Gatland rings changes as Lions target second half blitz

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has made several changes to his starting team but it is the changes made to his bench that best telegraphs his team’s intent in Saturday’s final test against the Springboks at Cape Town Stadium.

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Gatland has made six changes to the starting team that lost 27-9 last week, with several of the switches being ones that the UK media following the tour would have anticipated. However, he has retained Dan Biggar at flyhalf ahead of calls for him to go for Scotland’s Finn Russell in an attempt to ignite a more all-embracing attacking game.

That does not mean that Russell isn’t part of the match day 23 though, and his appearance on the bench along with the pacy and mobile Exeter No 8 Sam Simmonds sends out a clear message that the Lions are targeting a fast paced second half in an attempt to stretch the Boks and play away from their strengths.

Both games played in the series so far have been won in the second half and this one could be no different. The Lions’ plan will be to limit damage on the scoreboard in the first half, ride out the anticipated physical storm from the Boks and then hope to strike in the second.

Not that the Lions aren’t equipped to play an attacking game in the first half, with the tour’s leading try-scorer Josh Adams coming in on the right wing and being joined in the back three by his Wales teammate, fullback Liam Williams.

Gatland has sought to blunt some of the Bok physical thrust and fight fire with fire by calling up the physically imposing Bundee Aki at inside centre, with his Ireland teammate Robbie Henshaw moving to outside centre. Scotland’s Chris Harris is the man who loses out this time to Gatland’s quest for more physical stature in the midfield.

The only other change at the back sees Ali Price return as the starting scrumhalf, where he played in the first test, as partner to his Wales teammate Dan Biggar.

There is certainly a bigger Welsh tinge to the team this week, with Wyn Jones making his Lions debut at loosehead after he was selected to start the first test but ruled out just before the match because of injury. He replaces Mako Vunipola of England, who moves to the bench. Jones is joined in the front-row by fellow Welshman Ken Owens at hooker, with Luke Cowan-Dickie moving to the bench.

Cowan-Dickie is also a more mobile option for the second half, while it was after halftime that Vunipola did well as a replacement in the first test.

The back row remains the same with Courtney Lawes at blind side flank, Tom Curry on the openside and Jack Conan continuing on the bench. That and second row are the only combinations that played last week that are completely intact for the final test.

On the bench there are three players who will make their Lions debut if they take the field in the form of Adam Beard, Russell and Simmonds. England captain Owen Farrell can’t find a place among the replacements this week while Stuart Hogg, the starting fullback in the first two tests, and Anthony Watson, ditto on the right wing, also drop out of the match day 23.

Gatland emphasised his team’s mission, and the importance of the bench, when he stressed the 23 rather than the starting 15 in explaining his selections.

“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.”

BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS TEAM: Liam Williams; Josh Adams, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe, Dan Biggar, Ali Price, Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Adam Beard, Sam Simmonds, Conor Murray, Finn Russell, Elliot Daly.