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Lions make late changes to their squad after a player tests positive for COVID-19

The British and Irish Lions were forced to to make a number of late changes to their starting XV ...



Lions make late changes to the...
Rugby

Lions make late changes to their squad after a player tests positive for COVID-19

The British and Irish Lions were forced to to make a number of late changes to their starting XV to face the Cell C Sharks as a result of the delays and positive COVID-19 case in their camp on Wednesday.

This comes after one player and a member of the management staff were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19, with eight players including Tadhg Beirne and Conor Murray being deemed close contacts.

The forward pack is unchanged to the one that was named earlier in the week, however a number of changes have been forced to take place in the backline.

The original halfback pairing of Dan Biggar and Gareth Davies have been pulled from the starting line-up, being replaced by Owen Farrell and Ali Price respectively.

Further out wide, Josh Adams comes in at fullback for Liam Williams, while youngster Louis Rees-Zammit takes over form Anthony Watson on the wing.

On the bench, the Lions are forced to head into the match with just the one backline replacement in Finn Russell, with Taulupe Faletau and Hamish Watson making up the remainder of the 23, with Conor Murray, Stuart Hogg and Chris Harris all ruled out.

British and Irish Lions vs Cell C Sharks

15. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England)
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
4. Iain Henderson – Captain (Ulster Rugby, Ireland)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales)
6.Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England)

Replacements:
16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
19. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England)
20. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
21. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
22. Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland)
23. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales)

Catch full commentary of this and every other British and Irish Lions match on Off The Ball, with live analysis from former Lions and Irish rugby players.

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British And Irish Lions Conor Murray Georgia Lions Scotland Sharks South Africa Springboks Tadhg Beirne