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The British and Irish Lions have been reinforced by a wave of new arrivals including their Saracens contingent as they step up operations for Saturday’s historic clash with Japan.
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All but Exeter’s four-strong detachment are present at the squad’s training camp in Jersey – they will not join up until after the Gallagher Premiership final against Harlequins this weekend.
Owen Farrell and his England team-mates Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje, Jamie George and Mako Vunipola flew to the island on Monday morning after helping Saracens reclaim their place in the top flight with another thumping win over Ealing.
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has also jetted into camp after his Racing 92 fell to La Rochelle in the semi-finals of the Top 14 on Friday night, lifting the number of players present to 33 of 37.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Bristol prop Kyle Sinckler and Sale flanker Tom Curry landed in Jersey after finishing on the losing side in the Premiership play-offs.
The availability of Farrell and Russell gives the Lions a full compliment of fly-halves with Dan Biggar set to start as chief conductor against Japan having been in camp from the start.
Either Farrell or Russell will be needed for the bench, as will Saracens’ Jamie George who brings the number of hookers to two with Ken Owens available and Luke Cowan-Dickie still on Exeter duty.
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All of the Saracens players are Test Lions from 2017, Vunipola and Farrell also earning that distinction in 2013.
“We’re keen to get the whole 37 together as quickly as possible and it’s great that is finally happening,” defence coach Steve Tandy said.
“The Saracens players have got experience from Lions tours, winning European Cups and Premierships, and know what it takes to connect the group. Everyone is really excited to get them on the training field and into the group.”
Tandy, who has delivered a clean bill of health ahead of Tuesday’s team announcement, denies that the platoon of Saracens will be undercooked following a season battling for promotion from the Championship.
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“They’ve enjoyed playing and have had a bit of rhythm coming into it. No doubt they’ll be prepared. They played in the Six Nations as well so there’s no doubt they’ll be fully ready to go,” he said.
Apart from the replacement fly-half and hooker, Warren Gatland will call on the players who have been in Jersey since last Sunday when he names his first team of the 2021 tour to South Africa.
The fixture against Japan is only the third time the Lions have played on home soil and it is their first outing against the swashbuckling 2019 World Cup hosts, who have been out of action since losing to the Springboks in Tokyo.
“You look at historical data in terms of how they’ll play and we still feel they’ll play a lot of football, keep the ball for long periods, lots of passes,” Tandy said.
“It’s something we’ve got to be prepared for while instilling what we want to be ready for come those Test matches against South Africa. It’s a balance.
“They’re definitely different to how South Africa play. South Africa will come through our front door first and foremost, so it will be a very different test for us, but an awesome test to see how quickly we can get up and running with our principles.
“If we can deal with Japan’s threats it will stand us in good test for the rest of the tour.”
BACKS:
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland)
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, England)
Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland)
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales)
Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland)
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England)
Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)
FORWARDS:
Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland)
Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
Jamie George (Saracens, England)
Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, England)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England)
Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England)
Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, Wales)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments