British and Irish Lions Crush Australia-New Zealand XV 48-0 in Adelaide

The British and Irish Lions secured a dominant 48-0 victory over a combined Australia-New Zealand invitational side in Adelaide, marking their fifth consecutive win on the Australian tour ahead of the first Test against the Wallabies. Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick of tries, with additional scores from players including Ben White, Sione Tuipulotu, and Henry Pollock, showcasing the Lions' attacking flair and defensive solidity. The match was notable for the return of Owen Farrell as a late replacement following Elliot Daly’s injury; despite a mixed reception and limited recent play, Farrell contributed effectively, including setting up Van der Merwe's third try. The Australia-New Zealand side, assembled with little preparation, struggled to challenge the Lions, who presented their most cohesive and complete performance of the tour so far. The Lions' victory was somewhat marred by a serious head injury to England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who was stretchered off but later returned to the bench. With this victory, the Lions head into the upcoming Test series in Brisbane with confidence but face the prospect of a much tougher challenge against a more fired-up Wallabies team.