The Lions fly in – and Warburton leads the way
Captain is back from injury to inspire Gatland’s men in first match of much-anticipated tour of New Zealand,
Kyle Sinckler, the 24-year-old Harlequins prop who has yet to start a Test match for England, has been fast-tracked straight into the British and Irish Lions side, as Sam Warburton returns as captain for their opening tour game against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday.
Sinckler’s England team-mate, Ben Te’o, who has made just one start in his eight caps, is also included, along with fellow rookies Iain Henderson and Ross Moriarty, in Warren Gatland’s first starting XV of the 10-match tour.
Warburton will captain the side, having returned to full fitness after sustaining a knee injury against Ulster in a Pro12 match in April, and declared he was “desperate” to be involved in the first match, having missed the first two games of the tour of Australia with a similar injury.
No players who were involved in the Premiership and Pro12 finals last weekend are included in the 23-man squad, but Gatland is still able to field an experienced core, with a potent back line including Jonathan Sexton, Greig Laidlaw, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Stuart Hogg.
There is a menacing look to the pack, too, with Joe Marler and Rory Best joining Sinckler in the front row and starts for Alun Wyn Jones, Moriarty and Taulupe Faletau.
The XV includes six players and a further three replacements – including Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola – who were involved in the Lions tour of Australia. England forwards Jamie George and George Kruis are named in a powerful bench.
“We have named a side that showcases a strong combination of experience and youth,” said Gatland. “We are all hugely excited about the first game on tour, it’s a great opportunity for the starting XV and the whole match-day squad to lay down a marker and get the tour off to a good start.
“We are really looking forward to Saturday. We are lucky to have some real leaders in the squad and to be able to select them for this match in the likes of Rory Best, Alun Wyn Jones and Greig Laidlaw.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what Greig can do alongside Johnny Sexton, who both are experienced half-backs. It is great to have Sam starting in the first game of the tour, something he didn’t do in 2013.
“The balance of the squad is really good, we have selected the majority of players who were together for the training weeks in Wales and Ireland, and they have worked together and prepared well for a number of weeks.”
The Lions are set to face a tough physical test against a New Zealand invitational side picked from local club and fringe Super Rugby players, and include Gatland’s son, Bryn.
Sinckler will no doubt relish the confrontation, however, saying recently he knew only one way to play the game: “Angry, aggressive, uncompromising.” He added: “If I am not excited about going out there to hit people for a living, then I don’t want to play the game. In my career I’ve always been told to calm down, but when I met up with England, Eddie [Jones] was telling me to get more angry. I thought: ‘You’re f------ kidding me!’”
Te’o, who was born in New Zealand and played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Samoa, will look to seize the chance to press his claims to be one of the tour bolters.
Gatland confirmed his intention
to give every player a start over the next two games, against the Auckland Blues and Canterbury Crusaders. “We’ve picked the team for Saturday but it is still the plan to try and give the whole squad a start in the next two matches,” Gatland added. “It is important the players get that opportunity, because if they go well and the team goes well, they put themselves in the shop window for a Test start.”
The squad took part in a swimming and recovery session after their arrival in New Zealand following their 36-hour journey via Melbourne, and also received a traditional Maori ‘Hongi’ meeting at Auckland airport.
Jet-lag protocol means the squad will only be able to do light training on Thursday, before the captain’s run tomorrow ahead of the match at the Toll Stadium in Whangarei.
John Spencer, the Lions tour manager, expressed disappointment at the lack of preparation time for the squad, who only came together for the first time on Sunday, following the Premiership and Pro12 finals.
“The only thing we’re disappointed in on the domestic side is the preparation time, we’re trying to fit six weeks’ preparation into a couple of weeks with only part of our squad,” said Spencer. “So that aspect is disappointing, but that’s our lot, that’s what we have to react to.”