SM
Arsenal vs. Juventus: 5 hrs 14 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Four Scotland internationals to start for Lions against Japan

:Headline: Four Scotland internationals to start for Lions against Japan:
Wing Duhan Van Der Merwe, props Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson and flanker Hamish Watson will make their Lions debuts.
Sports Mole

The British and Irish Lions have picked four Scotland internationals to start Saturday's historic home international against Japan in Edinburgh.

Wing Duhan Van Der Merwe, props Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson and flanker Hamish Watson will make their Lions debuts in a side led by tour captain Alun Wyn Jones.

The Murrayfield showdown that is being staged the day before the squad departs for South Africa is only the third Lions fixture on home soil and first against Japan.

Eight players will be making their Lions debuts, including an all-new back row of Tadhg Beirne, Watson and Jack Conan, but there is an experienced half-back combination of Conor Murray and Dan Biggar.

Warren Gatland has chosen a powerful centre combination of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in a starting XV absent of English representation.

There are four England players on the bench, however, where Owen Farrell and Jamie George provide fly-half and hooker cover respectively despite only arriving into the Lions' training camp in Jersey on Monday.

A crowd of 16,500 will attend the clash in Edinburgh that serves as the curtain raiser to the eight-game tour of South Africa.

"We're anticipating a tough game against Japan – a side that like to play at a high-tempo and shift the ball," Gatland said.

"We saw throughout the World Cup they have attacking threats across the park and a solid defence and set-piece.

“We are absolutely delighted to be playing in front of 16,000 supporters in Edinburgh”
- Lions coach Warren Gatland

"I'm pleased with the progress we've made during our training camp in Jersey so far, but we've got a long way to go.

"You can see that the squad are starting to get to grips with our game strategies but as always with a Lions tour, this takes time to bed in.

"We're in a good place though and I can tell there's a lot more to come from this group.

"Everyone in the squad will get a start before the start of the Test series, so each member of the squad can put their hand up for Test selection.

"We are absolutely delighted to be playing in front of 16,000 supporters in Edinburgh. I'm sure the crowd will give the players an enormous lift before we depart for South Africa on Sunday."

body check tags ::

amp_article__452313 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-25 12:07:47:
html db last update - 2021-06-25 12:07:47 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Hamish Watson

Click here for more stories about Edinburgh

Share this article now:
OF
Read Next:
Saracens players lead Lions reinforcements ahead of Japan clash
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Hamish Watson Zander Fagerson Rory Sutherland Alun Wyn Jones Duhan Van Der Merwe Owen Farrell Jamie George Bundee Aki Tadhg Beirne Jack Conan Dan Biggar Warren Gatland Conor Murray Rugby Union
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Saracens players lead Lions reinforcements ahead of Japan clash
"Arsenal have got people in mind" - When could Edu's replacement be hired?
Not again! Chelsea boss Maresca reveals new injury to James ahead of Leicester game

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Arsenal vs. Nott'm Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PA

Preview: Leicester vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PL

Preview: Millwall vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PM

Preview: St Mirren vs. Aberdeen - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PS

Sporting 'bracing themselves' for Man United bid for £83m star

5

S'

James blow, Palmer decision, Lavia to start? Chelsea predicted XI against Leicester

6

JB

Courtois, Rodrygo, Alaba updates: Real Madrid injury news vs. Leganes

7

CR

Saka decision, who replaces White? Predicted Arsenal XI against Forest

8

SD

Not again! Chelsea boss Maresca reveals new injury to James ahead of Leicester game

9

NA

Preview: Man City vs. Spurs - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .