Mako Vunipola to be elevated to the starting front row for the Lions’ second Test with South Africa

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Mako Vunipola set to be elevated to START in the front row for the Lions’ second Test with South Africa – having initially been left out of squad for last weekend’s victory – with Warren Gatland ready to change a winning team

  • Mako Vunipola is set to make the starting front row for the second Lions Test
  • Warren Gatland will make changes to the team that won the series opener 
  • The England prop made an impact in the first Test after coming off the bench 
  • Vunipola has forced his way into the starting XV ahead of Rory Sutherland

By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Warren Gatland is ready to change a winning Lions team, with Mako Vunipola set to be elevated to the starting front row for the second Test.

The 30-year-old Saracens and England prop was initially left out of the matchday 23 for the series opener but he was a late addition to the bench after Wyn Jones was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

When the Lions fought back in the second half, Vunipola made a powerful set-piece impact and appears to have forced his way into the starting XV ahead of Scotland’s Rory Sutherland. 

Mako Vunipola is set to be elevated to the starting front row for the second Test

Warren Gatland (left) is ready to change a winning Lions team, with Mako Vunipola (right) set to be elevated to the starting front row for the second Test

Vunipola was a late addition to the bench for the series opener after Wyn Jones was ruled out with a shoulder injury

Vunipola was a late addition to the bench for the series opener after Wyn Jones was ruled out with a shoulder injury

Asked about originally being left out of the 23, he said: ‘It was hard. You’re gutted for yourself. 

‘The reaction was frustration and you start wondering what you could have done.’  

Gatland will name his team on Tuesday morning and is likely to consider back-line reshuffles involving midfield and the back three. 

The 30-year-old Saracens and England prop appears to have forced his way into the starting XV ahead of Scotland’s Rory Sutherland

The 30-year-old Saracens and England prop appears to have forced his way into the starting XV ahead of Scotland’s Rory Sutherland

A bullish Gatland has already turned up the heat on the reeling Springboks and urged his Lions to clinch series glory in the second Test on Saturday.

‘I would love to win the Test series this week,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to embrace that expectation. It’s about how much you want it and what it means to you. Test match rugby is about that. 

‘We should expect ourselves to improve from the first Test. Hopefully, we will have won the series by next week.’ 

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