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Davies and Biggar back for Lions

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar in training with the British & Irish Lions in South Africa. Credit: INPHO

Davies and Biggar back for Lions

Wales pair Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar are back in the British & Irish Lions side for Saturday’s match with Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (kick-off 5pm BST).

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The game against the Durban-based Sharks replaces the scheduled tour match against the Blue Bulls and is the third in an eight-game series for Warren Gatland’s side.

This is the second time the Lions will have played the Sharks in the Castle Lager Lions Series having already beaten them 7-54 on Wednesday night at Emirates Airline Park.

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Davies and Biggar were due to start that game, but were among several players withdrawn from the side after a positive Covid-19 case in the Lions squad forced a number to self-isolate.

The Bulls also had to withdraw from facing the Lions due to positive coronavirus tests.

On Wednesday, one member of Lions staff tested positive.

As a result, the individual and four close contacts (one player and three members of staff) are isolated at the team hotel.

On Friday, the tour screening programme returned a negative set of results.

Wales full-back Liam Williams also starts for the second meeting with the Blues while his Scarlets team-mates Ken Owens and Wyn Jones are on the bench.

“It’s obviously been a slightly turbulent week, but we remain determined to keep rolling with the punches,” said Lions head coach Gatland.

“In many ways the challenges we’ve faced this week have strengthened our resolve to do everything we can to overcome the challenges created by Covid.

“The feeling in the camp on Wednesday night was just to give it a crack.

”I was really proud by how everyone reacted, particularly the match day squad who would have never prepared for a game like that before.

“Saturday is another opportunity to see how the boys go and for us as coaches to try out a few more combinations ahead of the Test series.”

Saracens and England hooker Jamie George is named captain of a starting XV which has 13 changes to the team that played the Bulls earlier this week.

England centre Elliot Daly and Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe are the only players to retain their starting spots.

“I have long been an admirer of Jamie’s leadership skills so I am delighted to name him skipper,” Gatland added.

“We want to pass on thanks to the Sharks boys for fronting up and going again on Saturday.

”That’s the spirit of rugby and it’s a great chance for them to have another shot at us.”

CELL C SHARKS v THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Saturday 10 July 2021
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 5pm (BST)

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822
12. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland) #844
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
1o. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales) #850
1. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
2. Jamie George – captain (Saracens, England) #819
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, England) #845
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) #847
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849
21. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
22. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790
23. Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) #835

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