith – 5
So often a reliable option at fly-half, Northampton’s Smith had an off night in Adelaide. A couple of simple missed kicks and a lack of real effect in this game mean Andy Farrell could look at his more versatile options – Marcus Smith or Owen Farrell – to back up Finn Russell in Brisbane.
9. Ben White – 8
White grabbed himself a smart try in the first half, spotting a gap to pick up from a ruck and cross under the posts. The Toulon scrum-half won’t challenge Jamison Gibson-Park and Alex Mitchell for the Test roles, but his first Lions start produced a great showing.
1. Pierre Schoeman – 7
Schoeman played the full 80 minutes in Adelaide, perhaps indicating he’ll take a backseat role when the squad heads to Brisbane on July 19th. The Scotland prop put in an excellent shift as the Lions continued their 100% record at their own scrum and shut out the invitational side.
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 6
Cowan-Dickie started promisingly, with his accuracy at the line-out putting him in the conversation as a backup for the first Test. However, a scary injury thanks to his poor tackle technique saw him stretchered off. Despite re-emerging from the medical area after half-time, we’ll wait to see whether the Sale man takes any further part in this tour, or compatriot Jamie George comes in from the standby list.
3. Will Stuart – 7
Bath tighthead Stuart is another of the ‘midweek crew’, unlikely to make an impact when the big games arrive across the next three Saturdays. That being said, the 29-year-old put in a solid shift in the scrum before departing on 50 minutes.
4. James Ryan – 6
Part of the large Leinster contingent in Andy Farrell’s squad, Ryan was exceptionally poor against the Waratahs. After failing to make an impression and looking to be bottom of the pecking order when it comes to lock selection,
5. Tadhg Beirne – 6
Beirne has been underwhelming in Australia so far, not living up to his reputation as a nailed-on starter. He made 14 tackles and was generally solid, but hasn’t done enough yet to force his way into next week’s starting fifteen.
6. Henry Pollock – 8
The young back row finally got his moment for the Lions, grabbing an opportunistic try in the closing stages after impressing throughout. The Northampton man is up against some stiff competition for a place in the starting lineup in Brisbane, but this performance should guarantee his place in the matchday squad next week.
7. Jac Morgan – 7
The last Welshman standing on tour looks like a standout performer, with more exceptional rucking and tackling to help the Lions keep a clean sheet in Adelaide. The Ospreys flanker is in great form, and Farrell would be remiss not to give him the starting role opposite Josh van der Flier.
8. Ben Earl – 8
Earl had a strong match, gaining good ground and keeping the team’s tempo up. Former Scotland back row Jon Barclay described him as "quietly brilliant" on Sky Sports. Earl’s recent form could give him the edge over Jack Conan for the first Test.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Ronan Kelleher – 7
17. Andrew Porter – 6
18. Finlay Bealham – 6
19. Scott Cummings – 7
20. Josh van der Flier – 6
21. Alex Mitchell – 6
22. Marcus Smith – 6
23. Owen Farrell – 6
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- Who is Owen Farrell: 12 things you didn’t know about the England fly-half
- Henry Pollock’s Family of Athletes: Sister Also a Star
Quiz Title: Most Points for the British & Irish Lions in Test Matches
Introduction:
Think you know your Lions legends? ?
Test your rugby knowledge by naming the players who have scored the most points for the British & Irish Lions in test matches. These are the top scorers from historic tours—can you remember them all?
Think you know your Lions legends? ?
Test your rugby knowledge by naming the players who have scored the most points for the British & Irish Lions in test matches. These are the top scorers from historic tours—can you remember them all?
You have 5 minutes.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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