Western Force vs Lions LIVE!
The British & Irish Lions gave the Western Force a lesson in ruthless finishing as they kicked off their Australia tour with an ultimately comfortable 54-7 victory in front of a big crowd at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly both crossed twice with skipper Dan Sheehan, Garry Ringrose, Joe McCarthy and Alex Mitchell also scoring as a much-changed Lions team bounced back after their 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week.
Henry Pollock's first start in a Lions shirt did not disappoint with a line break to set up one try and a chip-and-chase earning the field position for another as well as a yellow card late in the first half.
The Force did enough to assuage the fears of Lions management that the tour matches would not be competitive and a solitary try from veteran Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White hardly did justice to their contribution to the contest.
Lions vs Western Force latest news
- British and Irish Lions lineup
- Western Force lineup
A tougher run-out than perhaps expected, but this was a stroll in the second half.
The 2025 tour is up and running.
Full-time!
12:47 , Alex Young82min: Smith converts and there’s the whistle!
LIONS TRY!
12:45 , Alex Young81min: Mitchell breaks through to get the eighth!
Lions 47-7 Western Force
12:45 , Alex Young80min: Lions still looking for an eighth try and the game passes 80 minutes.
Lions 47-7 Western Force
12:43 , Alex Young78min: Chessum, who has been good since coming on, gives away a penalty for being offside. Force boot into touch.
Lions 47-7 Western Force
12:41 , Alex Young76min: Perhaps a bit of life left in the Force as they drive down the left but are snuffed out but Chessum.
Lions 47-7 Western Force
12:39 , Alex Young74min: Plenty of possession for the Lions now. Force counting down the minutes, you feel.
LIONS TRY!
12:35 , Alex Young71min: Daly walks it in after being found in space by Smith. Force really struggling now.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:33 , Alex Young70min: And again.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:32 , Alex Young69min: Lions win a rare penalty and go for the corner.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:32 , Alex Young68min: Chessum is unable to grab the ball at the ruck and lets a clear scoring opportunity pass up.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:31 , Alex Young66min: McCarthy steps back and keeps the play alive after a bit of a miscommunication between Pollock and Smith.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:25 , Alex Young63min: Smith is on for Russell.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:25 , Alex Young62min: Attendance check and 46,656 fans have made it to the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium today.
That’s the biggest crowd the Western Force have ever played in front of.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:22 , Alex Young60min: Pollock is inches away from running on and touching down himself, but a smart interception denies him.
Lions 40-7 Western Force
12:21 , Alex Young58min: Jones is on and his first involvement is to intercept a Force pass and then belt it up field to chase. Force get back in time to smother.
LIONS TRY!
12:18 , Alex Young55min: Raining tries now as McCarthy dives over, but this was all about Pollock’s chip over the top which he runs onto and collects to create the chance.
Lions 33-7 Western Force
12:16 , Alex Young54min: It’s fair to say that the Force are flagging.
LIONS TRY!
12:14 , Alex Young52min: More blistering play from the Lions, leaving the Force flat-footed, as Ringrose runs through after being fed by Hansen.
Training-ground stuff.
Lions 26-7 Western Force
12:12 , Alex Young50min: Pollock is back on after his sin bin as Lions make a host of changes, including Porter, Conan and Chessum on his for debut.
Lions 26-7 Western Force
12:11 , Alex Young48min: That’s Williams’ game over, unfortunately. Mitchell replaces him as Russell misses the conversion.
LIONS TRY!
12:10 , Alex Young47min: What a try that is, by the way!
Williams and Lowe exchange passes for the former to score... but he's injured his hamstring in the process!
Lions 21-7 Western Force
12:07 , Alex Young46min: And now another Force penalty as Hansen penalised for blocking.
Not a good start to the second half.
Lions 21-7 Western Force
12:06 , Alex Young45min: Deary me, the Force steal Lions’ line-out.
Lions 21-7 Western Force
12:05 , Alex Young43min: A let-off for Lions as Force’s momentum is stopped by a Paenga-Amosa foul.
Lions 21-7 Western Force
12:04 , Alex Young42min: Early scrum as Lions hold firm, but the Force are into the 22.
Second half
12:02 , Alex Young41min: Back underway.
John Fogarty to Sky Sports
12:01 , Alex Young"It's been an interesting half. We're giving away too many penalties, we have to be smarter than that ... there are the things we have spoken about at half-time: let's be more composed."
Dressing room cameras show us that Farrell is telling his players exactly what he thinks, and it doesn’t look positive.
Lions have been made to work really hard for their lead. This is a real workout in Perth.
They have been beaten in terms of carries, territory and possession.
