James Maclean Warren Gatland has this evening named his squad to take on the Provincial Barbarians in the first game of the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.
All 3 Scottish squad players have been called upon to form the spine of the backs with Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour joined by Englishman Watson in the back 3. Whilst late call up Greig Laidlaw will create a celtic flavoured half back partnership with Jonny Sexton.
Despite recently coming back from injury, Welsh flanker Sam Warburton will be skippering the side.
There have already been suggestions that this will be the dirt tracker midweek team, but considering a whole host of players can’t be considered due to club finals and playoffs, it makes sense that the Scottish players will feature due to having longer in camp.
“We have selected the majority of players who were together for the training weeks in Wales and Ireland,”
“We are all hugely excited about the first game; it’s a great opportunity for the starting XV and the whole match day squad to lay down a marker and get the tour off to a good start.”
What do you think of the team? Can they gel in time? Let us know in the comments below.
Lions squad to play Provincial Barbarians On June the 3rd:
Team: Hogg; Watson, Joseph, Te’o, Seymour, Sexton, Laidlaw; Marler, Best, Sinckler, Wyn Jones, Henderson, Moriarty, Warburton, Faletau.
Replacements: George, Vunipola, Furlong, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb, Farrell, Payne
Not a bad side, lacking in outside backs on the bench. Expect this to be a comfortable win but also our only win on tour
Too many Welshmen, too many New Zealanders.
Well we can see now he is going play the scots, same way as he did last time
Whinging jock
They have an opportunity to impress
Great stuff well done lads Alba Gu Brath good luck to all the Lions
He’s picked a poor lions squad, expect a a 3-0 test defeat.
Tokenism. No interest in Gatland and his cronies.
Can’t complain with all three Scots in the team.
Spot on in my opinion
Still trying to shift those lions shirts in Scotland
Well I’m a Scot living in NZ and I’ll happily see Kiwi teams send the imperial masters back to mother England with zip again!
Forwards may struggle with the Kiwi pace……Backs should be fine! Looking forward to seeing how Laidlaw gels with Sexton before he’s injured! Not sure how T’eo will cope…..
I think you’ve been drinking again if you think he’s sound.
well done to the Scottish Guys, but Gatland i don’t rate .
Great line up all the scots boys start
Will be their only start unless injuries.
So true to form the Scots get left on the fringes and in all likelihood just get midweek, including the best fullback in the northern hemisphere… stall set out early.
Good luck lads, show him you deserve test places!
If the Lions cannot put a heavy score on the board here then they will struggle. The pace and intensity that all of the NZ super rugby sides bring will not be far off test level.
Gatland your biased.