Duhan van der Merwe

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has named a 42-man squad for Tests against Tonga, Australia, South Africa and Japan starting later this month. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

As it happened: Stormers 3-49 British and Irish Lions

The Stormers vs British and Irish Lions match will be the main event of a Saturday double-header at the Cape Town Stadium.

Duhan van der Merwe

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has named a 42-man squad for Tests against Tonga, Australia, South Africa and Japan starting later this month. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

Stormers vs British and Irish Lions: The tourists face their final tour match ahead of the much-anticipated Test series against the Springboks.

Stormers vs British and Irish Lions: LIVE scores

Stormers vs British and Irish Lions: Preview

The British and Irish Lions tourists will have a last chance to impress coach Warren Gatland and earn a hallowed place in the Test team and with that a spot in history.

For the Stormers, the goals will be a little vaguer, but they will want to stand up to the British and Irish Lions in a way none of the other franchise or provincial teams has.

 Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that his team is well-aware of the honour of having the opportunity to face the British and Irish Lions.

“Any match against the British and Irish Lions is a historic occasion and we will be doing everything we can to do justice to the magnitude of this game.

“The team has been highly disciplined in our bubble this week and now it is about doing everything we can on the field for 80 minutes,” he said.

Gatland has named an entirely changed starting team for Saturday’s match against the Stormers.

Stuart Hogg returns to don the 15 jersey and resumes the captaincy having missed the last three matches due to isolation protocols.

Irish centre Robbie Henshaw comes in for what will be his first match of the tour.

Harlequins flyhalf Marcus Smith comes in for his first match having been called-up mid-tour after standout performance in the English Premiership final.

After a stunning recovery from injury Alun Wyn Jones comes up onto the bench. It seemed the veteran Welsh lock would miss out on the tour when he left the field injured in the warm-up Test against Japan.

Gatland said he was eager to give every player an opportunity to make a case for their inclusion in the Test team.

“It’s an important game as it’s the final chance for the coaching group to see the players perform prior to the start of the Test series.

“For the matchday 23, it’s their last opportunity to stake a claim for a Test place, so I expect to see a highly motivated group of players. It is particularly pleasing to be able to name Stuart Hogg in the squad. He has not had much luck on Lions tours to date, so it will be great to see him cross the whitewash again with the captain’s armband.

“I’m also delighted that Marcus will get his first start in a Lions jersey. I’ve been really impressed with his attitude since coming into camp this week. He has been like a sponge for information. Obviously, it’s a tight turnaround from Wednesday’s game but we are in pretty good shape. The South Africa A game was a physical encounter – we always knew it would be – but we have come out of it pretty much intact and ready to go again. Liam Williams will begin his return to play protocol following his HIA.”

Teams

Stormers

15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Leon Lyons.

Replacements (from): 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Dian Bieuler 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko 19 Justin Basson, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Cornel Smit, 24 Niel Otto.

British and Irish Lions

15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Josh Adams, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Marcus Smith 9 Ali Price; 8 Jack Conan, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Rory Sutherland

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Chris Harris 23 Louis Rees-Zammit

Stormers vs British and Irish Lions: Match Info, Live stream and TV times

Stormers vs British and Irish Lions

Date: Saturday 17 July 2021

Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Kick-off: 18:00

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (SARU), AJ Jacobs (SARU)

Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

TV: SuperSport

Streaming: DStv Now