Warren Gatland has confirmed who will be in charge of goal-kicking duties in the Lions first game on tour against the New Zealand Barbarians.
The Kiwi has revealed that Johnny Sexton will be taking the shots at goal in the first game with the Ireland star starting at outside-half.
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Starting scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, Scotland’s chief kicker, had been in the frame but Sexton was told he will be in charge.
Gatland said: “His (Sexton) first concern I think was who’s going to do the goal kicking, because Greig (Laidlaw) is obviously a quality goal kicker as well. But Neil Jenkins told him he is.
“He is confident and happy enough with that decision. He needs to go out there and hopefully perform well.
“The three 10s came in together but we felt Johnny needed to start this first game, get some rugby under his belt and get off to a good start – hopefully for the team but himself as well because he hasn’t played a huge amount of rugby.
“He knows that the competition is pretty fierce in that position, but he’s a competitor and that’s what has made him one of the best 10s in world rugby. I’ve got no doubt he’d want a good performance from himself on Saturday.”
Main photo credit: PA