MUNSTER AND IRELAND lock Paul O’Connell will captain the British and Irish Lions in the first match of their tour this Saturday.

The Lions are in Hong Kong to play the Barbarians before taking off for the second leg of their journey to Australia which will take them to Perth.

Yesterday, the BaaBaas included Ulster’s Jared Payne and Munster’s Casey Laulala in their back-line for the game which kicks off at noon (Irish time) on Saturday.

With 15 players still on duty with province or club duty last week, Warren Gatland’s options where somewhat restricted. Yet it remains a line-up worthy of being labelled among the best in Britain and Ireland.

Tour captain Sam Warburton misses the clash with a knee injury, but an all-Welsh back-row remains thanks to the presence of Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Justin Tipuric.

Ahead of them, O’Connell is partnered by Richie Gray in one of the most keenly contested positions for this fixture. They pack down behind Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard and Mako Vunipola.

Lions XV v Barbarians: Hogg, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, Maitland, Farrell, Phillips, Vunipola, Hibbard, A Jones, Gray, O’Connell (c), Lydiate, Tuperic, Faletau.

Replacements: T.Youngs, Healy, Stevens, Wyn Jones, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, North.

Barbarians XV: J Payne, J Rokocoko, E Daly, C Laulala, T Ngwenya, N Evans, D Yachvili: P James, S Brits, M Castrogiovanni, M Wentzel, D Mumm, S Manoa, S Jones, S Parisse.

Replacements: L Ghiraldini, D Jones,  J Hamilton, I Harinordoquy,  A Lo Cicero, K Fotuali’i, J Hook, M Tindall.

Hot and heavy: Lions get back to business with training in humid Hong Kong