Warren Gatland's side take on Japan at BT Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday 26 June (15:00 kick off) for The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup.

The game against the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists will be shown live and exclusively on Channel 4 and raises the curtain for the Lions’ eagerly awaited Tour to South Africa, which culminates in a three Test series against Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks.

Faletau has toured twice previously with the Lions, winning the 2013 series in Australia before drawing the 2017 campaign against New Zealand while Watson was involved in the latter.

The pair are Lions number 779 and 816 respectively.

"We’re anticipating a tough game against Japan – a side that like to play at a high-tempo and shift the ball,” said Gatland.

“We saw throughout the World Cup they have attacking threats across the park and a solid defence and set piece.

“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made during our training camp in Jersey so far, but we’ve a long way to go. You can see that the squad are starting to get to grips with our game strategies, but, as always with a Lions Tour, this takes time to bed in.

“We’re in a good place though and I can tell there’s a lot more to come from this group.

“Everyone in the squad will get a start before the start of the Test Series, so each member of the squad can put their hand up for Test selection.

“We are absolutely delighted to be playing in front of sixteen thousand supporters in Edinburgh. I’m sure the crowd will give the players an enormous lift before we depart for South Africa on Sunday.”

The Lions’ eight-game Tour to South Africa kicks off on Saturday 3 July when they play the Emirates Lions at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg. Three weeks later, Cape Town Stadium will host the opening Test match of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series – the first Lions Test in the Mother City since 1997. The British and Irish tourists then return to Gauteng and play the second and third Tests at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday 31 July and 8 August respectively.

The Lions have toured South Africa on 13 previous occasions, with the first Tour taking place in 1891. In that time, the Lions have won four Test series, lost eight with one drawn. Their overall record against the Springboks is played 46, won 17, lost 23 and drawn six.

THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS vs JAPAN – The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup

Saturday 26 June 2021
BT Murrayfield Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00

15. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833, 14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales), 13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824, 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland), 10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821, 9. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790; 1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland), 2. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829, 3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), 4. Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland) #808, 5. Alun Wyn Jones – Captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761, 6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland), 7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland), 8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)

Replacements: 16. Jamie George (Saracens, England) #819, 17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales), 18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818, 19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826, 20. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales) #779, 21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), 22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780, 23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816

Bath duo named as replacements for Lions opener

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