British & Irish Lions vs Australia-New Zealand Invitational – 12th July / Adelaide Oval
LAST TIME: British & Irish Lions 64-0 Combined NSW-QLD Country
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour features the exciting prospect of an Australia-New Zealand invited team, as the Wallabies and All Blacks work together to take on their old enemy. The last time the Lions took on a team of this format was on the 1989 Tour of Australia, in the form of ‘Anzac XV’.
The Lions’ 2013 trip ‘Down Under’ featured a match against a combined team from Australian states New South Wales and Queensland. The Lions ran roughshod over their make-shift opponents, scoring 10 unanswered tries for an emphatic shut-out victory.
TRIES: Cuthbert, Murray, Hogg, North (2), Hibbard, O’Driscoll, Halfpenny, O’Brien, Davies
CONVERSIONS: Hogg (4/6), Halfpenny (3/4)
British & Irish Lions vs Australia (First Test) – 19th July / Suncorp Stadium
LAST TIME: British & Irish Lions 23 – 21 Australia (1-0)
The British & Irish Lions bounced back from their Brumbies set-back, for the all-important first test match victory. Controversial former Wallaby Israel Folau scored the opening try of the contest, before George North began the fight back for the Lions. In 2013, Folau was in his prime, and the now Tongan international struck back with an impressive solo effort for his second try to re-claim Australia’s lead.
Alex Cuthbert responded with a try for the Lions early in the second half, before the remaining penalties were decided from an all important kicking match. Halfpenny’s penalties proved all-important for the Lions victory. This match is also infamously remembered for Christian Leali’ifano’s Wallabies debut, which saw the now Samoan international knocked out after just 52 seconds on the pitch.
TRIES: North, Cuthbert
CONVERSIONS: Halfpenny (2/2)
PENALTIES: Halfpenny (3/4)
Embed from Getty ImagesBritish & Irish Lions vs Melbourne Rebels – 22nd July / Marvel Stadium
LAST TIME: British & Irish Lions 35 – 0 Melbourne Rebels
The Lions followed up their all-important first test triumph, with a landslide win over the last domestic side of the tour. The utility players of the 2013 tour had their opportunity to take centre stage, with numerous changes made from the 1st string ‘test match squad’.
Scrum half duo Connor Murray and Ben Youngs each scored tries, to commence and wrap up this one-way traffic. Additional scores came from New Zealand born Scottish international Sean Maitland, and Ireland’s powerhouse forward Sean O’Brien.
TRIES: Murray, Maitland, O’Brien, Penalty Try, Youngs
CONVERSIONS: Farrell (3/3), Hogg (1/1)