Lions & Blues Name Strong Teams

The British & Irish Lions and the Blues have both named competitive sides to face each other in Auckland on Wednesday night.

Wales Hooker Ken Owens will lead out the lions in the second match on the tour and the side features a host of players who weren’t involved in the opening fixture against the Barbarians on Saturday.

British & Irish Lions

15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Jack Nowell
13. Jared Payne
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Elliot Daly
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb
8. CJ Stander
7. Justin Tipuric
6. James Haskell
5. Courtney Lawes
4. Maro Itoje
3. Dan Cole
2. Ken Owens (c)
1. Jack McGrath

16. Rory Best
17. Joe Marler
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Iain Henderson
20. Pete O’Mahony
21. Greig Laidlaw
22. Johnny Sexton
23. Liam Williams

The Blues, coached by former All Black captain Tana Umaga, have named an equally string side including current All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams, the entire front row of Ofa Tu’ungafasi alongside captain James Parsons and Charlie Faumuina, and Rieko Ioane and George Moala alongside Williams in the backs.

Umaga was the All Black captain in charge of the Series whitewash against the Lions in 2005 and was a figure of controversy for the whole tour following his involvement in the alleged spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll in the opening minutes of the test series.

Umaga was keen to play down the incident ahead of renewing rivalries with the Lions saying: “It’s not about that time now, that was 12 years ago, If people can’t put that behind them then I suppose they never will. It’s about this group now, and their time against the Lions, and the memories they make. Hopefully they are positive ones.”

The Blues take on The British & Irish Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday 7th June at 19.35pm (8.35am UK) time.