How the Lions can boast three Aussies and All Black trio vs Australia in crunch opener

The British and Irish Lions squad features a host of players who hail from New Zealand and Australia as they prepare for the First Test against the Wallabies this weekend

The residency rule in rugby isn’t universally loved by all, but it has helped talent thrive away from their homelands and the British and Irish Lions are among those to benefit as a result.

Players have travelled far and wide to further their club careers and often that has opened up doors on the international scene. Once upon a time a player needed to call a new country home for three years and then they could represent them. That was changed to five years not long ago.

The family tree also allows a player to go back to their grandparents to find a new allegiance, as was the case with adopted Irishman Mack Hansen, for example.

It all means that several players are going back to a part of the world that will feel very much like home. They all impressed with their home nations and caught Andy Farrell’s attention enough to warrant a spot on the plane that will head Down Under.

Ireland are among those to benefit in recent years. Back when they narrowly lost to New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final, one of the sport’s great games, two of their tries that night were scored by men who came through the All Blacks system.

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Australia could be about to wonder if they missed out on some talent when they begin their Test Series against the Lions in July. The Wallabies are a growing force, but do not have the fear factor of old, and could be thwarted by those they let slip through the net whilst their Kiwi neighbours could also offer a fair bit of firepower for the Lions.

Sione Tuipilotu

The Scotland centre has been a big hit on tour and, despite missing the Six Nations through injury, was always expected to board the plane and even start such are his bag of tricks. He has been a leading light for Glasgow but was born in Melbourne and played for the city’s Super Rugby team before making the move to Scotland. He was even capped by Australia’s U20s but will now look to down some of his former colleagues.

James Lowe

The winger has been part of some of Ireland’s most memorable moments in recent years. Rewind to 2017 and Lowe was playing against the Lions for the Maori All Blacks. Since then he’s left the Chiefs to play for Leinster, where he’s become a massive success and that has translated onto the international stage with the Irish. He has long been the favourite to start on the left wing.

Mack Hansen

One of the more charismatic players in the Lions squad came up against his former side in the Brumbies earlier in the tour. Hansen came through the Australia system but with opportunities not coming his way he left and headed to Galway, where he’s become a leading light at Connacht. His performance have put the now Ireland wing firmly in the shop window to start this weekend.

Jamison Gibson-Park

He was so far down the pecking order in his native New Zealand when he played for the Hurricanes but a move to Leinster has transformed his career. Now regarded as among the best scrum-halves on the planet with Antoine Dupont, Gibson-Park is among the only people whose Test spot is all but nailed on such is their influence over games. He scored against the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup two years ago.

Finlay Bealham

The Ireland prop was the first call-up to the squad, prospering as a result of Zander Fagerson’s injury before they even flew to Australia. Bealham, like Hansen, was formerly of the Brumbies, although he didn’t get an academy spot and instead moved to Ireland to start his professional career, where he’s become part of the international set-up.

Bundee Aki

The Ireland centre first appeared in green in 2017 but was born in Auckland and, like Lowe, previously played for the Chiefs before opting for a switch to Galway, where he has become a modern day great. His move to Connacht meant Ireland could swoop in and he’s now amassed more than 60 caps. Like Gibson-Park, he scored against his native New Zealand at the World Cup but can now help down their neighbours Australia.