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As it happenedended

British and Irish Lions vs New Zealand Provincial Barbarians - as it happened: Tourists clinch nervy victory

Re-live all the action from Toll Stadium

Jack de Menezes
Toll Stadium
Saturday 03 June 2017 03:10 BST
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The Lions take on NZ Provincial Barbarians
The Lions take on NZ Provincial Barbarians (Getty)

The British and Irish Lions begin their 2017 tour of New Zealand in Whangarei against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in the first of their 10 scheduled matches. Follow the latest here.

  • British and Irish Lions vs New Zealand Provincial Barbarians kicks off at 19:35 [08:35 BST]
  • Sam Warburton captains the Lions
  • Nine players to make Lions debut with another five replacements set for first appearances
  • Jonathan Sexton starts at 10 with Greig Laidlaw at scrum-half

Follow the latest here...

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What time does it start?

The Lions vs New Zealand Provincial Barbarians kicks off at 19:35 local time [08:35 BST] at Toll Stadium in Whangarai.

What TV channel is it on?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 from 08:00 BST.

Teams...

New Zealand Provincial Barbarians:

Luteru Laulala; Sam Vaka, Inga Finau, Dwanye Sweeney, Sevu Reece; Bryn Gatland, Jack Stratton; Aidan Ross, Sam Anderson-Heater, Oliver Jager; Josh Goodhue, Keepa Mewett; James Tucker, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Dunshea.

Replacements: Andrew Makalio, Tolu Fahamokioa, Marcel Renata, Matt Matich, Peter Rowe, Richard Judd, Jonah Lowe, Joe Webber.

British and Irish Lions:

Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’o, Tommy Seymour; Jonathan Sexton, Greig Laidlaw; Joe Marler, Rory Best, Kyle Sinckler; Alun Wyn Jones, Iain Henderson; Ross Moriarty, Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacement: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Tadhg Furlong, George Kruis, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly.

We've got a bit of a party atmosphere going on here ahead of kick-off, with music, plenty of dancing going on out on the pitch and flags waving in the stands. It feels like it's Lions time!

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:25

And the music closes with a brilliant fireworks display high above the ground that lasts for about two full minutes, getting a richly deserved round of applause as it ends. Counting down the minutes until kick-off now...

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:27

Hearing there's a bit of concern over Kyle Sinckler in the Lions camp. He's having a quick physio check with just minutes to go until the game begins. More as we het it, but right now there's a Maori ritual going on out on the pitch.

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:29

Here they come, led out by captain Sam Warburton.

The Lions are here!

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:30

Sinckler's out there, but he's got a heavily strapped right elbow and that might be cause for concern for the Harlequins prop. Anyway, here come the BaaBaas!

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:31

The trio of Maori warriors leave the field after one last dance, and we're ready to get underway!

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:33

 1 mins: THE BAABAAS KICK-OFF AND THE MATCH IS UNDERWAY!

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:35

1 mins: It's nearly a disastrous start for the Lions as Henderson misjudges the kick-off and Reece is able to gather for the Barbarians and runs into the 22. An offload in midfield goes to ground though and the Lions have the ball back before Laidlaw clears.

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:36

2 mins: The Barbarians make progress again and Vaka surges into the 22, with both wings having early success. The Lions are penalised for a high tackle in the corner, and Gatland decides to go for touch, much to the crowd's approval.

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:38

4 mins: The lineout goes to the tail and the Barbarians have another penalty advantage that allows Gatland to go for a cross-field kick. Reece can't get on the end of it though so we come back for the penalty, and it's back into the corner. Good pressure from the BaaBaas.

Jack de Menezes3 June 2017 08:39

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