British & Irish Lions v Japan The Lions began their 2021 tour with their first ever match in Scotland. Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones was substituted in the 7th minute after suffering a dislocated shoulder that seemed to rule him out of the tour. The Lions went 21–0 up in the first 23 minutes, through tries from
Josh Adams,
Duhan van der Merwe and
Robbie Henshaw, all converted by
Dan Biggar, but also lost flanker
Justin Tipuric to a shoulder injury in the 21st minute.
Tadhg Beirne added a fourth try after half-time, again converted by Biggar to make it 28–0. Japan responded with a try by
Kazuki Himeno after 58 minutes, converted by
Yu Tamura, who also kicked a penalty with 12 minutes to go to make the final score 28–10. The British & Irish Lions Board later stated that this was not a Lions Test match, and classed it as "an international fixture", but each Lions player received a cap and each debutant was awarded a Lions number. • No replacement was made for
Jack Conan. •
Jack Cornelsen,
Siosaia Fifita,
Craig Millar and
Naoto Saito (all Japan) made their international debuts. • Japan became the eighth test nation to play the Lions. •
Josh Adams,
Bundee Aki,
Tadhg Beirne,
Jack Conan,
Wyn Jones,
Ali Price,
Rory Sutherland and
Duhan van der Merwe all made their Lions debuts.
Lions v British & Irish Lions Sharks v British & Irish Lions Notes: •
Dan Biggar,
Gareth Davies,
Anthony Watson,
Liam Williams (all starting XV),
Tadhg Beirne,
Chris Harris,
Stuart Hogg and
Conor Murray (all replacements) were named in the Lions team, but were removed prior to the match, after either testing positive for
COVID-19 or having close contact with a tour member who tested positive. They were replaced by
Josh Adams,
Taulupe Faletau,
Owen Farrell,
Maro Itoje,
Ali Price,
Finn Russell,
Louis Rees-Zammit and
Hamish Watson.
Sharks v British & Irish Lions Notes: •
Maro Itoje (British & Irish Lions) was named to start but withdrew due to illness and was replaced by Courtney Lawes; Adam Beard took Lawes' place on the bench.
Finn Russell was named on the bench, but also withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Bundee Aki. •
Jamie George became the first Englishman to captain a British & Irish Lions team since
Phil Vickery captained the side against
Western Province in
2009.
South Africa A v British & Irish Lions Notes •
Josh Adams (British & Irish Lions) was withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons and was replaced by
Liam Williams, meaning Anthony Watson shifted from fullback to wing. •
Dan Biggar (British & Irish Lions) was also in the initial XV but was withdrawn from the squad prior to kick-off and replaced by Owen Farrell. •
Tadhg Beirne,
Dan Biggar,
Tom Curry,
Jack Conan,
Luke Cowan-Dickie,
Robbie Henshaw,
Stuart Hogg,
Ali Price,
Rory Sutherland,
Duhan van der Merwe and
Hamish Watson all made their Lions test debuts. •
Handré Pollard (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap. • With
Stuart Hogg,
Duhan van der Merwe,
Ali Price and
Rory Sutherland in the starting line-up, this match represented the first time since 2005 that any Scottish player started a British & Irish Lions test match, and the most Scottish players named in starting line-up since 1989.
South Africa v British & Irish Lions (second test) Notes: •
Steven Kitshoff (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap. •
Chris Harris made his Lions test debut.
South Africa v British & Irish Lions (third test) Notes: •
Damian de Allende (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap. •
Josh Adams,
Bundee Aki,
Adam Beard,
Wyn Jones,
Finn Russell and
Sam Simmonds all made their Lions test debuts. ==Notes==