Four Irish players on Lions starting team to face All Blacks

Peter O'Mahony is the captain. What an honour but, my, how it's deserved.

Warren Gatland's men take on the All Blacks on Saturday morning (8.35am Irish time) and the Lions starting team has been named. Along with skipper O'Mahony, three other Irish men make the starting 15 in Tadhg Furlong, Sean O'Brien and Conor Murray. Johnny Sexton is on the bench.

"We've picked a team that we think our capable of going and playing some exciting rugby," Gatland said. "There's a nice blend and balance and Peter at captain - he captained the side against the Maoris and did a good job."

As suspected, Sam Warburton doesn't make the 15 but he is named as a sub. A couple of big surprises include Leigh Halfpenny being dropped for Liam Williams whilst Maro Itoje has also been overlooked for a starting place in favour of Alun Wyn Jones. https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/877602074468286465 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS MATCHDAY 23 15. Liam Williams 14. Anthony Watson 13. Jonathan Davies 12. Ben Te'o 11. Elliot Daly 10. Owen Farrell 9. Conor Murray 1. Mako Vunipola 2. Jamie George 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Alun Wyn Jones 5. George Kruis 6. Peter O'Mahony (captain) 7. Sean O'Brien 8. Taulupe Faletau Replacements 16. Ken Owens, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Maro Itjoe, 20. Sam Warburton, 21. Rhys Webb, 22. Johnny Sexton, 23. Leigh Halfpenny