Peter O'Mahony Captain As Five Irish Players Named In Lions XV To Play Maori All Blacks

Peter O'Mahony will captain the Lions when they take on the Maori All Blacks in Rotorua on Saturday.

The Munster man is one of five Irish players in the starting team.

Also in the starting team are Tadhg Furlong, Sean O'Brien, Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton.

The naming of the team was hotly anticipated. Gatland's starting XV is expected to strongly resemble the one which will face the All Blacks in the first Test on June 24th.

Lions team to play Maori All Blacks

15. Leigh Halfpenny – Wales
14. Anthony Watson – England
13. Jonathan Davies – Wales
12. Ben Te’o – England
11. George North – Wales
10. Johnny Sexton – Ireland
9. Conor Murray – Ireland

1. Mako Vunipola – England
2. Jamie George – England
3. Tadhg Furlong – Ireland
4. Maro Itoje – England
5. George Kruis – England
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt) Ireland
7. Sean O’Brien – Ireland
8. Taulupe Faletau – Wales

There are also two Irish players on the bench, Jack McGrath and Iain Henderson.

Owen Farrell was initially named how the bench. However, due to a quad strain, he has been replaced by Dan Biggar.

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens – Wales
17. Jack McGrath – Ireland
18. Kyle Sinckler – England
19. Iain Henderson – Ireland
20. Sam Warburton – Wales
21. Greig Laidlaw – Scotland
22. Dan Biggar - Wales
23. Elliot Daly – England

A strong Maori team has also been named for the game.

Here is your #MaoriAllBlacks 23 to take on @lionsofficial this Saturday in Rotorua!

FULL STORY: https://t.co/UAuejAM933#MABvBIL pic.twitter.com/itzlVGSYCu

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 15, 2017

See Also: Luke Fitzgerald Gives Compelling Reason For Sam Warburton's Exclusion Against The All Blacks