Western Force's Simon Cron, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Mac Grealy named in AUNZ invitational side
Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Mac Grealy will be the Force representatives named in the AUNZ squad to face the Lions at Adelaide Oval on Saturday in their final tune-up before the Wallabies Tests begin.
Force coach Simon Cron will also serve as an assistant to departing Reds and incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss.
The AUNZ invitational squad, which features players from both Australia and New Zealand, was officially unveiled today following the drip-feeding of several members over the past month.
Hooker Paenga-Amosa, who had an injury-affected first season out west, showed his class against the Lions in the Force's clash with them at Optus Stadium.
The Wallabies front-rower helped the Force turn the tables on the Lions' scrum and after he missed out on selection for Australia's squad to face Fiji, Paenga-Amosa will have another chance to catch Joe Schmidt's eye.
Grealy's selection comes after his impressive showing against the Lions, where he repeatedly threatened with the ball in hand.
The outside back finished the match with a team-high 71 carry metres and nine broken tackles.
Eight All Blacks have been named in the 30-man squad, and a host of Super Rugby Pacific-based Kiwi stars have also been included, such as Hoskins Sotutu.
There are also nine former Wallabies in the side, including Darcy Lancaster, who impressed for the Waratahs against the Lions over the weekend and has been linked with a move to the Force.
Two-time John Eales Medalist Marika Koroibete has flown in from Japan for the game after the winger struggled to impress Schmidt for the Wallabies last year.
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"There's always going to be speculation, but it's up to people to put their best foot forward for a Test spot from now on in with regards to the chance they have got on Wednesday and on Saturday. "Players can play themselves in and players can play themselves out, but we are looking for a cohesive team performance and that is what we are trying to achieve. "There has to be movement in selection. The nature of the format of these two games allows for us to be open-minded. "We play on Saturday after this and have a full week's worth of training, so you have to stay open-minded. A closed book is not good for anyone. "I wouldn't call it a blank slate, you have always got ideas, but you need to leave wriggle room for things to unfold and make a judgement on what you see over the next couple of games." Providing X-factor on the bench are back row Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are viable options against Australia. 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"There's always going to be speculation, but it's up to people to put their best foot forward for a Test spot from now on in with regards to the chance they have got on Wednesday and on Saturday. "Players can play themselves in and players can play themselves out, but we are looking for a cohesive team performance and that is what we are trying to achieve. "There has to be movement in selection. The nature of the format of these two games allows for us to be open-minded. "We play on Saturday after this and have a full week's worth of training, so you have to stay open-minded. A closed book is not good for anyone. "I wouldn't call it a blank slate, you have always got ideas, but you need to leave wriggle room for things to unfold and make a judgement on what you see over the next couple of games." Providing X-factor on the bench are back row Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are viable options against Australia. 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"There's always going to be speculation, but it's up to people to put their best foot forward for a Test spot from now on in with regards to the chance they have got on Wednesday and on Saturday. "Players can play themselves in and players can play themselves out, but we are looking for a cohesive team performance and that is what we are trying to achieve. "There has to be movement in selection. The nature of the format of these two games allows for us to be open-minded. "We play on Saturday after this and have a full week's worth of training, so you have to stay open-minded. A closed book is not good for anyone. "I wouldn't call it a blank slate, you have always got ideas, but you need to leave wriggle room for things to unfold and make a judgement on what you see over the next couple of games." Providing X-factor on the bench are back row Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are viable options against Australia. 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Andy Farrell has picked his strongest British and Irish Lions team to take on ACT Brumbies with a warning they have yet to guarantee their selection for the first Test against Australia. Maro Itoje returns as captain for the Canberra showdown to lead a starting XV full of players considered first choice in their positions, including half-backs Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell. The fixture with the Brumbies is being treated by Farrell as a dry run for the series opener against the Wallabies on July 19. But he insisted his Lions stars still have to earn the jersey after leaving the door open for others to stake their claim, with Saturday's match against an AUNZ Invitational XV the final opportunity to impress. "The truth of the matter is we have got a good side that's going to take the field on Wednesday and I will tell you what I said to the team," the head coach said. "There's always going to be speculation, but it's up to people to put their best foot forward for a Test spot from now on in with regards to the chance they have got on Wednesday and on Saturday. "Players can play themselves in and players can play themselves out, but we are looking for a cohesive team performance and that is what we are trying to achieve. "There has to be movement in selection. The nature of the format of these two games allows for us to be open-minded. "We play on Saturday after this and have a full week's worth of training, so you have to stay open-minded. A closed book is not good for anyone. "I wouldn't call it a blank slate, you have always got ideas, but you need to leave wriggle room for things to unfold and make a judgement on what you see over the next couple of games." Providing X-factor on the bench are back row Henry Pollock and versatile playmaker Marcus Smith in an opportunity for both England stars to prove they are viable options against Australia. In normal circumstances flanker Tom Curry and prop Tadhg Furlong would be assured of Test places, but they need big games following underwhelming tours so far. Prop Ellis Genge, flanker Ollie Chessum and full-back Blair Kinghorn must also put their best foot forwards amid fierce competition for places. The likes of Dan Sheehan, Itoje, Gibson-Park, Russell and Jack Conan are nailed-on starters. After a disappointing performance against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday, the Lions are looking to build momentum before heading to Adelaide for their penultimate midweek game. The Brumbies were the only provincial side to beat the Lions in 2013 and are dangerous opponents. "There is a real sense of excitement because there's a lot of history that goes with this fixture," Farrell said. "The last two occasions we have played the Brumbies there have been four points in it, for and against. We know the challenge ahead and it's something we have been looking forward to."
