Only two England players set to be in Lions team against Japan

Saturday, 19 June 2021 at 13:53

byRugby Rucker

Wales Online have predicted the Lions starting XV for their first warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield.

Likely to be ruled out are the 12 players, 10 of them English, who are missing from the Lions camp in Jersey because of end-of-season club commitments.

See who makes the likely selection below.

Expected Lions XV vs Japan:

BACK-THREE:

15. Liam Williams (Wales)
14. Anthony Watson (England)
11. Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)

"Stuart Hogg and Elliot Daly are not around this week, so either Liam Williams or Anthony Watson will feature at full-back against Japan."

DID YOU KNOW? Asked about another noticeable feature on his body, Williams revealed the bizarre story of why he has the name ‘Janette’ tattooed on his right ankle.

“Oh, that’s (Cardiff Blues star and former Scarlets team-mate) Steven Shingler’s mum’s name,” he said.

“I had that done during a boys’ trip to Ayia Napa because it was better than having my girlfriend’s name on my backside like the rest of the group!”

CENTRES:

13. Chris Harris (Scotland)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)

"Elliot Daly will probably be off limits in the centre, leaving the selectors to choose two starters from three players, Robbie Henshaw, Chris Harris and Bundee Aki."

DID YOU KNOW? In June 2013, while still playing in National League One side Tyndale, Harris scored a try for England Counties XV against Belgium. The centre is Scottish qualified through his Edinburgh born grandmother

HALFBACKS:

10. Dan Biggar (Wales)
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)

"The first name on the Lions team sheet for the game with Japan? That's surely Dan Biggar, with Gatland's other two fly-halves, Owen Farrell and Finn Russell, not with the squad in Jersey."

DID YOU KNOW? Before becoming a professional rugby player, Murray played Gaelic football with Patrickswell and Limerick. He represented Limerick in the Sarsfield Cup and also played for Limerick in the primary football games

FRONT-ROW:

1. Wyn Jones (Wales)
2. Ken Owens (Wales)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

SECOND-ROW:

4. Iain Henderson (Ireland)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

BACK-ROW:

6. Courtney Lawes (England)
7. Hamish Watson (Scotland)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales)

"There may be 10 Englishmen off limits because of club commitments, but Anthony Watson and Courtney Lawes are available and, if fit, they are likely to merit real consideration for selection for the opener.

"Lawes is another one who needs rugby after coming back from injury. He’s played only three times in 2021 and so is still moving up the gears."