Jones, the most experienced Test player ever with 157 caps, will lead the tourists after he has fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder sustained in the Lions' 28-10 win over Japan at Murrayfield just 24 days ago.
In doing so, the Welsh lock will win his 10th successive Test cap for the Lions in Cape Town, moving him into an illustrious list of Lions legends to have made 10 Test appearances or more, including Gareth Edwards (10), Graham Price (12), Mike Gibson (12) Dickie Jeeps (13) and Willie-John McBride (17).
Jones. however, is the first to play 10 Tests for the famous touring side in the professional era. He will be joined in the second row by Maro Itoje, who claims his fourth successive Lions Test cap.
Wyn Jones, Luke Cowan-Dickie and and Tadhg Furlong make up the front row, while Courtney Lawes packs down at blindside flanker to win his third Lions test appearance, having won his previous two from the bench in the second and third Tests in New Zealand in 2017. Tom Curry is named on the openside, with Jack Conan at No 8.
After impressing against the DHL Stormers last Saturday, Ali Price joins Dan Biggar in the halfback berths, while Robbie Henshaw partners Elliot Daly in midfield.
Anthony Watson wins his fourth Lions Test cap as he takes his spot on the wing opposite Duhan van der Merwe, with Stuart Hogg rounding off the side at fullback.
The starting XV includes three Scots for the first time since the 1997 Tour to South Africa when current Lions assistant coach, Gregor Townsend, was named alongside Alan Tait and Tom Smith for the first and second Tests.
SA-born Duhan van der Merwe will be making his Lions Test debut on the wing.
“In my four Tours as a Lions coach, this was by far the hardest Test selection I have been involved in,” said Gatland.
“We couldn’t have asked for more from the players so far; they’ve all put their hands up and made picking a starting XV incredibly difficult. In truth, we would have been happy with any number of different combinations across the 23, however, we’re very pleased with the side we’ve settled on.
“We know what we’re coming up against on Saturday. It’s going to be an arm wrestle, there’s no doubt about it. We’ll need to front up physically and be ready to go from the first whistle. When we played SA ‘A’ last week we probably took a bit too long to get into the game, something we can’t afford to do that again this weekend.
“We need to make sure we play in the right areas of the field, not give them easy territory and take our chances when they come.
“While the stands will be empty in Cape Town Stadium, we know Lions fans from across the home nations will be cheering us on back home. We’ll do our best to get the win.”
The much-anticipated clash against the reigning Rugby World Cup champions is the first of three Tests matches in the Castle Lager Lions Series to be shown live and exclusively on SuperSport (kick-off 18h00 SAST).
British & Irish Lions team:
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, Scotland) #783
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England) #816
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, England) #822
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #824
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #841
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales) #821
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) #843
8. Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #839
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, England) #853
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England) #826
5. Alun Wyn Jones – captain (Ospreys, Wales) #761
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, England) #825
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland) #818
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England) #851
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales) #842
Replacements:
16. Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales) #829
17. Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors, Scotland) #840
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England) #814
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #838
20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland) #847
21. Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland) #790
22. Owen Farrell (Saracens, England) #780
23. Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales) #833
