Saints stars start again as Lions look to win Test series

Saints duo Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes will notch up a hat-trick of Test starts for the British & Irish Lions on Saturday as they take on South Africa in Cape Town.

The game will decide the series between Warren Gatland’s side and the world champions, with the Lions taking the first Test 22-17, before the Springboks’ 27-9 victory last weekend.

Fly-half Biggar and blindside flanker Lawes keep their places in the tourists’ starting XV, but elsewhere Gatland has rung the changes with Josh Adams, Liam Williams, Bundee Aki, Ali Price, Wyn Jones and Ken Owens all coming into the line-up.

“The matchday 23 have an incredibly special opportunity in front of them – to seal a Lions Series victory in South Africa,” said Gatland.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this and we’re excited by the challenge that faces us on Saturday.

“We’ve no excuses from last week, the Springboks put us under pressure in the second half and deserved the win.

"We have to be much better than that second-half performance, and I believe we will be.”

SOUTH AFRICA v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 5pm (BST)

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833

14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836

13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837

11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841

10. Dan Biggar (Saints, Wales) #821

9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825

5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761

6. Courtney Lawes (Saints, England) #826

7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853

8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839

Replacements

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851

17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787

18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814 – subject to outcome of disciplinary hearing.

19. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852

20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849

21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790

22. Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) #835

23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822