Mako Vunipola will start for the British & Irish Lions against the Queensland Reds tomorrow after Gethin Jenkins suffered tightness in his calf during today’s captain’s run.
The Saracens prop takes over at loose-head, while Leicester Tigers’ Dan Cole comes on to the replacements’ bench.
Meanwhile, prop Ryan Grant has been called up from Scotland’s tour of South Africa.
Grant will fly from Durban this evening and arrive in Brisbane tomorrow following the injuries to Jenkins and Cian Healy.
The Irishman will return home on Sunday after a scan revealed significant ligament damage around the ankle. The recovery time is expected to exceed the duration of the tour.
British & Irish Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with Cian. It has been a day of mixed emotions for him after being quite rightly being cleared of foul play but then the scan revealing the extent of the damage to his ankle. He has made a big contribution on and off the field in the last two weeks and we wish him well in his recovery.
“Gethin has trained all week but he felt some tightness in his calf today so it’s right not to play him. We will assess him over the next 24-48 hours but Mako has done well in the last two games and this is another chance for him to step up.
“Given Cian’s injury we have decided to bring Ryan in. He has played well in the RaboDirect Pro 12 this season and for Scotland in the RBS Six Nations and we look forward to him and Alex Corbisiero arriving tomorrow.”
British & Irish Lions versus Queensland Reds, June 8, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
13. Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers/England)
12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets/Wales)
11. Tommy Bowe (Ulster/Ireland)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
1. Makovina Vunipola (Saracens/England)
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
3. Matt Stevens (Saracens/England)
4. Richie Gray (Scotland)
5. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers/England)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales)
7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
8. Tangaki Taulupe Faletau (Dragons/Wales)
Replacements
16. Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales)
17. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers/England)
18. Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
19. Paul O’Connell (Munster/Ireland)
20. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys/Wales)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Ireland)
22. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Ireland)
23. George North (Scarlets/Wales)
