On Sat, 26 Jun 3:00 pm Live from Murrayfield The British & Irish Lions tour Heads to Scotland where they take on Japan.
Likely Starting Line-Ups:
British and Irish Lions: Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Sutherland, Owens, Furlong, Henderson, AW Jones (capt), Beirne, Tipuric, Conan
Replacements: George, W Jones, Sinckler, Lawes, Faletau, Price, Farrell, A Watson.
Japan: Yamanaka; Matsushima, Lafaele, Nakamura, Fifita; Tamura, Shigeno; Inagaki, Sakate, Koo, Van der Walt, Moore, Leitch (capt), Labuschagne, Mafi.
Replacements: Horikoshi, Millar, Ai Valu, Cornelson, Himeno, Tatafu, Saito, Matsuda.
The first-ever clash between the world’s greatest touring side and the Brave Blossoms will raise the curtain for the Lions’ eagerly awaited Tour to South Africa, which culminates in a three-Test series against Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks.
There are no England players in the starting XV. Seven of the Englishmen in the squad only arrived after last weekend’s club matches and four are involved in the Gallagher Premiership final with Exeter on Saturday evening, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. And there are five on the bench.
Despite not having played at international level since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, there is a familiar look to the Japan team, with two thirds of the starters from their quarter-final against the Springboks also lining up in shirts one to 15 in Edinburgh and only one debutant in the side.
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Lions With 20-26 winning margin @6/1
Josh Adams 1st Try-scorer @11/2
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Image Credit: irishrugby.ie