Ken Owens will captain a British & Irish Lions team containing 11 debutants on Wednesday when they face the Auckland Blues. Warren Gatland has made 15 changes to the side that laboured to a 13-7 win against the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, but who are the fresh faces?
STARTING XV
Leigh Halfpenny
Age 28
Country Wales
Caps 71 Lions Tests 3
Club Toulon Position Full back
Height 5ft 10in Weight 13st 9lb
The Lions’ man of the series in 2013. Although he has not scored a Test try in more than three years and had a quiet Six Nations, Gatland trusts his goalkicking and he looked in promising form for Toulon.
Jack Nowell
Age 24
Country England
Caps 23 Lions Tests 0
Club Exeter Position Wing
Height 5ft 11in Weight 15st 1lb
Tryscorer as Exeter won the Premiership final, Nowell is fazed by nothing. He has a wicked step, unshakeable confidence and is a bundle of energy. The likeable Cornish back will be a fine tourist.
Jared Payne
Age 31
Country Ireland
Caps 20 Lions Tests 0
Club Ulster Position Centre
Height 6ft Weight 15st 6lb
Another New Zealand-born player, he covers full back and has been solid since making his Ireland debut in 2014, curbing the All Blacks centres in Chicago. Bright form since his injury return in February.
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Robbie Henshaw
Age 23
Country Ireland
Caps 29 Lions Tests 0
Club Leinster Position Centre
Height 6ft 3in Weight 16st
His big frame, aerial prowess and poweful ball-carrying can mask his delicate kicking and passing game. He could fill the Jamie Roberts role and his rapport with Sexton may aid his Test chances.
Elliot Daly
Age 24
Country England
Caps 13 Lions Tests 0
Club Wasps Position Back three
Height 6ft Weight 15st 3lb
Daly is built for Lions tours. He has real pace, can kick 50-metre goals and fits in at centre, wing or full back. His star has risen under Eddie Jones. Versatility gives him a major chance for the Test side.
Dan Biggar
Age 27
Country Wales
Caps 56 Lions Tests 0
Club Ospreys Position Fly half
Height 6ft 1in Weight 14st 9lb
One of Wales’ better players in New Zealand last year. Behind Farrell and Sexton but, as he showed in the World Cup, he has big-game temperament, especially from the tee. Has to be on fire to make the Tests.
Rhys Webb
Age 28
Country Wales
Caps 28 Lions Tests 0
Club Ospreys Position Scrum half
Height 6ft Weight 14st 6lb
Webb got back to his sniping best in the Six Nations but is likely to lose out to Murray for the Test shirt. Communicates well with his pack. His pace, size and eye for a gap make him the perfect Test “finisher”.
Jack McGrath
Age 27
Country Ireland
Caps 41 Lions Tests 0
Club Leinster Position Prop
Height 6ft Weight 18st 12lb
Usurped Cian Healy as Ireland’s No 1. He has no real weakness; tough going forward, reliable defensively and gave Owen Franks, the All Blacks’ tight-head prop, a going-over in Chicago.
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Ken Owens (capt)
Age 30
Country Wales
Caps 50 Lions Tests 0
Club Scarlets Position Hooker
Height 6ft Weight 17st
Owens missed the Scarlets’ Guinness Pro12 title win with an ankle injury that could yet end his tour. He is precise in the lineout, a dynamic carrier and was comfortably the best hooker in the Six Nations.
Dan Cole
Age 30
Country England
Caps 74 Lions Tests 3
Club Leicester Position Prop
Height 6ft 2in Weight 18st 12lb
He lacks the carrying ability of Furlong or Sinckler, but he is a world-class scrummager who is canny at the ruck, has beaten New Zealand and has 50 caps more than his two competitors combined.
Maro Itoje
Age 22
Country England
Caps 12 Lions Tests 0
Club Saracens Position Lock
Height 6ft 5in Weight 18st 5lb
Itoje is a supreme athlete with a precocious rugby brain. He played flanker for England this year, but is a natural lock who can carry and win turnovers. Gatland fears his youth will make him an All Blacks target.
