Leicester Tigers flanker Croft will win his first Lions Test cap after being picked in the starting XV at blindside. Tigers scrum-half Ellis has been named among the replacements.
Head Coach Ian McGeechan said: “The preparation for the first Test has been very positive. It has been a challenge to reach the first Test with an unbeaten record as we have played a variety of provincial teams across the country.
“The Test team has been picked on form following the six provincial matches. There were some very difficult calls to make as the players as a group and individually have done everything that we have asked of them and performed on the field.”
Tigers will be showing the game live on the big screen in the ABC Bar at Welford Road.
British & Irish Lions (vs South Africa)
Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland)
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster/Ireland)
Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins/England)
Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales)
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
Lee Mears (Bath/England)
Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England)
Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland) Captain
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
David Wallace (Munster/Ireland)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland)
Replacements
Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales)
Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster/Ireland)
Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)
Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers/England)
Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland)
Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
