Last update on. From the section Rugby UnionProp Mako Vunipola arrives to begin against South Africa on SaturdayWarren Gatland, the head coach of the British and Irish Lions, has made three changes in his starting XV to close out the series against South Africa.Prop Mako Vunipola will replace Rory Sutherland in Cape Town. Ali Price's scrum-half Conor Murray will be replacing Ali Price, while centre Chris Harris will take Elliot Daly's place.After being omitted from the first Test selection, number eight Taulupe Fletau is now on the bench. Hamish Watson and Liam Williams are both dropped out of the 23.The Lions won the series opener, 22-17, after coming back from being 12-3 down at halftime.Gatland stated, "As usual, selection was incredibly difficult.""We've made the necessary changes to make the weekend's game more enjoyable.Dan Biggar, who scored 14 points last weekend is eligible to be named as fly-half. He must pass both the concussion recovery-to-play protocols, and an assessment from an independent concussion consultant.Gatland said: "We know that the Springboks are going to be hurting, and they'll throw all at us Saturday, but I think there is plenty more to come."We believe we can improve from the level we reached in the first Test. I expect us to do better.It's the most important game on the tour, and we must accept the expectation that it brings. These are the games that you as coaches and players want to be involved."We are relishing the chance to face the Springboks once again on Saturday, and possibly seal a series victory."This weekend, Steven Kitshoff will win 50th CapSouth Africa has also made three changes in their starting XV.World Cup-winning props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff both start. Kwagga Smith is replaced by Jasper Wiese from Leicester.The neck injury that Ox Nche sustained in the first Test makes it impossible for him to perform well.The Springboks are back to their 6/2 bench split, with Saracens prop Vincent Koch among the six forwards in reserve.Nienaber stated, "This is a huge game for us; we must win it to keep in the race to win it. We selected a team that provides continuity in selection but also that we felt would be best suited for achieving the goals we set for this match."This match is the second in the three-Test series. All three games are held in Cape Town, to minimize travel and reduce the risk of a Covid epidemic in either camp.Covid concerns were a constant theme in the build-up to this series. Several Springbok players and staff tested positive for Covid in the weeks before the first Test.A Lions staff member also returned a positive result, which caused full-back Stuart Hogg to be isolated as a close contact and miss a few warm-up games.Both squads are Covid-free and at their full strength. The stage is set for an epic battle in the Mother City, as the Lions attempt to copy the success of 1997 and 1974 by winning a Test series.British & Irish Lions: Hogg; A Watson, Harris, Henshaw, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Murray; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Furlong, Itoje, AW Jones, Lawes, Curry, Conan.Alternatives:Owens Sinckler, Sinckler and Beirne.South Africa: Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi, Du Toit, WieseReplacements: Marx, Nyakane, Koch, De Jager, Van Staden, Smith, H Jantjies, Willemse.