Half-time!
11:47 , Alex Young42min: Force unable to capitalise on the man advantage as they push for the line. There’s the whistle.
Lions 21-7 Western Force
11:45 , Alex Young41min: Pollock sin-binned for repeated offences. This time not releasing.
Lions 21-7 Western Force
11:45 , Alex Young40min: Pietsch has been the real standout for the Force, this time driving forward and just shoving Lowe out of the way before going to ground.
Force pushing before the whistle.
Lions 21-7 Western Force
11:43 , Alex Young38min: Lions restart and concede a penalty. Been awful all game.
LIONS TRY!
11:41 , Alex Young36min: Force have a penalty but are caught napping and Russell takes full advantage to burst through, and Daly dives over.
Pollock nearby celebrates and the Force are far from happy, shoves ensue.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:3835min: Pollock at the centre of everything as he takes a tumble near Robertson.
Was that a trip? It looks accidental, and the referee agrees so we restart with a goal-line drop-out to Force.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:37 , Alex Young34min: Heart-in-mouth time for Pollock as a lack pass sends Lowe scampering in the back field, but he does well to palm off one challenge and mop up.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:35 , Alex Young31min: Ringrose is on a one-man mission to leave a mark on Force, with Procter the latest on the wrong end of a thumping.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:32 , Alex Young29min: Force are edging the kicking game at the moment, really are proving a tough nut to crack.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:29 , Alex Young26min: Almost spoke/wrote too soon! The lively Pietsch beats Daly with a smart pass and sends Donaldson scampering towards the line, but Tuipulotu gets back to intercept.
Denied an almost-certain try.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:28 , Alex Young24min: Dare I say it, but this game may finally be starting to settle down.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:25 , Alex Young21min: Russell slings a long pass towards Sheehan, who misreads it completely and ends up fumbling the ball.
Lions 14-7 Western Force
11:24 , Alex Young19min: Lions may lead but have hardly convinced, and no more so at the restart.
LIONS TRY!
11:20 , Alex Young17min: Out of nothing, Pollock bursts through the line, looks around and pops the ball up for Williams to run over.
Easy.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:18 , Alex Young15min: A distinct lack of discipline and shape from the Lions, but this is great fun so far.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:16 , Alex Young13min: Much better from Tuipulotu as the ball is turned over and Lions immediately boot it up field and back into their half for the first time since scoring.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:14 , Alex Young12min: Williams clears into touch as Force waste the opportunity.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:13 , Alex Young11min: Lions have already conceded four penalties, and Tuipulotu gets a talking to for “repeated infringements.”
Force go for touch, again.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:12 , Alex Young10min: Force go for another try, Lions’ defence stands firm until Ringrose wallops Harris, who is off the field for an assessment.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:10 , Alex Young9min: Penalty to Force and they punt for touch, about five yards out.
Lions 7-7 Western Force
11:09 , Alex Young8min: Such a physical start. Frantic and physical.
FORCE TRY!
11:07 , Alex Young5min: Perfect response from Force, who hit back straight away through their own captain, White.
Lions misjudge the flight of the ball as Force go wide, and Pietsch finds him captain to drive over.
LIONS TRY!
11:04 , Alex Young2min: A stunning start from Lions as captain Sheehan runs over after exchanging passes with Lowe after a big punt from Russell.
Kick-off!
11:02 , Alex Young1min: Underway in Perth!
Lots of mullets and moustaches on show in the Force team.
Time for a light show ahead of kick-off.
It’s nightfall in Perth as we approach 6pm local time. The Optus Stadium is packed.
Here come the teams.
Kick-off is fast approaching.
These early games are all about coach - and fans - gathering information ahead of the series start in about three weeks.
What will Farrell learn today? Hopefully something more positive than eight days ago.
Coin toss
10:38 , Alex YoungRival skippers ahead of kick-off.
A peek inside the Force dressing room.
Sheehan on Western Force
10:20 , Alex Young"I'm sure the Force will be 150% of what they usually are. They will be flying into it and that bit of extra hunger can produce some powerful things.
"They would have been eyeing this game up since they probably first stepped into that Western Force change room. It'll mean an awful lot to them.
"But I don't want them to think that they're going to be hungrier than us. We have to demonstrate back our own mindset."
Andy Farrell to Sky Sports
10:11 , Alex Young"We are looking for a little bit more cohesion. I thought we looked pretty dangerous at times [against Argentina], but lacked a killing edge, far too many errors ... so hopefully we can put that right today.
"You look at the side and this is a different side again. There are going to be plenty of firsts all the way through this tour, so it's how we put our best foot forward when it really counts.
