Kiwis and Aussies put aside rivalries for game against British and Irish Lions
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SUPPLIED
Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster is getting used to the ribbing about wearing the green and gold of Australia.
Foster is in Adelaide as assistant coach for the AUNZ Invitational XV who play the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night.
Their 30-player squad is a mix of promising Australian talent with eight All Blacks not in Scott Robertson's current squad for the series against France and a couple more from Super Rugby sides.
Their training uniforms feature the Aussie green and gold livery on the chest, with black sleeves as a hat tip to the All Blacks.
"It's outstanding," said Foster about the kit. "I love the black sleeves too, so there's been a nice bit of compromise in the colours.'
"Les (Kiss, AUNZ XV head coach) has taken the mickey. Every time I sign something green and gold, he takes a photo of it, so I am in trouble later in the week I think."
The players only assembled this week so have a limited time to get combinations gelling against the Lions, who have won their three tour games and play the Brumbies on Wednesday night.
Foster, who has coached the Toyota Verblitz team in the Japan's rugby competition since finishing up with the All Blacks after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, said it will be tough against the Lions and the accent has been on getting to know each other.
"The guys are coming in and getting to know each other and that always brings a lot of energy. There are guys who have played against each other, but never really had a chat. Bit of bonding, bit going on, but they are hoeing into their work and getting used to something that should be pretty special."
The Lions celebrates a try against the Waratahs, 2025.
Photo:
DEAN LEWINS / PHOTOSPORT
Foster described the Lions as ''looking pretty slick at the moment", after wins against the Force, Reds and Waratahs. They play the Brumbies tonight.
"They have been well tested in their early games but I thought the Waratahs really climbed into them physically and turned that into a bit of bunfight.
"We know that if they can play on top of you and get the ball they want that they have got pretty good shape about how they go about things.
"They have some good existing combinations that they have had internationally. That's kinda the challenge here for us, probably the strength of the combinations.
"We have got to acknowledge they are good at what they do, their set piece is strong but it's not invincible,'' Foster said.
The AUNZ team was not going "heavy'' on organisation.
"We can only do so much in a short time period. It's the guys just wanting to play for the guy next to them. Generating that sort of Anzac feel about it, you know putting aside the rivalries and let's do something together.
"It's not a festival game for us, it's one where we want to express ourselves, it's a real opportunity to play a pretty special team against the Lions and who knows, achieve something nice."
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