Leicester Tigers second-rower Parling had been named as captain of the team for Melbourne on Sunday but the news on O’Connell’s broken arm forced management into a rethink with the second Test to come next weekend.
Dan Lydiate will now act as captain in Melbourne, with Ian Evans called into the second row.
A specialist in Brisbane confirmed on Monday morning that O’Connell had suffered an undisplaced fracture of his lower right arm. No decision has been made on whether O’Connell will leave or stay with the squad.
Tom Croft comes on to the bench for Evans, while Leicester Tigers colleague Manu Tuilagi returns after a shoulder injury. Dan Cole also starts, with Ben Youngs among the replacements.
British & Irish Lions (v RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels, June 25)
15 Rob Kearney (Leinster/Ireland)
14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers/England)
12 Brad Barritt (Saracens/England)
11 Simon Zebo (Munster/Ireland)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)
9 Conor Murray (Munster/Ireland)
1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
2 Richard Hibbard (Ospreys/Wales)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers/England)
4 Richie Gray (Scotland))
5 Ian Evans (Ospreys/Wales)
6 Dan Lydiate (Dragons/Wales, capt)
7 Sean O’Brien (Leinster/Ireland)
8 Tangaki Taulupe Faletau (Dragons/Wales)
Replacements
16 Rory Best (Ulster/Ireland)
17 Tom Court (Ulster/Ireland)
18 Matt Stevens (Saracens/England)
19 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers/England)
20 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys/Wales)
21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers/England)
22 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby/England)
23 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)
