A rare rugby fixture recently saw a combined Australia and New Zealand (ANZAC) squad face the formidable British & Irish Lions in Adelaide. This match marked the first encounter of its kind since 1989, building anticipation among rugby enthusiasts.
However, the scoreboard told a stark story: the Lions emerged victorious with a dominant 48-0 performance. Despite featuring seventeen players currently active in their respective national squads, the ANZAC side struggled to find cohesion against the well-drilled tourists.
In the wake of the lopsided scoreline, ANZAC coach Les Kiss addressed the performance and the future of the concept. Kiss acknowledged the undeniable result but stressed the importance of context, particularly the limited preparation time available to the composite squad.
He argued that three to four weeks of dedicated camp time could significantly mitigate the errors seen on the field. Crucially, Kiss remains a proponent of the ANZAC idea. “The score speaks for itself, of course, but there are other aspects to consider,” Kiss stated. “If we had three or four weeks together, many mistakes could be avoided. I am confident this project deserves to continue. The player quality is there; they just need the opportunity.”
Echoing his coach`s sentiment, team captain David Havili also voiced support for future iterations of the ANZAC team. Havili highlighted the positive aspects of the short time together, specifically praising the way the Australian and New Zealand players integrated.
“I really enjoyed how the Australians and New Zealanders connected,” Havili commented. “Yes, the result wasn`t what we hoped for, but we can be proud of the concept itself. I hope we can repeat this experience the next time the Lions visit New Zealand.”
The stark contrast between the ambitious vision of a combined ANZAC force and the immediate reality of a heavy defeat raises questions, yet the commitment from key figures like Kiss and Havili is clear. They appear to see past the single result to the potential value of uniting Southern Hemisphere talent against formidable touring sides. For the ANZAC concept, this match may have been a difficult opening chapter, but according to those involved, the book is far from closed.