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Hooper brothers Lachie and Tom will link for potentially the first and last time as ACT Brumbies as the Australian rugby powerhouse club plots another Lions taming. Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will captain the side, with Lachie Hooper's debut off the bench against the British and Irish Lions on Wednesday. It will be the 21-year-old's first chance to line up professionally alongside big brother and Wallaby Tom, who departs for England's Exeter Chiefs in the off-season. The Brumbies humbled the Lions 14-12 on their last visit 12 years ago, becoming the first Australian club to beat them since 1971. Wary of a repeat, the Lions have reinstalled lock and captain Maro Itoje and will start Bristol firebrand Ellis Genge in the front row, while Ireland's former Brumbies winger Mack Hansen earns a homecoming from the bench. "This year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby (making the semi-finals), so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us," Lions coach Andy Farrell said. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham hailed the talents of the younger Hooper, who he watched and helped develop over the years through the ACT rugby system. "We really wanted them to be here together, and we really wanted them to play together, and we just didn't get the opportunity this year," he said. "But hopefully everything goes to plan and they get on the field and they really enjoy not only the moment, but the way that we play the game." Tom, 24, returns to the starting side after playing 12 minutes in the Wallabies' ugly 21-18 victory over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, but several big-name Test players will be absent, including Rob Valetini and captain Allan Alaalatoa. "We've been planning for this for a while, and yeah, second row was certainly a position that we were a little bit light-on," Larkham said. Taming the Lions will be a tough ask for Larkham's inexperienced side. The tourists posted half-centuries against the Queensland Reds and the Force, and despite a strong performance from the NSW Waratahs still prevailed 21-10 in Sydney. Looking at the scorelines, Larkham conceded it was hard to argue that the Lions had yet to face a proper challenge in Australia. "Although I thought the Waratahs were pretty good on the weekend," he said. "I thought it was a very impressive game against the Reds. "We've learned a lot from that. We get the benefit of playing last so we get to see three of their games in Australia, they've had their Argentinian game as well, so we've sort of studied them quite closely. "We feel that we've had a pretty good run at our preparation compared to the other teams. "They (the Waratahs) came into the game with some tactics that worked pretty well, and we've learned a little bit out of the Waratahs game as well." Wednesday's game will also serve as a Brumbies farewell for Jack Debreczeni and Ben O'Donnell, who will join French side Aurillac on a two-year deal. BRUMBIES: Lington Ieli, Lachlan Lonergan, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Ollie Sapsford, Ben O'Donnell, Andy Muirhead. Bench: Liam Bowron, Cameron Orr, Feao Fotuaika, Lachie Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton LIONS: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Tommy Freeman, Blair Kinghorn. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen Hooper brothers Lachie and Tom will link for potentially the first and last time as ACT Brumbies as the Australian rugby powerhouse club plots another Lions taming. Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will captain the side, with Lachie Hooper's debut off the bench against the British and Irish Lions on Wednesday. It will be the 21-year-old's first chance to line up professionally alongside big brother and Wallaby Tom, who departs for England's Exeter Chiefs in the off-season. The Brumbies humbled the Lions 14-12 on their last visit 12 years ago, becoming the first Australian club to beat them since 1971. Wary of a repeat, the Lions have reinstalled lock and captain Maro Itoje and will start Bristol firebrand Ellis Genge in the front row, while Ireland's former Brumbies winger Mack Hansen earns a homecoming from the bench. "This year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby (making the semi-finals), so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us," Lions coach Andy Farrell said. