British and Irish Lions Tour sees Conan in but no start for Murray and Henderson

Iain Henderdon will start on bench for Saturday's first Test against the Springboks

©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Iain Henderdon will start on bench for Saturday's first Test against the Springboks

Cian Tracy

July 21 2021 12:07 AM

Ireland No 8 Jack Conan looks set to start for the Lions in Saturday’s first Test against South Africa with Conor Murray expected to miss out as Warren Gatland makes a number of surprise selections.

Conan will be rewarded for his excellent form on tour by being named ahead of Taulupe Faletau.

Although the Welsh man is struggling for form, Warren Gatland was expected to show faith in Faletau, one of his long-term servants. That good news on the Irish front will be offset by reports that Murray is set to be overlooked in favour of Ali Price.

The Munster scrum-half was named tour captain when the now fit-again Alun-Wyn Jones dislocated his shoulder before the squad departed for South Africa. However, Gatland is expected to drop the Limerick native to the bench. Having being ruled out of the Tour on June 26, Jones only returned to the squad last week and played 26 minutes off the bench against the Stomers last weekend.

Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw look certain to start, but like Murray, Tadhg Beirne and Ulster’s Iain Henderson will have to make do with a spot amongst the replacements.

Bundee Aki looks set to miss out entirely with Elliot Daly in line to start in midfield alongside Henshaw.

The Lions have brought their team announcement forward by a day, just as the Springboks did. Gatland will now confirm his selection at 10am this morning.

Lions (probable): S Hogg; A Watson, E Daly, R Henshaw, D van der Merwe; D Biggar, A Price; W Jones, L Cowan-Dickie, T Furlong, A W Jones (c), M Itoje, C Lawes, T Curry, J Conan. Reps: K Owens, R Sutherland, K Sinckler, T Beirne, H Watson, I Henderson, C Murray, O Farrell.

British and Irish Lions Tour sees Conan in but no start for Murray and Henderson

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