Lions Run in Eight Tries to Blow Away Western Force in Tour Opener

British and Irish Lions hit 50 in commanding win as Western Force wilt in second half

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but by full-time in Perth, the British and Irish Lions had firmly announced their arrival on Australian soil with a blistering 54-7 win over Western Force.

On a night that began with scrappy execution and concerning discipline, the Lions found their rhythm and ran in eight tries — five of them after the break — in a performance that eventually underlined their class and depth.

Captain Dan Sheehan, Tomos Williams (twice), Elliot Daly (twice), Garry Ringrose, Joe McCarthy and Alex Mitchell all touched down, while Finn Russell orchestrated with his usual blend of flair and unpredictability. The Force, despite some early promise and a spirited try from captain Nic White, were ultimately swept aside.

Early fireworks, but warning signs for Farrell

The match began with a touch of magic from Russell, whose sublime cross-field kick found Sheehan to open the scoring after just five minutes. The hooker combined beautifully with James Lowe to finish off the move, and Russell added the extras from the tee.

But just when it looked like the Lions were going to canter into control, Western Force bit back. Nic White, one of the few seasoned internationals in the side, took advantage of a lazy breakdown defence and darted over. With Ben Donaldson’s conversion, it was 7-7 — and not exactly the script the Lions had in mind.

Even more worrying than conceding so soon was the Lions’ ill-discipline. Inside the first 15 minutes, Sheehan was warned for his side’s mounting penalty count. They conceded four penalties in the opening 10 minutes — almost as many as they gave up across 80 minutes against Argentina just a few weeks earlier.

The Force, to their credit, played with far more confidence than their recent Super Rugby record suggested. Repeated entries into the Lions’ 22 yielded promising positions but no further points — a combination of wastefulness and dogged Lions defence denying them.

Ruthless edge returns as Lions strike from deep

Where the Force spluttered, the Lions showed ruthless efficiency. A counter-attack sparked by Josh van der Flier and powered forward by Henry Pollock set up Williams for his first try. The Welsh scrum-half finished a flowing move that perfectly summed up the Lions’ attacking potential when given space and speed.

Russell continued to pull strings, and after a quick tap, break and silky offload, he put Daly over for a third Lions try before the break. The Force continued to misfire close to the line — even with Pollock in the sin bin late in the half — and the Lions went into the interval 21-7 ahead, a scoreline that flattered them slightly based on territory and possession.

Lions shift gears after half-time

Lions cut loose with eight-try win over Western Force for solid start in Australia |

Whatever was said at the interval clearly worked. With Pollock still in the bin, the Lions produced the try of the night — and perhaps of the tour so far — from inside their own 22. Hansen, Lowe and Williams combined superbly, the latter finishing despite pulling up in the act of scoring.

The joy of the try was quickly tempered by concern, as Williams stayed down clutching his leg. What appeared to be a hamstring injury saw the in-form scrum-half limping off, casting doubt over his availability for the rest of the tour.

With Jamison Gibson-Park yet to feature and Ben White and Jack van Poortvliet both far away with their clubs, Andy Farrell’s scrum-half options suddenly look thin.

Power, pace and polish to finish

Even without Williams, the Lions grew stronger as the Force tired. Ringrose dotted down after good work from Hansen. McCarthy — outstanding all evening — added his name to the scoresheet following another big carry from the returning Pollock.

Russell’s boot kept ticking over, bringing the total to 40 points. Daly grabbed his second to cap a strong showing, before Alex Mitchell — the replacement scrum-half — scored the final try after the clock had gone red, putting an emphatic stamp on proceedings.

Standouts and selection dilemmas

Lions suffer injury blow in 54-7 win over Western Force

Among the standout performers, McCarthy’s physicality was a constant thorn in the Force’s side. Russell’s game management was unpredictable at times but ultimately effective, and Daly’s double may have put him firmly in the frame for a Test spot.

On the downside, the Lions’ indiscipline in the first 30 minutes is a concern, as is the injury to Williams. Farrell will also want to see more control and accuracy when under pressure, something the Force exposed early on.

Still, scoring eight tries against any side — especially away from home in front of nearly 47,000 fans — is no small feat.

What’s next for the Lions?

The Lions’ next match sees them take on Queensland Reds midweek in Brisbane, with changes expected across the board. Farrell hinted pre-tour that squad rotation would be key to keeping players fresh for the Tests to come.

Jamison Gibson-Park is expected to make his first appearance of the tour, while the likes of Jack Conan, George Horne and Ollie Lawrence could feature as Farrell experiments with combinations.

As the countdown continues toward the three-Test series with the Wallabies, this opening win, though not without flaws, offers plenty of encouragement.