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham hailed the talents of the younger Hooper, who he watched and helped develop over the years through the ACT rugby system. "We really wanted them to be here together, and we really wanted them to play together, and we just didn't get the opportunity this year," he said. "But hopefully everything goes to plan and they get on the field and they really enjoy not only the moment, but the way that we play the game." Tom, 24, returns to the starting side after playing 12 minutes in the Wallabies' ugly 21-18 victory over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, but several big-name Test players will be absent, including Rob Valetini and captain Allan Alaalatoa. "We've been planning for this for a while, and yeah, second row was certainly a position that we were a little bit light-on," Larkham said. Taming the Lions will be a tough ask for Larkham's inexperienced side. The tourists posted half-centuries against the Queensland Reds and the Force, and despite a strong performance from the NSW Waratahs still prevailed 21-10 in Sydney. Looking at the scorelines, Larkham conceded it was hard to argue that the Lions had yet to face a proper challenge in Australia. "Although I thought the Waratahs were pretty good on the weekend," he said. "I thought it was a very impressive game against the Reds. "We've learned a lot from that. We get the benefit of playing last so we get to see three of their games in Australia, they've had their Argentinian game as well, so we've sort of studied them quite closely. "We feel that we've had a pretty good run at our preparation compared to the other teams. "They (the Waratahs) came into the game with some tactics that worked pretty well, and we've learned a little bit out of the Waratahs game as well." Wednesday's game will also serve as a Brumbies farewell for Jack Debreczeni and Ben O'Donnell, who will join French side Aurillac on a two-year deal. BRUMBIES: Lington Ieli, Lachlan Lonergan, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Ollie Sapsford, Ben O'Donnell, Andy Muirhead. Bench: Liam Bowron, Cameron Orr, Feao Fotuaika, Lachie Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton LIONS: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Tommy Freeman, Blair Kinghorn. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen Hooper brothers Lachie and Tom will link for potentially the first and last time as ACT Brumbies as the Australian rugby powerhouse club plots another Lions taming. Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will captain the side, with Lachie Hooper's debut off the bench against the British and Irish Lions on Wednesday. It will be the 21-year-old's first chance to line up professionally alongside big brother and Wallaby Tom, who departs for England's Exeter Chiefs in the off-season. The Brumbies humbled the Lions 14-12 on their last visit 12 years ago, becoming the first Australian club to beat them since 1971. Wary of a repeat, the Lions have reinstalled lock and captain Maro Itoje and will start Bristol firebrand Ellis Genge in the front row, while Ireland's former Brumbies winger Mack Hansen earns a homecoming from the bench. "This year they were the leading Australian team in Super Rugby (making the semi-finals), so we are fully aware of the challenge in front of us," Lions coach Andy Farrell said. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham hailed the talents of the younger Hooper, who he watched and helped develop over the years through the ACT rugby system. "We really wanted them to be here together, and we really wanted them to play together, and we just didn't get the opportunity this year," he said. "But hopefully everything goes to plan and they get on the field and they really enjoy not only the moment, but the way that we play the game." Tom, 24, returns to the starting side after playing 12 minutes in the Wallabies' ugly 21-18 victory over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, but several big-name Test players will be absent, including Rob Valetini and captain Allan Alaalatoa. "We've been planning for this for a while, and yeah, second row was certainly a position that we were a little bit light-on," Larkham said. Taming the Lions will be a tough ask for Larkham's inexperienced side. The tourists posted half-centuries against the Queensland Reds and the Force, and despite a strong performance from the NSW Waratahs still prevailed 21-10 in Sydney. Looking at the scorelines, Larkham conceded it was hard to argue that the Lions had yet to face a proper challenge in Australia. "Although I thought the Waratahs were pretty good on the weekend," he said. "I thought it was a very impressive game against the Reds. "We've learned a lot from that. We get the benefit of playing last so we get to see three of their games in Australia, they've had their Argentinian game as well, so we've sort of studied them quite closely. "We feel that we've had a pretty good run at our preparation compared to the other teams. "They (the Waratahs) came into the game with some tactics that worked pretty well, and we've learned a little bit out of the Waratahs game as well." Wednesday's game will also serve as a Brumbies farewell for Jack Debreczeni and Ben O'Donnell, who will join French side Aurillac on a two-year deal. BRUMBIES: Lington Ieli, Lachlan Lonergan, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Ollie Sapsford, Ben O'Donnell, Andy Muirhead. Bench: Liam Bowron, Cameron Orr, Feao Fotuaika, Lachie Hooper, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Hudson Creighton LIONS: Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy, Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Tommy Freeman, Blair Kinghorn. Bench: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Mack Hansen
