Proposed ANZACs vs British Lions match - Who would win?

Quade Cooper
Quade Cooper backs the idea of an ANZACs v Lions match - but our correspondent would't pick him at 10
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The Southern Hemisphere rugby union press are full of this story and their old friend Quade Cooper has added his opinions. Whenever there is rugby news or debate in this part of the world, we turn to Scott Donaldson. Here are his thoughts:

There is a proposed match between the ANZACs (Australia and New Zealand) and the British and Irish Lions, to celebrate 100 years since World War One when the ANZACs first fought togethe.

This match is proposed to take place at Twickenham at the end of 2015, after the Rugby World Cup but would you support this match or do you consider it to be just another meaningless rugby match to add to an already long season?

It is difficult to know if players would be able to give their best after the Rugby World Cup, or just see it as a festival game? 

The ANZACs XV would surely go into this game as favourites, although they would be playing away from home. But who would you include in the ANZACs XV? Would you mainly stack it with All Blacks or would you pick combinations of players like Will Genia and Quade Cooper or would you solely pick based on the ability of a specific player? 

Given that this game would be played in 2015 then Sonny Bill Williams would be eligible, but would you pick him ahead of Ma'a Nonu?

Would you pick Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Liam Messam or Scott Higginbotham to wear the Number Six jersey? 

Richie McCaw at openside or Michael Hooper? 

Which of the two Israels would you pick at fullback? Or would you go for Ben Smith or Charles Piutau? 

Who would wear the Number 10 jersey, Quade Cooper, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden or Beauden Barrett? 

In the name of fairness I think there needs to be a sprinkling of Wallabies in this team. 

15 Israel Folau
14 Ben Smith
13 Conrad Smith
12 Ma'a Nonu
11 Julian Savea
10 Dan Carter
9 Will Genia
8 Kieran Read
7 Richie McCaw
6 Scott Higginbotham
5 James Horwill
4 Sam Whitelock
3 Owen Franks
2 Stephen Moore
1 Tony Woodcock 

Reserves

16 Dane Coles
17 Charlie Faumuina
18 James Slipper
19 Brodie Retallick
20 Michael Hooper
21 Aaron Smith
22 Aaron Cruden
23 Sonny Bill Williams  

Given the limited preparation for this game it would potentially be a relatively disjointed game, but despite playing away from home, the ANZACs would surely win. 

Although given that Australia and New Zealand will most likely both end up in the semi-finals at least in the Rugby World Cup then the British and Irish Lions may have the advantage of fresher players; although Ireland and England might be their opponents!

 
 
 
 
 

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