Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions’ match against Japan at BT Murrayfield on Saturday after suffering a back spasm.
His place in the starting XV has been taken by Ireland’s tighthead-prop Tadhg Furlong, who started all three tests against the All Blacks in 2017.
“It’s a shame for Zander not to be able to run out at Murrayfield as a Lion but he’s not quite 100%,” said Lions head coach Warren Gatland.
“He’ll get a chance to start in the next two games and stake a claim for a Test spot in South Africa, so it’s not worth the risk.”
Lions (v Japan):
15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff, Wales)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster, Ireland)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht, Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh, Scotland)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton, Wales)
9. Conor Murray (Munster, Ireland)
1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh, Scotland)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster, Ireland)
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster, Ireland)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales) (captain)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster, Ireland)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, Wales)
8. Jack Conan (Leinster, Ireland)
Replacements:
16. Jamie George (Saracens, England)
17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol, England)
19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton, England)
20. Taulupe Faletau (Bath, Wales)
21. Ali Price (Glasgow, Scotland)
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England)
23. Anthony Watson (Bath, England).
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