Cape Argus E-dition

Gatland decides to have a Wales of a time

MIKE GREENAWAY mike.greenaway@inl.co.za

BRITISH & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has swung the axe on the team that slumped to a 27-9 defeat to the Springboks last weekend, bringing in six fresh new faces for the series decider on Saturday.

Interestingly, five of the newcomers are players Gatland coached when he was in charge of Wales and this suggests that with the heat cranked up, he is resorting to what he knows.

Gatland has revamped the back three that could not cope with the aerial assault from the Springboks, especially in the second half which the tourists lost 21-0 thanks to a plethora of handling errors.

There are four changes to the backline and two more to the front row, with the second row and loose trio remaining unchanged.

Gone are fullback Stuart Hogg, who dropped three up-and-unders in the second Test, and right wing Anthony Watson, who was similarly butter-fingered.

Hogg and Watson are replaced by Liam Williams and the tour’s leading try-scorer, Josh Adam, respectively. Both of these Welshmen were surprise exclusions in the first place because they have been in red-hot form.

Duhan van der Merwe, who also struggled last week, keeps his place on the left wing.

There is a change in the midfield where Bundee Aki comes in at inside centre, with his fellow Irishman, Robbie Henshaw, shifting to 13 and Elliot Daly retaining his place on the bench.

Dan Biggar is retained at flyhalf with Ali Price promoted at scrumhalf at the expense of Conor Murray.

In the pack, there are two changes to the front-row with fitagain Wyn Jones taking his place on the loosehead alongside fellow Welshman Ken Owens, who is promoted from the bench to start his first Test of the tour at hooker. Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong continues on the tighthead to win his sixth-successive Lions Test cap.

On the bench, Adam Beard, Finn Russell and Sam Simmonds feature for the first time in the Test series while Kyle Sinckler’s place has been confirmed after he was cleared by a disciplinary hearing.

“The matchday 23 have an incredibly special opportunity in front of them – to seal a Lions series victory in South Africa,” said Gatland.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this and we’re excited by the challenge that faces us on Saturday.

“We’ve no excuses from last week, the Springboks put us under pressure in the second half and deserved the win. We have to be much better than that second half performance, and I believe we will be.”

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

Starting XV: Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Dan Biggar, Ali Price, Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Adam Beard, Sam Simmonds, Conor Murray, Finn Russell, Elliot Daly

SPORT

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2021-08-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/282029035275727

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