British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland sprung a surprise on Tuesday when naming his team for Saturday’s second Test against the Springboks.
Hero of the first Test, scrumhalf Ali Price, who bombed out the Boks with his high kicks, will play off the bench, with Ireland’s Conor Murray starting.
The change is one of three in the Lions team, with Scotland centre Chris Harris replacing England’s Elliot Daly in the midfield and England prop Mako Vunipola coming in for Rory Sutherland.
Of his team selection, Gatland says: “As always, selection was incredibly tough. However, we’ve made the changes we think are the right calls for the weekend’s game.
“It’ll be another tight contest. We know the Springboks will be hurting and they’ll throw everything at us on Saturday, but I think there’s plenty more to come from us too.
“We feel we can go up another level from where we were in the first Test and I would expect us to improve. It’s the biggest game on the tour and we have to embrace the expectation that comes with it.
“As players and coaches, these are the games you want to be involved in. We’re relishing the opportunity to face the Springboks again on Saturday and potentially seal a series win.”
B&I Lions: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Mako Vunipola. Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Ali Price, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Elliot Daly.