A combined Australia and New Zealand XV could take on the British and Irish Lions in 2025
Australia’s confirmation that they are in talks with rivals New Zealand over uniting to form a team for the next British and Irish Lions tour has immediately triggered debate over what an Anzac XV would look like.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has announced that the Trans-Tasman side who faced the Lions last in 1989 could be resurrected for the 2025 Series as a warm-up before the traditional three-Test series against the Wallabies.
But by the looks of what a combined XV could generate, the contest would be anything but a warm-up – and arguably would pit the Lions against a much stronger outfit than what they would face in the series, given the riches available to an Anzac outfit.
Our Telegraph sport rugby writers select their Anzac XVs from the players would be best fit to take on the Lions if a match were to be played this weekend.