The first Test with New Zealand in Auckland is a pivotal moment for Warren Gatland’s men and in the land of his birth, the head coach has selected a bold, attacking line-up.
Williams takes over from close friend Leigh Halfpenny and starts at full-back while lock icon Jones is in the second row alongside line-out master George Kruis.
Faletau, who has been a stand-out player on this tour, is at No 8 with Scarlets ace Jonathan Davies alongside England’s Ben Te’o in midfield.
Ken Owens, Sam Warburton, Rhys Webb and Halfpenny are four further Wales internationals ready to make an impact from the bench against Steve Hansen’s back-to-back World Cup winners.
“Let’s let the rugby do the talking. There’s been enough trash talk already,” Gatland said.
“For all us, let’s get excited. This could be a fantastic series for the Lions, New Zealand rugby and the New Zealand public. Unfortunately, there have been a couple of sideline things that have taken the focus away from that, but the welcome for us here in New Zealand has been unbelievable.
“The hospitality has been awesome. We are getting a different message as a squad of players in terms of that welcome to what we are reading in the media.”
After impressing in Tuesday’s win over Waikato Chiefs, Williams has got the nod in the 15 jersey.
Gatland said: “In my opinion, I think wing is his best position. Liam can get involved in the game a lot from there.
“But I’ve also been consistent in saying selection would come down to form and the players who played on Tuesday night would still have an opportunity to go and impress.
“He did that. He was elusive, he caused the Chiefs a lot of damage, he played well and so he has been given an opportunity at 15.”
Williams will go up against Ben Smith, with the All Blacks fully loaded for a game which has captured the imagination of the rugby world.
Ryan Crotty returns from injury to partner Sonny Bill Williams in the New Zealand midfield, with Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett the half backs.
The Lions are led by Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony, who completes the back row alongside Sean O’Brien and Faletau. Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly take the wing berths, with no place for George North.
Conor Murray and Owen Farrell will take on Smith and Barrett in what is set to be an enthralling battle.
After all the build-up to the game, Gatland believes his team are in a good place and ready to go.
The Lions have been criticised in the New Zealand press for a lack of attacking rugby, but their boss won’t be drawn into a change of game plan.
“To play against the All Blacks, you’ve got to have a strong set-piece because they’ve traditionally been dominant in that area. You need a platform to be able to work off,” Gatland said.
“We’ve created opportunities. Early on the tour we weren’t finishing off the line breaks. It was pleasing to see on Tuesday night we started to finish off the chances that had been created.
“The message to the players will be to do that on Saturday night – create chances and hopefully finish them. I think we’ve played some lovely rugby. We struggled at the start of the tour, but I think we’ve scored nine tries to three in the last four games.
“I can’t fault the players if we’re getting some success by dominating up front. We’re not going to be talked into playing Barbarian-type rugby when we’ve got certain weapons we can use to our advantage and that’s being smart about how you play.
“Hopefully we can be strong at set-piece and strong defensively at the weekend. And when the opportunities arise we can get in behind the All Blacks and finish the opportunities we create.”
New Zealand B Smith; I Dagg, R Crotty, SB Williams, R Ioane; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt)
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden, A Lienert-Brown
British & Irish Lions: L Williams; A Watson, J Davies, B Te’o, E Daly; O Farrell, C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong; AW Jones, G Kruis; P O’Mahony (capt), S O’Brien, T Faletau
Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, K Sinckler, M Itoje, S Warburton, R Webb, J Sexton, L Halfpenny
