‘They have work to do': Why an ex-All Blacks coach says Australia can trouble Lions
Foster gave a show of trans-Tasman support as he also called for the AUNZ concept to survive in the future, despite the combined Aussie and Kiwi team getting thumped by the Lions in Adelaide on Saturday night.
The clinical Lions ran in eight tries in a 48-0 victory at Adelaide Oval, deflating the atmosphere of the 43,154-strong crowd who were hoping for a spectacle.
It was another powerful flex from the Lions, who head into the first Test on Saturday as heavy favourites to beat the Wallabies, who are paying $3.60 with the bookies.
Lions coach Andy Farrell said post-game that he was relieved the hectic schedule of the first half of the tour, where they had played five games in 15 days, was over. But his headaches now turn to whittling a 38-man squad down to 23 for the first Test.
'Very pleased to finish off what's been a tough block for all sorts of reasons,' Farrell said.
'It was nice to get a good performance [in Adelaide] and then roll into a Test series in a nice shape as a squad. I just said to the players, selection is going to be unbelievably difficult, and that's how it should be.'
But AUNZ assistant coach Foster, who was assistant coach of the All Blacks in the Lions tour of New Zealand in 2017, said while impressed with the 2025 Lions, there are still issues for Farrell's side to address; namely the greater breakdown pressure they'll face in the Tests, and potential damage to squad harmony after Test selections are made.

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Sydney Morning Herald
16 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Schmidt got it wrong and must ring changes
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The Age
16 minutes ago
- The Age
Schmidt got it wrong and must ring changes
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Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
'Easy target' Lynagh leans on dad, ready for round two
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