Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mark Orders

Jamie Roberts names the Lions Test XV as Ken Owens axed and neither Hogg nor Liam Williams make it

Jamie Roberts has omitted Ken Owens from his Lions Test starting XV — and also Jamie George.

Neither Liam Williams nor Stuart Hogg make the cut for his team to face South Africa on July 24.

There is another big call at scrum-half, with Conor Murray left out.

The Lions play their final warm-up match on Saturday, when they face the Stormers in Cape Town.

Read more: Private chat between Gatland and Lions star sparks surge to Test team

Roberts' pick at hooker for the Tests is intriguing.

Four years ago in New Zealand, Owens and George covered the middle-of-the-front-row spot for all three Lions Tests, while this term Owens was widely feted as being the top-performing No. 2 in the Six Nations as Wales took the title.

But Roberts, man of the series when the Lions visited South Africa in 2009, reckons Luke Cowan-Dickie should feature against the Springboks.

Writing for MailOnline, he says: “The hooker spot is huge. If Luke Cowan-Dickie goes well against the Stormers, he starts for me. His lineout throwing is good and his dynamism is what you need against the Boks.

“He absolutely smashed Jasper Wiese once on Wednesday. Cowan-Dickie can match like-for-like with Malcolm Marx. Arguably, he’s the best ball-carrier and defender of the three options.

“Then Ken Owens shades Jamie George for a bench spot — just.”

Williams saw his hopes jolted by the head knock which forced him off the pitch early in the Lions’ midweek defeat to South Africa A, while Hogg has started only one game in this campaign after being caught up in the Covid issues which hit the tourists.

Ruling out both players as starters, Roberts instead opts for Anthony Watson as his No. 15 with Josh Adams and Duhan van der Merwe as wings.

“Between Anthony Watson, Liam Williams and Stuart Hogg, the in-form player is Watson. You have to make space for him at full back,” says Roberts

“Williams has a concussion, which takes at least six days to return from, and Hogg might light up on Saturday after returning from isolation but I think Adams, Van der Merwe and Watson have played the best so far.

“Louis Rees-Zammit has been immense for his age but I feel with what’s required against South Africa defensively and aerially, the others shade him.”

Ali Price is the pick at No. 9, with Murray not at his best so far in South Africa.

Roberts includes Alun Wyn Jones after his rapid recovery from a shoulder problem, with four other Welshmen named in Adams, Dan Biggar, Wyn Jones and Taulupe Faletau.

Of Biggar, the 97-cap former centre says: "He is the best at everything required to beat the Boks."

Jamie Roberts’ Lions Test XV : Anthony Watson; Josh Adams, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Ali Price; Wyn Jones, Luke Cowan-Dickie,Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Taulupe Faletau.

For the latest rugby updates sent straight to your inbox, you can sign up to our ROAR or Welsh rugby newsletters.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.