After four warm-up matches, legendary former Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan shared his starting Test XV to face Springboks…
BACK-THREE:
15 Liam Williams, 14 Anthony Watson, 11 Josh Adams
McGeechan said: ” I have three players in the back [Adams, Watson, Liam Williams] who on any counter-attack or under high balls – which I think will happen a lot, South Africa tactically kicking from nine and 10 in the first Test – are solid.
“Van der Merwe won’t be far away, but I think you need the players who can deal with what South Africa put out there.
“If South Africa get their kicking wrong, then watch out, because there’s a back-three there who can actually turn half-chances into full chances.”
CENTRES:
13 Chris Harris, 12 Owen Farrell
McGeechan said: “”Owen Farrell is a Test match animal. I wouldn’t go far without him to be honest. And having him gives you that second decision-maker and somebody to step in between the two of them.
“Harris is a very good defensive player. He’s a defensive captain, knows Steve Tandy well, knows the systems and did very well for Scotland.”