Saracens lock Maro Itoje has been brought into the Lions starting XV for Saturday’s pivotal second Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

Itoje has rapidly emerged as the exceptional young forward in the world today and it is widely assumed that he will be a future England captain. For now, however, he will be focused on helping to level the series at 1-1 and setting up a mouth-watering deciding third Test.

He will not be renewing his tried-and-tested club and international second row partnership with fellow Sarrie George Kruis, at least from the start.

Kruis drops to the bench after a relatively disappointing outing, by his standards, in the 30-15 first Test defeat in Auckland.

Kruis will consider himself slightly unfortunate to miss out on a starting place as Welshman Alun Wyn-Jones was also underwhelming during the first Test, yet it is he who will start alongside Itoje.

Saracens hooker Jamie George has retained his place despite calls in some quarters to replace him with the experienced Ireland captain Rory Best or Welshman Ken Owens.

Sarries prop Mako Vunipola, as expected, also continues in the front row after a strong outing in the first Test in which he showed that his athleticism and deft handling skills are invaluable assets against a side with the all-round handling prowess of the All Blacks.

In the backs, Owen Farrell has been shifted to inside centre, a position to which he has become accustomed when playing for England.

Irishman Johnny Sexton will start at fly-half and Farrell’s versatility allows Warren Gatland to shift him to inside centre from his preferred fly-half position without diminishing Farrell’s efficacy.

The powerful Ben Te’o is unfortunate to miss out at inside centre but the more cerebral, distribution-minded half-back pairing of Sexton and Farrell potentially enables the Lions to play a more expansive game which would create more opportunities out wide for the speedy back three of Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly and Welshman Liam Williams, who will be joining Saracens for the new domestic season.

Tour captain Sam Warburton returns to the starting line-up, taking over the captaincy and the Blindside flanker position from Peter O’Mahony, who does not even get a place on the bench for the second Test.

Other changes of note include Exeter back three man Jack Nowell taking a place on the bench after his exclusion from the match-day squad for the first Test, while lock Courtney Lawes also claims a substitute's berth after a strong mid-week showing against the Hurricanes.