"[We're feeling] calmness at this stage. That's that's for sure. Hopefully, come kick off, we're ready to go."
Lions fans are arriving at the Optus Stadium.
Dolly out, Horton in
09:49 , Alex YoungSome breaking news from Perth, as there has been a late change to the Western Force team.
Nic Dolly is out for unspecified reasons (injury?), so Tom Horton comes onto the bench.
Head to head
09:45 , Alex YoungThe Western Force have met the Lions once before, in the opening match of the 2013 tour when they shipped nine tries in a comprehensive 69-17 loss.
The Lions also put 116 points on a Western Australia side on the 2001 tour at the WACA in Perth.
Western Force wins: 0
British and Irish Lions wins: 1
Draws: 0
A little under 90 minutes until kick-off.
Captain's Run
09:22 , Alex YoungDan Sheehan took his team-mates through their paces yesterday at the Optus Stadium for the traditional Captain’s Run.
Lions assistant coach John Fogarty said: “[Against Argentina] there were a few bits around our kick-chase and on the back of our kick-chase, the scraps on the ground, little things around mentality.
“I think sometimes you come into a game, it’s a big occasion, it’s the first time, and you’re thinking – you’re in your head a little bit, not playing the game on instinct.
“That’s why this week has been so important, getting a bit more cohesive, and a bit more in sync, so when we come to game day we can work on instincts and stuff like scraps on the ground and kick-chase, and all these things become a bit more natural to us.”
Hansen wary of Force threat
09:01 , Alex YoungMack Hansen knows what is awaiting the British and Irish Lions' after being present as a spectator for the Brumbies' famous upset of the tourists on their last visit to Australia.
"I was at that Brumbies game with my dad and brother and the Brumbies beat the Lions, so these things do happen," he said.
"We were sitting behind the goalposts watching it. It was mad. You don't expect anyone to actually do it, but I talked to guys after that and they'd been pumped up for the game for weeks, working towards it.
"They saw it as the be-all and end-all. Also, guys are playing to try to get into the Wallabies as well, so there's still a lot on the line for a lot of these teams.
"None of the games are going to be easy. Everyone wants to win - it's not just us that want to win.
"We want to win every game but the Force aren't saying 'all right boys, let's go out and lose by 40'. They'll be coming out thinking 'we can cause an upset'. They've only got one game, then they're on holiday.
"There will be this, then they'll have 10 toes up for the next five weeks, so I'm sure they're going to give it their all.
"When you get that time after time after time after time for however long we're here, it will take its toll on us, but that's a good thing. It makes us better and it makes the game more exciting."
Sheehan in as skipper
08:45 , Alex YoungMaro Itoje led the Lions against the Pumas in Dublin but the England captain has been stood down today, with Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan being placed in charge with Scott Cummings and Joe McCarthy forming the second row partnership.
"It's a matter of giving people a chance. If leaders of the squad fall over along the way you have got to have plans," Andy Farrell said.
"We have got a lot of good second rows and Maro is a team player, he knows people have to get going and people have to show their hand as well. That competition will make him and the rest of the players fight a little bit harder."
Finn Russell, the early favourite to take the fly-half duties for the first Test against the Wallabies on July 19, makes his first appearance of the tour, forming a half-back partnership with Tomos Williams.
"Finn's game understanding and game control are top drawer. He has an ability to see space that allows him to think quicker than most," Farrell said.
Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Ryan are all expected to recover from minor injuries in time for Wednesday's clash with the Reds while Toulouse full-back Blair Kinghorn should arrive into camp on Monday.
Pollock is no 'pest'
08:30 , Alex YoungAndy Farrell insists Henry Pollock has the temperament to thrive on the biggest stage after giving the England star his first start for the British and Irish Lions.
Pollock made his Lions debut as a replacement in the 28-24 defeat by Ireland that opened the tour and has now been promoted to number eight for Saturday's first fixture on Australian soil against Western Force in Perth.
At 20 years old the swaggering Northampton back row is the squad's youngest player and less than six months ago he was playing in the Under 20 Six Nations.
Maro Itoje described his England team-mate as a "pest" when he was called into the senior camp during the Championship and Farrell has urged him to remain fearless.
"Henry's not been a pest, definitely not! He's been great," said Farrell. "He's hungry to learn and that's perfect because you can see that he's got a real point of difference.
"He sees things quickly and acts upon that. His line running is pretty good. His awareness of space, how sharp he is in his mind and his athletic abilities are up there with the other lads in the squad.
"He's hungry to make a difference the whole time. But he also understands what parts of his game he needs to improve. He's got a great attitude.
