Warriors wing Duhan van der Merwe will again start for the British and Irish Lions in Saturday’s series decider against South Africa in Cape Town (kick-off 5.00pm BST).
Scotland international van der Merwe, who has joined Warriors from Edinburgh Rugby, has retained his place in the starting XV which shows six changes to the one that featured in last Saturday’s defeat which saw the Springboks level the Castle Lager Lions Series.
Former Warriors wing Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues and Wales) is one of the changes and he will make his Lions Test debut on Saturday.
Liam Williams comes in at full-back in the other change to a re-jigged back three with centre Bundee Aki), scrum-half Ali Price, fit-again loosehead prop Wyn Jones and hooker Ken Owens completing the changes.
“The matchday 23 have an incredibly special opportunity in front of them – to seal a Lions Series victory in South Africa,” said Lions Head Coach Gatland.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than this and we’re excited by the challenge that faces us on Saturday.
“We’ve no excuses from last week, the Springboks put us under pressure in the second half and deserved the win. We have to be much better than that second half performance, and I believe we will be.”
British and Irish Lions
15 Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833
14 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales) #836
13 Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824
12 Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland) #837
11 Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9 Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
2 Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
3 Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
5 Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
8 Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839
Replacements:
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England) #787
18 *Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814 – subject to outcome of disciplinary hearing.
19 Adam Beard (Ospreys, Wales) #852
20 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England) #849
21 Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790
22 Finn Russell (Racing 92, Scotland) #835
23 Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822