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Published 12:52 30 Jun 2021 BST
Updated 12:53 30 Jun 2021 BST
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Ali Price and Duhan van der Merwe training in Johannesburg. (Credit: INPHO)[/caption]
If Gatland really is keen on giving a decent, early run to most of his players, he could put out an entirely fresh starring XV from the side that defeated Japan at Murrayfield, last weekend.
The XV we have selected is still very strong. It features nine England players and an all-Scottish pairing at half backs - Finn Russell and Ali Price.
The front row and second row are all English, with Tom Curry, Hamish Watson and Toby Faletau all teaming up in the back row. Anthony Watson gets a chance in the 14 jersey and Louis Rees-Zammit is over on the left wing. Elliot Daly may prefer a run at 13, but we are putting him at fullback to ease the workload on Stuart Hogg.
In midfield, Owen Farrell and Chris Harris get a run-out together in a no-nonsense centre pairing. Farrell gets the captaincy nod for this one.
For the bench, we are going with a 6-2 [forwards to backs] split. As we have Farrell and Daly in the matchday squad, we should be able to get by with just Gareth Davies and Stuart Hogg on the bench.
By the end of Saturday, every Lions squad member will have, therefore, got a run-out. No Irish players in the matchday 23 but, given how Lions players are dropping in recent weeks, that might be no bad thing.
15. Elliot Daly 14. Anthony Watson 13. Chris Harris 12. Owen Farrell 11. Louis Rees-Zammit 10. Finn Russell 9. Ali Price 1. Mako Vunipola 2. Jamie George 3. Kyle Sinckler 4. Maro Itoje 5. Jonny Hill 6. Tom Curry 7. Hamish Watson 8. Toby FaletauREPLACEMENTS: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Wynn Jones, Zander Fagerson, Adam Beard, Josh Navidi, Sam Simmonds, Gareth Davies, Stuart Hogg. WATCH HOUSE OF RUGBY'S LIONS SERIES: EPISODE 2
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