Ian Foster makes blunt revelation on AUNZ Invitational XV’s approach to British and Irish Lions clash

Former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster is settling into his role as the assistant coach for the AUNZ Invitational XV’s clash against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide on Saturday.

Reds boss Les Kiss is the AUNZ Invitational XV’s head coach and Foster will be joined by Simon Cron and Zane Hilton as assistant coaches and there are eight All Blacks and 10 Wallabies in their 30-man squad.

Expects a tough challenge from the Lions

Foster, who is also part of the coaching staff at Toyota Verblitz in the Japan Rugby League One competition, expects a tough challenge from the Lions who have won their first three tour matches against the Western Force, Reds and Waratahs ahead of Wednesday’s clash against the Brumbies.

“They have been well tested in their early games but I thought the Waratahs really climbed into them physically and turned that into a bit of gunfight,” said the 60-year-old.

“We know that if they can play on top of you and get the ball they want that they have got pretty good shape about how they go about things.

“They have some good existing combinations that they have had internationally. That’s kinda the challenge here for us, probably the strength of the combinations.

“We have got to acknowledge they are good at what they do, their set piece is strong but it’s not invincible.”

All Blacks and Wallabies aplenty in finalised AUNZ XV squad to face British and Irish Lions

The AUNZ Invitational XV players only assembled this week which leaves them with very little time to gel and settle on combinations but Foster is confident they will give a good account of themselves.

“The guys are coming in and getting to know each other and that always brings a lot of energy,” he said.

‘Getting used to something that should be pretty special’

“There are guys who have played against each other, but never really had a chat. Bit of bonding, bit going on, but they are hoeing into their work and getting used to something that should be pretty special.”

Foster revealed that the AUNZ Invitational XV are not doing too much planning ahead of their clash with the Lions.

“We can only do so much in a short time period. It’s the guys just wanting to play for the guy next to them. Generating that sort of Anzac feel about it, you know putting aside the rivalries and let’s do something together,” he explained.

“It’s not a festival game for us, it’s one where we want to express ourselves, it’s a real opportunity to play a pretty special team against the Lions and who knows, achieve something nice.”

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