'Unfinished business' drives Foster to coach Australia-NZ team against Lions

MELBOURNE :Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster says unfinished business from the drawn British and Irish Lions series in 2017 will motivate him when he helps guide a team of Australian and New Zealand players against the touring side this year.

Foster on Thursday was confirmed on the coaching staff of the AUNZ Invitational XV who will play the Lions on July 12 at Adelaide Oval in the last tour match before the series-opening test against Australia in Brisbane a week later.

The Japan-based 59-year-old was a member of Steve Hansen's staff when the All Blacks and Lions split the dramatic 2017 series 1-1 in New Zealand.

The deciding third test was drawn 15-15 at Eden Park after a late decision in the Lions' favour.

"1-1 and a draw. It didn't leave any of us very satisfied," Foster told reporters in a video call on Thursday.

"Yeah, there is unfinished business. I think if you look back to the last minute of that Lions series - the third test at Eden Park and the drama of it, referee decisions that obviously we disagreed with and probably most people did.

"But that's the drama of big series and that's the part to look forward to."

All Blacks fans cried foul after the Eden Park draw which saw referee Romain Poite overturn his decision to award New Zealand a penalty in the 78th minute when Lions hooker Ken Owens made contact with the ball in an off-side position.

Poite called for a scrum, denying the All Blacks a potentially match-winning kick at goal in a moment etched in Lions folklore.

Poite revealed four years later that he got the call wrong and trashed his changing room in anger at his mistake.

"There will always be drama and incidents involved in a Lions series," said Foster, now coach at Toyota Verblitz under former boss Hansen,