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Lions v Emirates Lions, 2021 tour: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

telegraph sport
·4 min read
Lions v Emirates Lions, 2021 tour: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - GETTY IMAGES
Lions v Emirates Lions, 2021 tour: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - GETTY IMAGES

What is it?

The opening match of the British & Irish Lions tour in South Africa against Super Rugby side Emirates Lions at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, after it was confirmed the tour will go ahead.

It is the first of five warm-up games in South Africa before the three-Test series against the Springboks and has extra importance for head coach Warren Gatland given that the SA tour has been shortened by two games from the one in New Zealand in 2017.

When is it?

Saturday, July 3.

What time is kick-off?

5pm.

What TV channel is it on?

Live coverage is on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Rugby.

It has also been announced that highlights of all three Tests against South Africa will be on Channel 4, while All4 will show highlights of ALL the Lions Tour matches.

Lions Tour 2021 full fixtures

Here's the latest schedule, all BST:

What is the latest squad/team news?

Sam Simmonds has been named in a British and Irish Lions squad that is captained by Alun Wyn Jones, but Johnny Sexton is one of several high-profile omissions.

Simmonds, the Exeter No 8 and current European player of the year, has been picked by Gatland despite being consistently overlooked by England since winning the last of his seven caps in 2018.

He is joined in the squad bound for South Africa this summer by fellow bolters Bundee Aki of Ireland and Scotland's Chris Harris, with Manu Tuilagi left out as he gradually returns from an Achilles injury.

The 37-strong group is led by Jones, the 35-year-old Ospreys forward who captained Wales to the Six Nations title in March.

Jones, who embarks on a fourth successive Lions tour, has clocked up a world record 157 Tests for Wales and the Lions.

He was the favourite for the role ahead of other potential contenders like England internationals Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell.

While all other home union captains feature - Farrell and Scotland's Stuart Hogg are included as well as Jones - Ireland skipper Sexton was unable to force his way into the squad, likewise Jonathan Davies, Sam Underhill and Josh Navidi.

Sexton finished the Six Nations strongly but has suffered ongoing concussion problems since.

Davies was expected to travel to South Africa, especially after Wales team-mate George North was ruled out by a knee injury, but in a surprise move Aki and Harris were preferred.

Another of Wayne Pivac's Six Nations champions in Navidi has failed to win a place in the ferociously competitive back row positions, but Jack Conan of Ireland and Scotland's Hamish Watson are present.

Underhill missed the Six Nations because of a hip injury but his stopping power in defence was thought to be enough to secure his spot, while Billy Vunipola paid the price for his poor form.

Kyle Sinckler, who made his name on the 2017 tour to New Zealand and was viewed as odds-on to be in Test contention once more following a strong Six Nations, was originally overlooked by Gatland but has since been called up after an injury to Ireland's Andrew Porter.

Farrell, Dan Biggar and Finn Russell will compete for the fly-half jersey, but Danny Care failed to make the cut as a bolter.

Why not put yourself in Gatland's shoes and pick your Lions 23 with our team builder below...

Who will referee the match?

  • Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)

  • Assistant referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

  • Assistant referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

  • TMO: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

What have we said about the 2021 Lions tour?

How previous Lions squads have looked

What are the odds?

What's our prediction?

The first game of any tour is often a real eye-opener. It could go one of two ways: they'll either click straight away and pile on the points or, more likely, the players will be rusty, still getting their heads around Gatland's tactics, and this will be agonisingly close.
Predicted score: Lions 24 Emirates Lions 15