AUNZ Invitational head coach Les Kiss is looking to strike the right balance between allowing the squad to enjoy the unique opportunity in front of them and devising a plan to take down the British & Irish Lions.
Kiss and the squad have settled into Adelaide ahead of Saturday’s historic fixture at the Adelaide Oval, the first time the team will play in the modern era.
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There are 18 internationally capped players in the squad, with Darby Lancaster, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Seru Uru and Tane Edmed among the new additions to the completed squad.
Invoking the spirit of the famous Barbarians, Kiss was focused on building the culture within the group as the two nations celebrate what makes each other special.
“I know the boys are really enjoying it already. We've got some activities, some of the boys are going to go to Barossa Valley later in the week, so we're really lapping it up,” Kiss said.
“We spoke in depth last night when we had the group together about what an honour it is, and it's 36 years since this event happened before, so it's rarefied air. It's unique, and we're not going to take that for granted. We're all honoured to be able to put this jersey on.
“There's a little bit of that ANZAC spirit in there. We've got Kiwi songs, we've got Aussie songs in the team room. Just making the most of the opportunity to connect and do something special this week.
“We're using whatever mechanisms we can to connect in the team room, but also in training, playing fast connection games and all that sort of stuff. This is your life, players learning the story of another player that they don't know and then standing up and talking about it in front of their teammates. Just trying to create as many opportunities to find a way to get tighter in a short space of time.”
Kiss’ primary focus remains on knocking off the Lions, with the coach getting a taste of what to expect last week against the Reds.
The former Irish assistant confirmed the decision was made not to include any ACT Brumbies on the account of Wednesday’s tour match against the Lions and the limited preparation they have already had, let alone any other setbacks.
He also revealed that he had been in talks with the Wallabies staff as they try to achieve a balance between Test hopefuls and the imported Kiwi talent.
“We've been through a bit of a selection, obviously, with a lot of the New Zealand boys joining us, we want to make sure that they get a run as well,” he said.
“It’s been a joint venture in terms of making sure we get the right sort of exposure and the type of team that we want out there to start. We've got 30 players here, then we'll pick the finishers and the week goes on.”
Kiss was excited by the quality of talent he had at his disposal, with a combined 300 Test caps in the group.
He was quickly designing a game plan to maximise their talents as best they could to avoid a similar fate to 1989, when the combined side went down 19-15.
“There's a lot of talent, a lot of power, a lot of pace in this team. A lot of intelligence and smarts. We want to make sure that we get the right framework for them to be able to express that,” Kiss added.
“I don't think you can afford to be too loose against this team. You've got to be able to be direct when you need to be. You use your power and pace and get the quick ball you need and if we can create that type of opportunity in the edges, I'm pretty sure our boys will be able to take an opportunity when they see it.
“I would say that there's a lot at stake for a lot of boys that want to impress, so we're not going to be willy-nilly, that's for sure.
