O’Mahony in pole position for Lions captaincy

Peter O’Mahony’s suitability to lead the Lions into the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday has been endorsed by defence coach Andy Farrell as the tour management prepares to sit down and select its starting XV for Eden Park.

Head coach Warren Gatland and his assistants, including Farrell - who is also Ireland’s defence coach - will sit down tomorrow to finalise the matchday 23 for the Test series opener in Auckland against the world champions.

Many of the starting positions appear to have been filled with O’Mahony featuring strongly in the back rows alongside Sean O’Brien and Taulupe Faletau that helped deliver victories on the last two Saturdays over Super Rugby kingpins the Crusaders and the Maori All Blacks.