Courtney Lawes
Age 28
Country England
Caps 58 Lions Tests 0
Club Northampton Position Lock
Height 6ft 7in Weight 18st 1lb
Towering for Northampton in their Champions Cup play-off last Friday against Stade Français. Lawes no longer drifts out of games, his carrying is vastly improved and he tackles with ferocity.
James Haskell
Age 32
Country England
Caps 75 Lions Tests 0
Club Wasps Position Back row
Height 6ft 4in Weight 18st 12lb
Billy Vunipola’s injury has given Haskell the Lions call-up he craved. His exertions in the Premiership final with Wasps will take their toll, but, having played for the Highlanders, he has useful Super Rugby nous.
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Justin Tipuric
Age 27
Country Wales
Caps 51 Lions Tests 1
Club Ospreys Position Back row
Height 6ft 2in Weight 15st 12lb
Tipuric has the pace and verve of a centre, with the eye for a turnover. He will relish facing the livewire Super Rugby franchises, but has been accused of going missing in big, physical Tests.
CJ Stander
Age 27
Country Ireland
Caps 15 Lions Tests 0
Club Munster Position Back row
Height 6ft 2in Weight 18st 1lb
Stander does not have the subtlety of Faletau, but he is unremitting going forward. The ex-South Africa Under-20 captain has been indispensable since qualifying for Ireland and dominant for Munster.
REPLACEMENTS
FORWARDS
Rory Best
Age 34
Country Ireland
Caps 104 Lions Tests 0
Club Ulster Position Hooker
Height 5ft 11in Weight 16st 9lb
Best is a unique asset for the Lions — a Test captain who has beaten the All Blacks. By succeeding where revered predecessors failed, he put himself into Test contention. Failed to impress in 2013.
Joe Marler
Age 26
Country England
Caps 51 Lions Tests 0
Club Harlequins Position Prop
Height 6ft Weight 17st 13lb
Marler is one of the best offensive tacklers in Europe, is solid in the set piece, has a supreme work rate and an improved temperament. Lacks Mako Vunipola’s star quality, but is perhaps a better starter.
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Kyle Sinckler
Age 24
Country England
Caps 8 Lions Tests 0
Club Harlequins Position Prop
Height 5ft 11in Weight 19st 2lb
His hard edge endeared him to Eddie Jones, while his all-action style has made him dynamite from England’s bench. He has developed hugely under Adam Jones, the five-Test Lion, at Harlequins.
Iain Henderson
Age 25
Country Ireland
Caps 32 Lions Tests 0
Club Ulster Position Lock
Height 6ft 7in Weight 18st 8lb
Versatile and powerful, he can play lock or back row. When fit, he has been superb for Ireland. He is Gatland’s type of player and can match Jerome Kaino, the New Zealand blind-side flanker, for physicality.
Peter O’Mahony
Age 27
Country Ireland
Caps 40 Lions Tests 0
Club Munster Position Back row
Height 6ft 3in Weight 17st
The finest back-row lineout forward in Europe. Not the most glamorous player, but makes tackles, slows the ball down and brings incredible intensity. A true leader for Munster.
Greig Laidlaw
Age 31
Country Scotland
Caps 58 Lions Tests 0
Club Clermont Position Scrum half
Height 5ft 9in Weight 12st 8lb
Laidlaw replaced Ben Youngs in tragic circumstances. The Scotland captain is a fine general that could excel leading the midweek side. His Test experience playing fly half counts in his favour.
Jonathan Sexton
Age 31
Country Ireland
Caps 66 Lions Tests 3
Club Leinster Position Fly half
Height 6ft 2in Weight 14st 9lb
Gatland’s first-choice fly half in Australia, he is a master of dictating play. Out of form in recent weeks, he will have to prove his durability if he wants to start in the Tests, but his bond with Murray will help.
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Liam Williams
Age 26
Country Wales
Caps 43 Lions Tests 0
Club Saracens Position Wing/full back
Height 6ft 1in Weight 13st 7lb
Posed the greatest threat to New Zealand of any Wales player last summer. A strong, clever player, rather than an outright flyer, but a potent finisher. Helped Scarlets to the Pro12 title last month.