Johnny Sexton auditions for starting place on Lions Test team

Johnny Sexton has one game to prove he is a starting British & Irish Lion Test fly-half on this tour to New Zealand and that opportunity comes tomorrow in Whangarei.

With only four games before head coach Warren Gatland effectively unveils his starting line-up for the Test series against the world champion All Blacks on June 24, the Lions boss has expressed his wish to get off to a winning start against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians and Ireland’s playmaker has been charged with the job to guide the 2017 tourists to that victory with an accomplished performance that will prove his suitability.

England’s Owen Farrell and Welshman Dan Biggar will get their chances against Super Rugby opposition in the coming eight days with Sexton handed further action off the bench, either against the Blues or Crusaders in that timeframe.