All five Sarries players on tour set to feature against Super Rugby franchise

All five Saracens players in the British & Irish Lions touring squad have been named in the matchday 23 to face Super Rugby franchise Crusaders on Saturday.

The Lions will hope to bounce back in Christchurch, having been beaten for the first time on their tour of New Zealand on Wednesday, going down to Blues in Auckland.

Head coach Warren Gatland has named a completely-changed starting XV, with first tour starts for prop Mako Vunipola, hooker Jamie George, lock George Kruis and fly-half Owen Farrell.

After starting Wednesday’s defeat, fellow Sarries player Maro Itoje takes his place on the bench as a replacement lock.

Another player named in the starting XV is Welsh winger Liam Williams, who will join Sarries from Pro12 champions Scarlets after the tour to New Zealand.

Lions squad to face Crusaders: Hogg (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors); North (Wales/Northampton Saints), Davies (Wales/Scarlets), Te’o (England/Worcester Warriors), Williams (Wales/Scarlets); Farrell (England/Saracens), Murray (Ireland/Munster); Vunipola (England/Saracens), George (England/Saracens), Furlong (Ireland/Leinster); Jones (Wales/Ospreys), Kruis (England/Saracens); O’Mahony (Ireland/Munster), O’Brien (Ireland/Leinster), Faletau (Wales/Bath)

Replacements: Owens (Wales/Scarlets), McGrath (Ireland/Leinster), Cole (England/Leicester Tigers), Itoje (England/Saracens), Stander (Ireland/Munster), Webb (Wales/Ospreys), Sexton (Ireland/Leinster), Watson (England/Bath).