Teo to face Provincial Barbarians
The British and Irish Lions have thrown captain Sam Warburton straight into the fray as they look to make a winning start to their tour of New Zealand.
Warburton, who is returning from a knee injury that sidelined him in April, will lead a powerful line-up against a Provincial Barbarians XV in Whangarei on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Welsh flanker will start alongside three national captains - Wales' Alun Wyn Jones, Ireland's Rory Best and Scotland's Greig Laidlaw.
Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton will also bring a wealth of experience as the Lions face a Barbarians team widely regarded as their weakest opponent on the 10-match tour.
Coach Warren Gatland said he was looking at his veterans to provide leadership in a team that combined youth and experience.
"It's a great opportunity to lay down a marker in terms of hopefully getting the tour off to a good start," said the New Zealander, who won 17 caps for the All Blacks.
The starting XV includes five players from England, four from Wales and three each from Ireland and Scotland.
Gatland said he was looking forward to seeing Sexton and Laidlaw combine in the backline and was pleased to have Warburton return for the opening match.
"The balance of the squad is really good, we have selected the majority of players who were together for the training weeks in Wales and Ireland and they have worked together and prepared well for a number of weeks," he said.
Gatland said he hoped to give the majority of his 41-man squad a run in the opening two matches, the second of which is against the Auckland Blues next Wednesday.
Gatland's son Bryn, 22, has been named to start at flyhalf for the Barbarians and could also turn out for the Blues next week.
Former hooker Gatland, who coached the Lions to a Test series win over Australia in 2013, said his son's appearance was "awesome" and the pair enjoyed some banter ahead of the Barbarians match.
"I said 'perhaps you could give me all your calls and moves' and he said 'as long as you let me run through a big hole in the first few minutes'," Gatland told reporters after arriving Wednesday.
The Lions take on the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, kicking off at 5:35pm AEST LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
TEAM
Lions to take on the Provincial Barbarians
1. Joe Marler
2. Rory Best
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Iain Henderson
6. Ross Moriarty
7. Sam Warburton (c)
8. Taulup Faletau
9. Greig Laidlaw
10. Johnny Sexton
11. Tommy Semour
12. Ben Teo
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Anthony Watson
15. Stuart Hogg
Reserves
16. Jamie George
17. Mako Vunipola
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. George Kruis
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Rhys Webb
22. Owen Farrell
23. Jared Payne
Provincial Barbarians to take on the Lions
1. Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty)
2. Sam Anderson-Heather (Otago)
3. Oliver Jager (Canterbury)
4. Josh Goodhue (Northland)
5. Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty)
6. James Tucker (Waikato)
7. Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
8. Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)
9. Jack Stratton (Canterbury)
10. Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)
11. Sevu Reece (Waikato)
12. Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato)
13. Inga Finau (Canterbury)
14. Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau)
15. Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau)
Reserves
16. Andrew Makalio (Tasman)
17. Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington)
18. Marcel Renata (Auckland)
19. Matt Matich (Northland)
20. Peter Rowe (Wanganui)
21. Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty)
22. Jonah Lowe (Hawke’s Bay)
23. Junior Ngaluafe (Southland)
