Warren Gatland’s ‘hardest’ pick sees Conor Murray on benchHogg and Van der Merwe start, alongside Cowan-DickieAlun Wyn Jones will complete a stunning recovery and captain the
British &
Irish Lions in Saturday’s first Test against
South Africa – just four weeks since dislocating his shoulder – after Warren Gatland named his side to face the Springboks.
Favouring form over reputation and eyeing a fast start, Gatland has also picked Ali Price at scrum-half, Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker, Tom Curry at openside flanker and Jack Conan at No 8, with nine of the XV winning their first Lions caps. Stuart Hogg and Duhan van der Merwe also start, while the eye-catching omissions include Conor Murray – who was named tour captain when Jones was initially struck down by injury – and the
England captain Owen Farrell. They both provide cover from the bench.