The British & Irish Lions will contest a 3 Test match series against South Africa, the reigning World Champions.
The Tour consists of 8 matches of the Tour and will be played at 2 venues in Gauteng and Cape Town to ensure bio-secure bubbles for the players and staff due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Before thinking about whether to bet on rugby with crypto about which side is going to win, what will be a pulsating festival of rugby, let’s have a look at the two squads.
The British & Irish Lions Squad
Skipper: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Forwards Squad: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), Tom Curry (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Jack Conan (Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Jonny Hill (England), Maro Itoje (England), Wyn Jones (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Hamish Watson (Scotland), Ken Owens (Wales), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Sam Simmonds (England), Rory Sutherland (Scotland).
Backs Squad: Ali Price (Scotland), Lewis Rees-Zammit (Wales), Finn Russell (Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Anthony Watson (England), Liam Williams (Wales), Josh Adams (Wales), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Gareth Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Chris Harris (Scotland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England).
Late Injury replacement – Kyle Sinckler (England) has replaced injured Andrew Porter (Ireland)
Springboks Coach, Jacques Nienaber, selected a 46-man South Africa squad including the likes of Rosko Specman, Cheslin Kolbe and Aphelele Fassi.
South Africa Squad:
Forwards Squad – Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nché, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Scarra Ntubeni, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Dan du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese , Jean-Luc du Preez, Rynhardt Elstadt
Backs squad – Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies, Sanele Nohamba Cobus Reinach, Elton Jantjies, Handré Pollard, Morné Steyn, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Wandisile Simelane, Frans Steyn, Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Yaw Penxe, Rosko Specman, Damian Willemse.
British & Irish Lions Captain Alun Jones, who led a triumphant Wales side to the Six Nations title earlier this year, has amassed a world record breaking 157 Tests for his country and the British & Irish Lions – commented
“To be selected in the squad is initially what you want to be hearing,” said Jones. “And to have the armband as well is a privilege, with the names that have gone before and what those players have achieved.”
Recent Form
1997 – Last British & Irish Lions series win over South Africa
2009 – British & Irish Lions lost the Test series 2-1 against South Africa
2017 – Series draw against New Zealand
Who is going to win the 3 match Test series?
Prediction – South Africa will just be too strong for the touring Lions and will take the series 2-1
Full Tour Schedule, Timings and Venues
03/07/2021 Emirates Lions v British & Irish Lions Johannesburg, Emirates Airline Park 17:00 (BST)
07/07/2021 Cell C Sharks v British & Irish Lions Johannesburg , Emirates Airline Park 19:00 (BST)
10/07/2021 Vodacom Bulls v British & Irish Lions Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld 17:00 (BST)
14/07/2021 South Africa ‘A’ v British & Irish Lions Cape Town, Cape Town Stadium 19:00 (BST)
17/07/2021 DHL Stormers v British & Irish Lions Cape Town, Cape Town Stadium 17:00 (BST)
24/07/2021 Springboks v British & Irish Lions – 1st Test Cape Town, Cape Town Stadium 17:00 (BST)
31/07/2021 Springboks v British & Irish Lions – 2nd Test Johannesburg, FNB Stadium 17:00 (BST)
07/08/2021 Springboks v British & Irish Lions – 3rd Test Johannesburg, FNB Stadium 17:00 (BST)
