The British & Irish Lions will make their first appearance of the year when they take on Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday.
British & Irish Lions v Japan
26 June 16h00
Murrayfield Stadium
To Win Match
Lions 1/12
Draw 33/1
Japan 6/1
Handicap
Lions (-17.5) 9/10
Japan (+17.5) 9/10
Alun Wyn Jones will lead out a squad comprised of eight debutants, with six Welshmen, seven Irishmen and two Scotsmen set to start. After initially being named in the run-on side, injured Scotland duo Hamish Watson and Zander Fagerson have been ruled out with Justin Tipuric and Tadhg Furlong taking their places respectively.
Five Englishmen have been named on the bench.
The match will be an important one for Warren Gatland’s squad as they look to get their first win together as a group before departing for Johannesburg for their opening tour match against the Gauteng Lions next week.
Despite the Lions awarding Test caps for their 2005 clash with Argentina, they will decide later in the year whether Saturday’s match up is worthy of such status.
The Brave Blossoms will no doubt be looking to pull off an upset win here under legendary coach Jamie Joseph, who will realise what a massive occasion this will be.
Players like star Highlanders loose forward Kazuki Himeno have been vocal about how much they are looking forward to the game and the Lions would do well not to underestimate the Japanese. This is the same side that pulled off famous wins against both Scotland and Ireland at the 2019 World Cup after all.
Japan will certainly have their moments on the day but there should be no stopping this Lions juggernaut. There is simply too much quality on show.
Lions Squad to face Japan:
15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Ian Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Subs: 16 Jamie George, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Ali Price, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Anthony Watson.
Verdict: Lions (-17.5) 9/10
I reckon without the partisan home support that they enjoyed at the World Cup, Japan may struggle here. With this in mind, take the Lions to clear the handicap on Saturday.
