AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Peter O'Mahony will captain the British & Irish Lions in the first Test against the All Blacks with Warren Gatland springing a few selection surprises.
Gatland has gone with Liam Williams at fullback for the Lions and Elliot Daly on the wing.
Alun Wyn Jones is also picked ahead of Maro Itoje in the second-row, with the England lock named on the bench.
George North, a pre-tour favourite to start against New Zealand, is left out of the matchday squad with Rhys Webb, Johnny Sexton and Leigh Halfpenny the cover for the backs on the bench.
Tour captain Sam Warburton is named among the replacements, with O'Mahony starting at blindside alongside Sean O'Brien and Taulupe Faletau in the Lions' back-row.
Elsewhere Owen Farrell partners Conor Murray at half-back with Ben Te'o and Jonathan Davies named in the centres. Anthony Watson, Williams and Daly link up for the back three.
In the pack Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Tadhg Furlong start in the front-row with Jones and George Kruis named in the second-row.
"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," Gatland said. "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."
Lions: Williams, Watson, Davies, Te'o, Daly, Farrell, Murray; Vunipola, George, Furlong, Wyn Jones, Kruis, O'Mahony (capt.), O'Brien, Faletau.
Replacements: Owens, McGrath, Sinckler, Itoje, Warburton, Webb, Sexton, Halfpenny.
