The Les Kiss managed Australia-New Zealand selection are expected to be the toughest game the Lions will have played on Aussie soil to date.A former assistant to Joe Schmidt at Ireland, Kiss will be taking the Australia job from Schmidt in mid-2026.This makes the AUNZ coach doubly-dangerous, he is familiar with some of the northern hemisphere players and rugby traits while he will have some of the Australia-eligible players looking to impress him. READ MORE: Ireland rugby secret revealed: Coach tells of Portugal beating Ireland in pre-2023 Rugby World Cup encounter READ MORE: Shocking Ireland rugby secret revealed: Coach tells of Portugal beating Ireland in pre-2023 Rugby World Cup encounter Kiss's day job is coaching Brumbies who were beaten 24-36 in midweek. It was a fine performance holding the Lions to 12 points but given the short turnaround, there are no Brumbies in this squad."We thought we fired some shots early," noted Kiss of Wednesday's encounter before moving on to the lessons learned. "You've just got to be smart with your collision game. "You know that they create quick ball so you have got to make sure you can slow them up a little bit and make sure you get on top of them defensively. I think that's what the Waratahs did really well when they played them. "Plus, you have to be clinical. You really have to be clinical against this team, make the most of any opportunity. Pull the trigger when you see the space."That's probable reference to putting Waratah's young no10, Tane Edmed, in to start - of course the idea he may have graduated to Wallaby first-choice in 18 months once Kiss's watch begins may have something to do with it too..."I think he can turn them around with a good kicking game as well. So, you know, there's a few things for us to work on."But, you know, we've got a good squad together, some good Kiwis joining us, and our Aussies. We've got a good bit of power and pace there, so we'll use them wisely as well."Those Kiwi's make up five of the seven backs and, notably, two of what looks like a tough back-row."We're just working on building some frameworks," continues Kiss of the build-up. "There's a lot of talent, a lot of power, a lot of pace in this team, a lot of rugby intelligence that is very smart."So we want to make sure that we get the right framework for them to be able to express that. I don't think you can afford to be too loose against this team."You've got to be able to direct when you need to be, use your power and pace and get the quick ball you need. "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, they want to impress."We are not going to be willy nilly, that's for sure. We're going to be direct, create as many opportunities as we can with the different strengths we have on our team."AUNZ Invitational XV: PLAYER BY PLAYER DETS 15 Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs, NZ): Full-back on the All Blacks team is a hotly contested position and 28 year-old Stevenson has just one cap - memorable too, scoring a try in a hotly contested 13-20 2023 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia 14 AJ Lam (Blues, NZ): Former Connacht Coach Pat Lam's nephew. 26 year-old, 'Local hero' at Auckland's Blues but with virtually no international recognition all the way up, just one appearance for a New Zealand XV vs Japan in 202313 Ngani Laumape (Steelers, NZ) - 15-times capped All Black 2020- who is currently finishing a third season in Japan but who has signed for Super Rugby's Moana Pasifica for 2026. Played in Europe with Stade Francais 2020-21. 12 David Havili (Crusaders, NZ) (co-capt) - 30-year-old, 30-times capped All Black given his debut in 2017 but discarded through 2018, 2019 and 2020. A first-centre considered Jordie Barrett's natural stand-in with AB's. 142 Crusaders caps.11 Marika Koroibete (Melbourne Rebels, Aus) - Fijian-born, an almost 15-stones powerhouse winger who has 59 Wallaby caps with a decent return of 20 tries. Now 32 years-of-age, he has played all of his Super Rugby at Melbourne Rebels. 10 Tane Edmed (Waratahs, Aus) - The youngest of the starting backs at 24 years-of-age, he has played 55 Super Rugby games for Waratahs. There is just the one Australia cap, gained last November against Ireland in Dublin.9 Folau Fakatava (Highlanders, NZ) - Two All Blacks caps, two New Zealand XV caps, 25 year-old and interesting selection as a physical, running scrum-half, his 80 kilos frame thriving on breaking tackles. 59 Super rugby caps at Highlanders.1 Aidan Ross (Reds, NZ) - Australian-born but family moved from Sydney while he was young and played NZ age-grade all the way up. One All Black cap, against Ireland, 2022. Signed for Reds from Chiefs 2025, the Lions game was his debut.2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Force, Aus) At Montpellier 2021-24 playing 56 games, scoring eight tries before returning to Force. 16 Australia caps debuting in 2018 and, signed on long-term central contract, some surprise he was released for this.3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Reds, NZ/Sam) Grizzled 34 year-old tighthead, one All Black cap 2013 before switching to Samoa in 2022 and earning three caps. Has had spells at Hurricanes, Wasps, Ulster (2022-23, 14 apps) before signing for Reds 2024 4 Angus Blyth (Reds, Aus) Six-foot-eight, 27 years-of-age, expected to be AUNZ's lineout go-to as his club lifters Ross and Toomaga-Allen are the props. Question is can hooker Paenga-Amosa get it right. Four Wallaby caps, debuting 2024.5 Lukhan Salakaia-Solo (Reds, Aus) Made his Australia debut in 2017 and earned 30 caps, his ability to work blindside-flanker coming into play at times. Six-six and 19 stones, he had a spell at Northampton 2022-23 before signing Red 20256 Shannon Frizell (Brave Lupus, NZ) (co-capt) Thirty-three All Black caps, bronze-medal at RWC 2019, silver medal at RWC 2023, all the while a Highlanders regular making 68 appearances and scoring 19 tries. Lured to Japan in 2024.7 Hoskins Sotutu (Blues, NZ) - Son of former All Black Waisake Sototu, a 2018 Baby Black who made his All Back debut in 2020 and who currently has 14 caps. Twenty-six years-of-age, a Super Rugby regular, he has played 80 times for Blues scoring 31 tries. 8 Pete Samu (Bordeaux-Begles, Aus) One Joe Schmidt is believed to be watching closely. Former Crusaders (in New Zealand 2015-18), Brumbies (Australia 2018-23) and both a 2024/25 Top 14 and European Cup winner with Bordeaux. 33 years of age. Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund (Blues, NZ), 17 Joshua Fusitu’a (Blues, NZ), 18 George Dyer (Chiefs, NZ), 19 Matt Philip (Waratahs, Aus 31 caps), 20 Joe Brial (Reds, Aus), 21 Kalani Thomas (Reds, Aus), 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Reds, Aus), 23 Jock Campbell (Reds, Aus 4 caps) READ MORE: Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3: HOW TO stream Uma Thurman documentary, see Open Sparring, watch Press Conf, Weigh-In & Fight - the key info Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.