Lions v Japan betting tips: Murrayfield test before South Africa tour

Japan are playing their first game since hosting the 2019 World Cup when they famously beat Ireland and Scotland on the way to winning Pool A with a perfect record before losing 26-3 to South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Gatland said: “We’re anticipating a tough game against Japan – a side that like to play at a high tempo and shift the ball. We saw throughout the World Cup they have attacking threats across the park and a solid defence and set-piece.

“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made during our training camp in Jersey so far but we’ve got a long way to go. You can see that the squad are starting to get to grips with our game strategies but as always with a Lions tour, this takes time to bed in.

“We’re in a good place, though, and I can tell there’s a lot more to come from this group.”

Japan are 6/1 to cause another upset while the Lions are receiving 16 points on the handicap, with both teams available at 10/11 in this market and the tie available at 33/1.

Lions team to face Japan

L Williams (Scarlets, Wales); J Adams (Cardiff, Wales), R Henshaw Leinster, Ireland), B Aki (Connacht, Ireland), D van der Merwe (Edinburgh, Scotland); D Biggar (Northampton, Wales), C Murray (Munster, Ireland); R Sutherland (Edinburgh, Scotland), K Owens (Scarlets, Wales), Z Fagerson (Glasgow, Scotland), I Henderson (Ulster, Ireland), A W Jones – Captain (Ospreys, Wales), T Beirne (Munster, Ireland), H Watson (Edinburgh, Scotland), J Conan (Leinster, Ireland).

Replacements: J George (Saracens, England), W Jones (Scarlets, Wales), T Furlong (Leinster, Ireland), C Lawes (Northampton, England), T Faletau (Bath, Wales), A Price (Glasgow, Scotland), O Farrell (Saracens, England), A Watson (Bath, England).

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication