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Lions 2013

Tommy Bowe the lone Irish starter in Lions team to face Queensland Reds

Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton are on the bench for Saturday’s game in Suncorp Stadium.

Updated 12.20

TOMMY BOWE IS the only Irish starter in the Lions team to face the Queensland Reds.

The Ulster winger, who bagged his first try of the tour in the win against the Western Force, starts opposite Alex Cuthbert at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Captain Sam Warburton has recovered from his knee injury and will have the honour of becoming the 800th Lion when he makes his debut in the back row.

Three-time tourist Gethin Jenkins makes his first start of the summer up front. He is joined by Tom Youngs, Matt Stevens, Richie Gray and Geoff Parling in a new look front five while Gatland has gone for an all-Welsh back row with Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau alongside Warburton.

England duo Ben Youngs and Owen Farrell are named in the half-backs with Manu Tuilagi and Jonathan Davies in midfield and Stuart Hogg at full-back.

“Two games and two victories is great, but those two matches are building blocks as we head towards the Test series,” Gatland said today.

“We always said we would give every player a start in the first three matches and this team reflects that. It also provides us with the opportunity to continue to look at different combinations.”

Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton are the Irish players on the bench.

The Reds have named a total of 12 Australian internationals in the squad for Saturday’s game with Wallabie out-half Quade Cooper handed a start by coach Ewen McKenzie.

Lions: Stuart Hogg; Alex Cuthbert, Manu Tuilagi, Jonathan Davies, Tommy Bowe; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Gethin Jenkins, Tom Youngs, Matt Stevens; Richie Gray, Geoff Parling; Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (c), Toby Faletau.

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Mako Vunipola, Adam Jones, Paul O’Connell, Justin Tipuric, Conor Murray, Jonny Sexton, George North.

Queensland Reds: Ben Lucas; Rod Davies, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Faingaa, Luke Morahan; Quade Cooper, Nick Frisby; Ben Daley, James Hanson, Greg Holmes; Adam Wallace-Harrison, Ed O’Donoghue; Eddie Quirk, Beau Robinson, Jake Schatz.

Replacements: Albert Anae, Sam Denny, Jono Owen, Radike Samo, Jarrad Butler, Jono Lance, Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley.

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