Stander & O’Mahony Set For Lions Debuts

CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony have been included in their first British and Irish Lions matchday side for Wednesday morning’s clash with the Blues at Eden Park – ko 8.35am (Irish).

Stander starts at the back of the pack at number 8 and O’Mahony is named among the replacements, while joining the Munster duo in the matchday 23 are their Irish counterparts Jack McGrath, Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne, Iain Henderson, Rory Best and Johnny Sexton.

Head Coach Warren Gatland rings the changes – 15 – from Saturday’s Tour-opening win over the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians with as many as 13 of the matchday 23 set to make their Lions debuts.

British and Irish Lions side to face the Blues

15. Leigh Halfpenny – Toulon, Wales, #775
14. Jack Nowell – Exeter Chiefs, England
13. Jared Payne – Ulster, Ireland
12. Robbie Henshaw – Leinster, Ireland
11. Elliot Daly – Wasps, England
10. Dan Biggar – Ospreys, Wales
9. Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales, #820

1. Jack McGrath – Leinster, Ireland
2. Ken Owens (Capt) – Scarlets, Wales
3. Dan Cole Leicester Tigers, England, #794
4. Maro Itoje – Saracens, England
5. Courtney Lawes – Northampton Saints, England
6. James Haskell – Wasps, England
7. Justin Tipuric – Ospreys, Wales, #786
8. CJ Stander – Munster, Ireland

Replacements:
16. Rory Best – Ulster, Ireland, #793
17. Joe Marler – Harlequins, England, #811
18. Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England, #814
19. Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland, #808
20. Peter O’Mahony – Munster, Ireland
21. Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester, Scotland, #810
22. Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
23. Liam Williams – Scarlets, Wales