Hogg to skipper Lions in opening clash

By Mark Stevens
1/7/21

Exeter Chiefs star Stuart Hogg will captain The British & Irish Lions in the opening match of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series when the tourists take on the Emirates Lions this Saturday (5pm).

The Scottish captain will lead the side from full-back in an all-new starting XV to the one that defeated Japan 28-10 in Edinburgh last weekend to win The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup, save for Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) who retains his place on the left wing.

Chiefs club-mate Jonny Hill is set to make his first first start, alongside Louis Rees-Zammit and Chris Harris, while Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds have been named on the bench for the first of eight Tour games to be shown live and exclusively on Sky Sports.

“It’s good to have arrived in Johannesburg and get the Tour underway,” said Lions Head coach, Warren Gatland. “We had a pleasing win last week up in Edinburgh, but there’s still plenty we need to get right on Saturday.

“I’ve been encouraged by the way the boys have trained this week. I feel it’s gone up a level from where we were in Jersey and we’re starting to see a better understanding of some of our tactics.

“There’s some new player combinations for us to have a look at this Saturday – which is good information for us as the Test Series approaches. My congratulations to all those playing their first game as a Lion, and also to Hoggy too – who I am sure will lead the side by example.”

EMIRATES LIONS v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Saturday 3 July 2021, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, Kick-off: 5pm (BST)

15. Stuart Hogg – (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland, capt) #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