As I recollect , the club games used to be mid week and the Aussies usually played all their fringe players . They were still formidable opponents though and attracted good crowds.
However today, the vast majority of our test side comes from only a few clubs and it would be a big ask for those same clubs to give them a competitive game without their test duty players.
But games against England Knights, or county teams could add more competitive fixtures. Plus it would help showcase some of the better players not in the test squad.

That's how I remember it

This is the dads army test match https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zvuxuzKqtqi3Dagm/

This is the dads army test match https://www.facebook.com/share/v/zvuxuzKqtqi3Dagm/

Australia won but Neil Fox showed he still had it. Peter Fox wanted to pick him for GB that year apparently but was overruled - one older player too many I think.

Yes, went to watch Leigh take on The Aussies at Hilton Park on Wednesday November 3rd 1982 (42 years ago yesterday). Leigh were reigning Champions and the Aussies initially showed a little respect by playing a pretty strong team (it certainly featured a certain Brisbane copper called Meninga - now coach). There the respect stopped - they put 44 points on us with just two John Woods penalties for Leigh. The crowd was 7680. To put that gate into perspective; Leigh's home derby against Wigan eleven days later saw 9373 attend.

I was there that day too