British and Irish Lions: Grant first tour start

SCOTLAND prop Ryan Grant will make his first British and Irish Lions start tomorrow against the ACT Brumbies as the tourists play their last match before the first Test against Australia.

The Glasgow loosehead was called into the squad as injury cover for Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins a week and a half ago and played as a replacement against the Queensland Reds. He is one of three Scots in the team for the match in Canberra, with Stuart Hogg starting at stand-off and Richie Gray coming into the second row. Both men know this is their last chance to force their way into Lions’ head coach Warren Gatland’s plans for next Saturday’s first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Gatland has also handed Lions’ debuts to the English 
centre pairing of Brad Barritt and Billy Twelvetrees, while 36-year-old Welsh winger Shane Williams comes into the side for a one-off match to help ease the increasing injury toll that has hit the tourists’ back division.

Welsh duo George North (winger) and Jamie Roberts (centre) are doubtful for Saturday because of hamstring injuries and face a race against the clock.