Warburton fit to lead Lions in tour opener

Sam Warburton has recovered from his knee injury and will captain the British and Irish in their opening match against the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday.
The Welsh flanker will play his first game since suffering the injury in April.
The Scottish trio of Greig Laidlaw, Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg all start, as does Kyle Sinckler, who has yet to start a Test for .
captain Alun Wyn Jones, who recently recovered from a shoulder problem, starts in the second row and joins compatriots Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau and Warburton in the forwards.
England prop Joe Marler is named alongside his ‘ team-mate Sinckler in the front row, with hooker Rory Best and second row Iain Henderson making up the pack.
After being called up as a replacement for Ben Youngs, -half Laidlaw partners ‘s Jonny Sexton at half-back, with Ben Te’o paired with fellow Englishman Jonathan Joseph in the centre.
and England wing Anthony Watson joins Hogg and Seymour in the back three.
“We have selected the majority of players who were together for the training weeks in Wales and Ireland,” said head coach Warren .
“We have named a side that showcases a strong combination of experience and youth and we are really looking forward to Saturday.
“We are all hugely excited about the first game; it’s a great opportunity for the starting XV and the whole match day squad to lay down a marker and get the tour off to a good start.”
Lions: Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o, Tommy Seymour; Johnny Sexton, Greig Laidlaw; Joe Marler, Rory Best, Kyle Sinckler; Alun Wyn Jones, Iain Henderson; Ross Moriarty, (c), Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Tadhg Furlong, George Kruis, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Owen , Jared Payne

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