| Date: Saturday 26 June Kick-off:15:00 BST Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
| Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app. |
Zander Fagerson has become the second Scotland player to pull out of the British and Irish Lions side to face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday.
A back spasm means Fagerson’s place at tight-head will be taken by Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong.
Wales flanker Justin Tipuric came into the back row after Hamish Watson was ruled out by a concussion.
“It’s a shame for Zander not to be able to run out at Murrayfield as a Lion,” said head coach Warren Gatland.
“But he’s not quite 100%. He’ll get a chance to start in the next two games and stake a claim for a Test spot in South Africa, so it’s not worth the risk.”
England’s Kyle Sinckler, who missed out on the original squad but was called up to replace the injured Andrew Porter, takes Furlong’s place on the bench.
For Japan, 10 of the players who started the 2019 World Cup quarter-final against South Africa – the Brave Blossoms’ last Test match – will feature in the starting XV to face the Lions.
Talismanic captain Michael Leitch retains his starting spot and is joined by four uncapped players in the matchday 23.
Siosaia Fifita starts on the wing following Kenki Fukuoka’s retirement, while scrum-half Naoto Saito is on the bench alongside New-Zealand born prop Craig Millar and Australia-born flanker Jack Cornelsen.
“There’s a collective excitement ahead of Saturday’s match,” head coach Jamie Joseph said.
“Playing the Lions for the first time holds huge significance for Japanese rugby and as a team.”
British and Irish Lions: Williams; Adams, Henshaw, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Sutherland, Owens, Furlong, Henderson, AW Jones (capt), Beirne, Tipuric, Conan
Replacements: George, W Jones, Sinckler, Lawes, Faletau, Price, Farrell, A Watson.
Japan: Yamanaka; Matsushima, Lafaele, Nakamura, Fifita; Tamura, Shigeno; Inagaki, Sakate, Koo, Van der Walt, Moore, Leitch (capt), Labuschagne, Mafi.
Replacements: Horikoshi, Millar, Ai Valu, Cornelson, Himeno, Tatafu, Saito, Matsuda.
