David Havili and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will lead a “powerful” Aussie-Kiwi invitational team stacked with All Blacks and Wallabies to face the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide on Saturday.

Coach Les Kiss picked 17 internationals in his match-23 and will be stern competition for the Lions ahead of the first Test against the Wallabies on 19 July in Brisbane.

Head coach Andy Farrell’s side are unbeaten in four matches in Australia after wins over four Super Rugby sides, including 36-24 against the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday.

READ: Lions remain unbeaten, but worries at 15

The Australia-New Zealand side, the first time the powerhouses have joined forces since 1989, could provide the Lions with their biggest test so far.

Every player in the starting XV has international caps, with Salakaia-Loto part of a Reds-heavy tight five alongside Aidan Ross, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen and Angus Blyth.

Former Bordeaux flanker Pete Samu forms a formidable loose trio with All Blacks Shannon Frizell and Hoskins Sotutu.

Havili, who recently led the Crusaders to the Super Rugby title, is at inside centre alongside former All Black Ngani Laumape.

Shaun Stevenson will start at fullback.

“After speaking with all the players we thought the co-captaincy model with natural leaders like David and Lukhan would really suit this team and what we represent,” said Kiss, who will succeed Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach next year and is being assisted by former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster.

“This week has been building nicely and the boys have put a lot of time into getting to know each other.
In forming new bonds, many of them have discovered they have more in common than they originally thought. We have named an experienced, powerful starting side for Saturday and we know our bench will make an impact when they get their opportunity,” said Kiss.

AUSSIE-KIWI XV — 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Ngani Laumape, 12 David Havili (co-capt), 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Pete Samu, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (co-capt), 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Aidan Ross
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 George Dyer, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry Mclaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell

© Agence France-Presse

Your 23 to represent the AUNZ Invitational XV against The Lions 💚💛🖤

They’ll be led by co-captains Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and David Havili 🫡#LionsTour2025 pic.twitter.com/gwtC1FbWrz

— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) July 10, 2025

Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images