Head coach Warren Gatland will be looking for a more accomplished display against the Blues after their laboured opening tour victory over the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians.
He’s made good on his promise to field a fully-changed starting XV with Wales hooker Ken Owens appointed captain.
All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams has shaken off a knee complaint and starts on home turf.
Kick off at 8:35am.
Blues: Michael Collins; Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane; Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu; Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Parsons (C), Charlie Faumuina; Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Scott Scarfton; Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua.
Replacements: Hame Faiva, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kara Pryor, Sam Nock; Ihaia West, TJ Faiane.
British & Irish Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; Jack Nowell, Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Elliot Daly; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Jack McGrath, Ken Owens (C), Dan Cole; Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes; James Haskell, Justin Tipuric, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rory Best, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Greig Laidlaw, Johnny Sexton, Liam Williams.
07:40: WARRENBALL…
Don’t mention Warrenball. I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.
But one British reporter decide to mention it during the pre-match press conference and it went down like a lead balloon.
Attack coach Rob Howley insisted he does not “know what Warrenball means,” and revealed the Lions have been holding free-for-all training sessions, essentially challenging the players to improvise their attacking threat.
Fingers crossed we see some of his “rugby chaos” this morning.
07:35 – DAN, DAN, DAN, DAN, DAN…
Does the Alan Partridge humour work this early in the morning? I didn’t think so.
Anyway, Dan Biggar has a chance from the off at fly-half, with Johnny Sexton taking a seat on the bench and doubtless desperate to improve on a difficult opening-match performance.
Elsewhere only Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb, Dan Cole and Justin Tipuric boast prior Lions match experience in Warren Gatland’s starting line-up.
Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes form an all-England lock pairing, while Payne is joined in the centres by his Ireland team-mate Robbie Henshaw.
07:30 – GOOD MORNING,
Welcome to our LIVE coverage as the British and Irish Lions embark on the second match of their gruelling tour of New Zealand.
The Blues await them at Eden Park, where a 40,000-strong crowd is expected.
Warren Gatland will be hoping for a significantly improved performance after last week’s shocker against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians.
He’ll also need a better display because I’ve been dragged out of bed at 5am to cover this, and I usually watch these matches in my pyjamas while munching on an enormous bowl of Frosties.
Anyway, let’s get going!