"He's certainly not overawed. I mean, I love that. You want kids to be themselves and he's just being himself. He doesn't know any different.
"But he's a humble kid as well. He doesn't think he's got it all, far from it. You want people with confidence and belief because that helps when he takes the field.
"He's a Lion just like the eldest player. There's no difference whatsoever. His character is infectious to everyone. He's a great lad."
Western Force vs British and Irish Lions prediction
08:15 , Alex YoungPerhaps we should not have been surprised to see the Lions edged out by Argentina, whose status as 7-1 underdogs for victory in Dublin seemed ridiculous despite missing a number of France-based stars, particularly when you consider that they beat all of New Zealand, South Africa, France and Australia in 2024 and are currently ranked fifth in the world - three spots ahead of the Wallabies.
Some will question if the Lions have already faced their toughest challenge of the whole summer, though Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Co will have something to say about that.
While it was understandably disjointed at times from a side playing together for the first time after only a couple of weeks of training, there were positives to take from the game, though Farrell’s strong reaction to the defeat - where he questioned his team’s hunger and lamented their error count - will have left his players with no confusion over the significant lift in standards that he expects.
Not since 1971 had the Lions lost the opening game of a tour, and that famous side went on to make history as the only one (still) to have won a Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
While the scoreline should be much closer than the last time the Lions visited the Western Force, a comfortable defeat surely still beckons for the lowest of Super Rugby’s Australian quartet.
Lions to win, by 20 points.
Western Force lineup
08:04 , Alex YoungWestern Force XV: Donaldson; Grealy, Proctor, Stewart, Pietsch; Harford, White; T Robertson, Paenga-Amosa, Hoskins; Carter, Swain; Harris, Champion de Crespigny, Ekuasi
Replacements: Dolly, Pearce, Tauakipulu, Faifua, Prinsep, H Robertson, Burey, Kuenzle
Western Force team news
08:00 , Alex YoungThere has been a war of words escalating this week between Lions CEO Ben Calveley and Australia head coach Joe Schmidt regarding the latter’s reluctance to release Wallabies players back to their Super Rugby franchises for these tour matches.
The likes of Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White were all made available and start this game, with Ben Donaldson also rushing back to feature after a hamstring injury suffered by former Australia stalwart Kurtley Beale, who inadvertently cost the Wallabies a First Test win over the Lions in Brisbane 12 years ago when he slipped while kicking a last-gasp penalty.
Carlo Tizzano, Harry Potter and usual Force captain Jeremy Williams all remain in Australia camp though, part of the ring-fenced group preparing for their only warm-up match against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6.
Simon Cron’s team also features other Wallabies experience in the likes of Sam Carter and Hamish Stewart, plus ex-All Blacks centre Matt Proctor. Former England hooker Nic Dolly is on the bench.
British and Irish Lions lineup
07:53 , Alex YoungBritish and Irish Lions XV: Daly; Hansen, Ringrose, Tuipulotu, Lowe; Russell, Williams; Schoeman, Sheehan, Furlong; Cummings, McCarthy; Beirne, Van der Flier, Pollock
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Conan, Mitchell, Jones, M Smith
Lions team news
07:50 , Alex YoungAndy Farrell is boosted by having most of the players who were not considered for selection against Argentina fully integrated into the squad now after they joined up late following their appearances in the respective Premiership and URC finals.
He makes 13 changes to the side beaten by Argentina, with Henry Pollock picked to start at number eight and Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan made captain on his Lions debut, with regular tour skipper Maro Itoje not in the squad.
Only Sione Tuipulotu and Tadhg Beirne retain their starting places from Dublin, with the former moving from 13 to 12 and the latter shifting from lock to blindside flanker.
Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan and James Ryan are all absent as they they deal with knocks.
Blair Kinghorn, the Lions’ only France-based player, will not be available until likely the third game of the tour against the Waratahs in Sydney on July 5 after Toulouse’s progress back to the Top 14 final.
How to watch Western Force vs British and Irish Lions
07:42TV channel: Live coverage of the game is available via Sky Sports, who have exclusive broadcasting rights to the Lions tour again in the UK in 2025. The broadcast begins at 10am BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
Live stream: Those with a Sky Sports subscription can also watch the action unfold live online via the Sky Go app, while it’s also available via Now TV.
Welcome
07:37 , Alex YoungGood morning and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of Western Force vs The British and Irish Lions!
It is the first test for the Lions since arriving in Australia, and comes a week after a concerning defeat to Argentina in Dublin.
Improvement will be needed, and fast. And this Force side will not be accommodating hosts.
Kick-off is at 11am BST. Stick with us.
