Biggar at 10, Murray to lead Lions

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Conor Murray will captain the British & Irish Lions against SA A on Wednesday, with the starting XV featuring 12 changes to the team that defeated Sharks this past Saturday.

From that game, only Anthony Watson, Chris Harris and Dan Biggar retain their places.

Watson shifts from right wing to fullback with Harris moving to 13 where he is joined in midfield by Bundee Aki. Biggar will again start at flyhalf.

The game against South Africa A is the fourth match in an eight-game series culminating in the three Tests against the Springboks, with the first international kicking off on 24 July.

“We’re pleased to have arrived in Cape Town as we near the halfway stage of the series,” said Gatland.

“Wednesday’s game against South Africa A will be our toughest encounter since we arrived here and we’re looking forward to it. We expect them to be physical in the contact area and look to test us at scrum time.

“I think we’ve benefited from playing at altitude in the first three games. While the boys have felt it in their lungs, they’ll be all the better for it now we’re at sea level.

“As we move towards the business end of the tour, it’s pleasing to see so many players putting in some standout performances. As coaches we want the players to make Test selection as hard as possible and that’s we’re seeing.”

British & Irish Lions – 15 Anthony Watson (England), 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), 13 Chris Harris (Scotland), 12 Bundee Aki (Ireland), 11 Josh Adams (Wales), 10 Dan Biggar (Wales), 9 Conor Murray (captain, Ireland), 8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales), 7 Tom Curry (England), 6 Josh Navidi (Wales), 5 Iain Henderson (Ireland), 4 Maro Itoje (England), 3 Kyle Sinckler (England), 2 Ken Owens (Wales), 1 Wyn Jones (Wales).
Substitutes: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), 17 Mako Vunipola (England), 18 Zander Fagerson (Scotland), 19 Adam Beard (Wales), 20 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 21 Sam Simmonds (England), 22 Gareth Davies (Wales), 23 Elliot Daly (England).

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