Owen Farrell has been fast-tracked on to the British and Irish Lions' bench against Japan as Warren Gatland reveals a squad poll identified the England captain as the talisman of the tourists' leadership group.
For the first time since 1950, the Lions have picked a starting XV devoid of England players with four Scots – Duhan van der Merwe, Rory Sutherland, Zander Fagerson and Hamish Watson – selected for Saturday's Edinburgh appointment.
While none of Eddie Jones' men have made the team, four have been selected among the replacements including Farrell, who only six days ago helped relegated Saracens seal their return to the Gallagher Premiership.
Gatland has chosen a powerful centre combination of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in a starting XV that is led by Alun Wyn Jones.
It remains to be seen whether the Japan clash will be a remarkable 10th successive Test appearance for Jones due to the status of the game being undecided. Although players will be given Lions caps and numbers, it has yet to be declared a Test match with discussion still taking place.
"We are playing an international side, so for me, we are playing a Test match. Those sort of decisions are out of my hands and are decisions for the board to make," Gatland said.
"But I can tell you, we are preparing to play a quality international team and we thoroughly respect them – they made the World Cup quarter-finals."
