Nowell on bench for Second Test
By Mark Stevens
29/6/17
Exeter Chiefs and England star Jack Nowell has been named in the British & Irish Lions squad for Saturday’s second test against the All Blacks in Wellington.
Having sat out last weekend’s opener, which the world champions won 30-15, the Cornishman is included for this must-win encounter at the Westpac Stadium.
Sam Warburton will captain the side, while Jonathan Sexton starts at fly-half. Welshman Warburton replaces Peter O’Mahony in a starting line-up showing three personnel changes from the XV that started the first Test.
The other changes see Maro Itoje come into the second row for George Kruis, while Sexton is at fly-half and Owen Farrell shifts to inside centre instead of Ben Te’o.
Nowell, meanwhile, is one of three changes on the replacements’ bench where he is joined by Courtney Lawes and CJ Stander, all of whom impressed during Tuesday’s draw against the Hurricanes.
Head Coach Warren Gatland said: “We saw Maro’s impact in the first Test and he will bring an edge and a physicality, as will Sam Warburton in terms of pressure on the ball.
“It’s tough on Peter O’Mahony who has done a brilliant job for us. We had to look at the bench and we felt that CJ Stander’s ball carrying and defence was the right choice for the bench. You have to make the tough calls and pick what is the right team and the right combinations for a Test match.”
Gatland added: “In terms of the backs we have gone with the Sexton-Farrell combination. Both have played well and it gives us that attacking option in the 10-12 channel. We created opportunities in the first Test and there were a few that we didn’t finish.
“There were lots of positives from the first Test but we were disappointed that we put ourselves in a position to put the All Blacks under pressure and to get back into the game and we let it slip.
“This is a big chance for these players to go out and show what they are capable of on Saturday night. For the players retained from the first Test it’s an opportunity for them to step up and to show an improvement because individually they were disappointed and you have another group coming in who are also desperate to seize their chance.”
British and Irish Lions: L Williams, A Watson, J Davies, O Farrell, E Daly, J Sexton, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong, M Itoje, AW Jones, S Warburton (capt), S O’Brien, T Faletau. Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, C Lawes, CJ Stander, R Webb, B Te’o, J Nowell.
