Ex-Wallabies back claims Lions 'offside all the time' as Wallabies zoom into focus after crushing AUNZ XV win
Updated . First published at
Morgan Turinui claimed the British and Irish Lions are "offside all the time at ruck time" to kick off a spicy buildup to the opening Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane next Saturday.
A second string Lions belted the AUNZ Invitational XV 48-0 at Adelaide Oval to give coach Andy Farrell some welcome selection headaches.
Winger Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick while Farrell's son, Owen, made an impressive return off the bench in the second half.
Watch all the action from the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand
Luke Cowan-Dickie of British & Irish Lions receives medical treatment before being stretchered off the field. Getty
The only blow for the Lions was losing hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie when he was knocked out from a knee to the head in the first half.
The Lions are now 5-0 on Australian soil after adding the Anzac scalp to all four of the country's Super Rugby Pacific teams.
"This is the harsh truth about the British and Irish Lions in 2025. They are offside all the time at ruck time," ex-Wallabies back Turinui said on Stan Sport's post-match coverage.
AS IT HAPPENED: AUNZ Invitational XV vs British and Irish Lions
READ MORE: 'Weren't on the same page': Joey axes 'poor' Luai from Blues
READ MORE: Aussie selectors weighing up massive Lyon decision
Owen Farrell of British & Irish Lions reacts. Getty
"So if you're the Wallabies, you cannot wait for an assistant referee to intervene. You must win contacts clean, with one metre of depth to have a good offside line. And generate fast ball, fast ball, you must be brutal and violent at cleanout at the breakdown.
"This Test series will be won and lost in my opinion, at the breakdown, in that collision, and one who can show the right pictures to the referee to get a little bit of the rub of the green there as well."
The Lions led 17-0 at halftime and poured on the tries in the second half before 43,124 fans, a record for rugby in the AFL-mad state of South Australia.
Scotland's van der Merwe scored two of his three tries in an early 13 minute span while controversial mid-tour replacement Owen Farrell came off the reserves bench in the 50th minute to a smattering of jeers from the travelling Lions fans.
Farrell hasn't played international rugby since the 2023 World Cup and had played no rugby in nine weeks and only 18 minutes in the last 10 weeks.
The former England captain replaced the injured Elliot Daly to make it onto his fourth Lions tour.
Owen Farrell of the British & Irish Lions celebrates with teammate Sione Tuipulotu. Getty
In the 36th minute, England hooker Cowan-Dickie was knocked out after attempting a tackle.
He was taken off the field by stretcher after sustaining an apparent head or neck injury.
But Farrell told Turinui that Cowan-Dickie was ''in good spirits" and back to his "cheeky" self.
Ireland's Dan Sheehan is the likely starter at hooker for the first Test and Cowan-Dickie is unlikely to be cleared in time with the HIA protocols.
The first combined Australia-New Zealand XV since the 1989 Lions tour included 17 internationals, including the entire starting side.
But the AUNZ team could do little against the Lions lineup, most of whom won't feature in the opening Test.
The Lions also confirmed that Ireland centre Garry Ringrose - the likely starter in Brisbane - was out of the first Test due to concussion suffered on Wednesday against the ACT Brumbies.
"Very sad for Garry but he'll be back within the rest of the series," Farrell said.
Scotland's Huw Jones, who was again excellent in Adelaide, is now the obvious man to wear No.13.
British and Irish Lions 48 (Duhan van der Merwe 3, Ben White, Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings, Ronan Kelleher, Henry Pollock tries; Fin Smith 2 conversions, Marcus Smith 2 conversions) AUNZ Invitational XV 0. HT: 17-0
