Warren Gatland has revealed change the way he announces his Lions XV after his teamfor the First Test against South Africa was leaked.
Gatland had been due to announce his team to the public on Thursday but it was reported by the Times on Tuesday evening.
“I’m furious. I don’t know how that happened,” he said.
“It wasn’t a 100 per cent right. Obviously someone has leaked that out, whether that is on purpose or accidentally or someone has betrayed someone’s trust – whether that’s a player or a staff member.
“So, what I’ll do next week is just name the team to the players and name the team to the press straight away.”
SOUTH AFRICA v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
8.Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) #847
21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780
23. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833
Saturday 24 July 2021
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 5pm (BST)
EDITORS PICKS:
- Owens and Barnes rank the five toughest players to referee
- Greenwood picks four Englishmen in his Lions XV
- Cockerill is on the move after leaving Edinburgh
- Lions injury update: Lawes, Biggar, Williams…
- Mike Brown leaves Owen Farrell out of his Lions backline
Lions star-studded alternative XV
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Liam Williams (Wales)
- 14. Josh Adams (Wales)
- 11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
CENTRES:
- 13. Chris Harris (Scotland)
- 12. Owen Farrell (England)