Peter O'Mahony to captain Lions in first Test

IRELAND flanker Peter O'Mahony will captain the British and Irish Lions in their first Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday, with tour skipper Sam Warburton starting on the bench.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

No Scots have made it into head coach Warren Gatland’s 23 meaning it will now be ten games since a Scot started a Lions Test, Tom Smith being the last in Australia 16 years ago.

O’Mahony will form a back row with compatriot Sean O’Brien and Wales’ Taulupe Faletau. England’s Owen Farrell starts at stand-off, partnered by Ireland’s Conor Murray, while the English duo of Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly get the nod on the wings. Liam Williams of Wales completes the back three at full-back.

Jonathan Davies and Ben Te’o will form an Anglo-Welsh midfield partnership.

Gatland said: “We have picked a side based on form with a lot of players putting their hands up, especially from the Crusaders and Maori All Blacks games, and it was a lively selection meeting.

“The win against the Chiefs was also extremely important for the squad and some players played themselves into the side.

We have continuously been strong at set-piece and have been good defensively in the last two or three outings. But to beat the All Blacks you have to be courageous and play some rugby – you have to score tries and I think we have picked a team capable of doing that.”

Meanwhile, Kieran Read has recovered from injury and will captain New Zealand on Saturday.

The Crusaders No 8 last played more than seven weeks ago, when he suffered a broken thumb while on Super Rugby duty.

But he is fit agin to pack down in the All Blacks’ back-row alongside Jerome Kaino and Sam Cane as New Zealand look to extend their long unbeaten run at Eden Park.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has sprung a surprise on the left-wing, though, handing Rieko Ioane a first Test start instead of the more experienced Julian Savea.

Elsewhere, World Cup winner Sonny Bill Williams lines up in midfield with a fit-again Ryan Crotty, with Crotty replacing Anton Lienert-Brown following last week’s 78-0 victory over Samoa.

British & Irish Lions (v New Zealand, first Test, Saturday, Auckland, 8.35am BST)

15. Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales

14. Anthony Watson – Bath, England

13. Jonathan Davies – Scarlets, Wales

12. Ben Te’o – Worcester, England

11. Elliot Daly - Wasps, England

10. Owen Farrell – Saracens, England

9. Conor Murray – Munster, Ireland

1. Mako Vunipola - Saracens, England

2. Jamie George – Saracens, England

3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland

4. Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales

5. George Kruis – Saracens, England

6. Peter O’Mahony (capt) – Munster, Ireland

7. Sean O’Brien – Leinster, Ireland

8. Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales

Subs

16. Ken Owens – Scarlets, Wales

17. Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland

18. Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England

19. Maro Itoje – Saracens, England

20. Sam Warburton – Cardiff Blues, Wales

21. Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales

22. Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland

23. Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales