Gatland names side for upcoming Lions game

WARREN Gatland has named his team to face the Emirates Lions for their first game in South Africa this weekend.

Stuart Hogg will captain the side for the game that will kick off at 5pm Saturday. Hamish Watson, Jonny Hill, Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit will all make their British and Irish Lions debut.

Following a positive opening game against Japan, the Lions will field a completely different side to the one who claimed victory last week with Josh Adams the only survivor from the previous game.

Finn Russell will get his chance to put himself in contention to start against the Springboks for the test series as he will start at out-half while Owen Farrell and Chris Harris will come in for Bundee Aki and Henshaw in the centre positions.

Newly appointed squad captain Conor Murray will replace Ali Price at scrum half with the front row also seeing three new faces with Wyn Jones, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler. Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Taulupe Falaetau, Jonny Hill and Hamish Watson will also start in this weekend’s fixture.

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Replacements Zander Fagerson, Sam Simmonds, Gareth Davis and Luke Cowan-Dickie will also be looking to make their debuts for the touring side from the bench if given the opportunity.

The Lions squad for Saturday’s clash against the Johannesburg side:

15, Stuart Hogg – captain (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales)
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) #835
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
2. Jamie George (Saracens, England) #819
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779

Replacements:

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) – Prop #787
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England)
21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)
22. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822

Lions will be looking to build upon a strong start following last weeks showing and will look to give valuable minutes to most of the squad while looking to gain momentum going forward against South Africa.

The game will be shown on Channel 4 and will kick off at 5pm fromEllis Park.

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