Scotland's Stuart Hogg to captain Lions in first match in South Africa

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will captain the British and Irish Lions in their first match on tour against South Africa against Lions Rugby.
Stuart Hogg will lead the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.Stuart Hogg will lead the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.
Stuart Hogg will lead the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

The 29-year-old will lead a fresh starting XV on Saturday to the one that defeated Japan at Murrayfield last weekend.

Hogg’s fellow Scot Finn Russell starts at stand-off, Ali Price comes in at scrum-half, Hamish Watson is selected at flanker, while prop Zander Fagerson is named among the replacements.

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Head coach Warren Gatland said: “It’s good to have arrived in Johannesburg and get the Tour under way.”

“We had a pleasing win last week up in Edinburgh, but there’s still plenty we need to get right on Saturday.

“I’ve been encouraged by the way the boys have trained this week. I feel it’s gone up a level from where we were in Jersey and we’re starting to see a better understanding of some of our tactics.

“There’s some new player combinations for us to have a look at this Saturday – which is good information for us as the Test Series approaches.

“My congratulations to all those playing their first game as a Lion, and also to Hoggy too – who I am sure will lead the side by example.”

The match kicks off at 5pm British time on Saturday at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.

British and Irish Lions team: S Hogg; L Rees-Zammit, C Harris, O Farrell, J Adams; F Russell, A Price; W Jones, J George, K Sinckler, M Itoje, J Hill, C Lawes, H Watson, T Faletau. Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie, M Vunipola, Z Fagerson, I Henderson, S Simmonds, G Davies, B Aki, E Daly.