British and Irish Lions 2021: Tom Curry set for debut, Iain Henderson is captain

Tom Curry has recovered from a pectoral injury and will face the Sharks

England flanker Tom Curry will make his first appearance for the British and Irish Lions while Ireland's Iain Henderson will be captain against the Sharks in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Wales lock Adam Beard and back row Josh Navidi will also make their debuts after being called up as replacements.

Sam Simmonds will make his first international start in three years.

Head coach Warren Gatland says there is "huge competition" for a place in the Test side in the back row.

"I spoke to them all [Curry, Navidi and Simmonds] last night and said they had a licence to go and get their hands on the ball and express themselves," Gatland continued.

After defeating Japan at Murrayfield, the Lions recorded a first win on South African soil when they thumped the Sigma Lions 56-14 on Saturday.

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British and Irish Lions: Williams; Watson, Daly, Aki, Van der Merwe; Biggar, Davies; Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, Fagerson, Henderson (capt), Beard, Navidi, Curry, Simmonds.

Replacements: Owens, Sutherland, Furlong, Beirne, Conan, Murray, Hogg, Harris.

Gatland 'doesn't want to show hand too early' on Test side

Captain Henderson said speculation about the team that would face the Springboks on 24 July "hadn't really come into a lot of players' thoughts".

"That for us is a fair bit down the line and we're concentrating on what we've got right in front of us," he added.

Gatland said he was "not trying to think too much" about his Test side, but admitted "some good performances" in victories against Japan and the Sigma Lions had already made his job "tough".

"I want this group of men to feel that everyone has an opportunity right up to the Test matches," the New Zealander explained.

"As we get a bit closer we'll start to look at potential combinations. There will definitely be some mix and matching because you don't want to show your hand too early."

Iain Henderson was also part of the Lions squad that toured New Zealand in 2017

Biggar, Aki and 'outstanding' Daly combine in midfield

Curry is yet to play a part in the tour after coming into camp with a pectoral injury while Beard and Navidi joined the team the night before they left for South Africa following injuries to captain Alun Wyn Jones and flanker Justin Tipuric.

Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray stepped in as tour skipper and is named among the replacements for Wednesday's game.

The Sharks fixture is the second of five warm-up games in South Africa before the three-Test series against the Springboks begins on 24 July.

The Lions will face a depleted Sharks side as several of their players - including South Africa captain Siya Kolisi - are preparing for the Springboks' fixture against Georgia on Friday.

Gatland has said England's Owen Farrell would start at number 10 at some point during the warm-up games but the England captain is not included in the matchday 23.

Instead, Wales' Dan Biggar starts at fly-half, with Ireland's Bundee Aki and England's Elliot Daly - who Gatland said was "outstanding" off the bench on Saturday - at 12 and 13 respectively.

After sustaining such significant injuries to Jones and Tipuric against Japan, Gatland said he was pleased "to come through the weekend's game unscathed".

"It's a quick turnaround from Saturday, but we'll be ready to go by Wednesday night," he added.

"We feel like we're slowly building, but, as ever, there's still room for improvement in all facets of our game."

The head coach added that Henderson would bring a "calm approach" to the captaincy, explaining he was "an obvious choice" given his "experience and stature in the game".

Cell C Sharks: Libbok; Kok, Ward, Louw, Abrahams; Bosch, Hendrikse; Mona, Mbatha, Mchunu, Van Heerden, Andrews, Venter, Bholi, Buthelezi (capt).

Replacements: Van Vuuren, Mchunu, Herbst, Van der Mescht, Hugo, Richardson, Williams,Volmink.

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