Postpublished at 42 mins
Western Force 7-21 Lions
A reminder, the Lions start the second half with 14 players after Henry Pollock was sent to the sin-bin at the end of the first.
Can the Force make their advantage count?
Summary
British and Irish Lions score eight tries to win opening tour match in Australia
Tomos Williams scores two tries but goes off with hamstring issue at Perth's Optus Stadium
Elliot Daly also touches down twice as Lions dominate second half with five tries
Captain Dan Sheehan's try gave Lions early lead before Williams and Elliot Daly tries secured 21-7 half-time lead
Postpublished at 42 mins
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time
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The Lions do appear to be missing a lot of tackles? Not sure that's a coaching issue?
Fred, Portrush
Some combination positives, but a whole lot of work to do for the Lions before the Test series. Especially in defence, at the set-piece and in terms of discipline.
Andrew
Image source, Getty ImagesKick-offpublished at 40 mins
Western Force 7-21 Lions
The hosts gets us back up and running in Perth...
Solid first 40published at 12:01 British Summer Time
HT: Western Force 7-21 British and Irish Lions
Ugo Monye
2009 British and Irish LionsA solid first 40 for the Lions.
Positives: the pace of their game, the finishing in the 22 and some of the fluency in their play.
Areas to be worked on: we expected more dominance at the scrum yet the Lions were shunted back on a few occasions.
Meanwhile the kick-off receipts haven't been good enough and discipline in the their own 22 has been lax from the Lions, as exemplified by Pollock's yellow card.
But all in all, a decent enough first half and a game they are in control of on the pitch and on the scoreboard.
Postpublished at 12:01 British Summer Time
HT: Western Force 7-21 Lions
Lions on the hunt... breaks from Finn Russell and Henry Pollock created tries for Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly in the opening 40 minutes.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesPollock - flashes of brilliance but is discipline a question?published at 12:00 British Summer Time
Western Force 7-21 Lions
Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport at Optus Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesFor the most part Henry Pollock looks like the kid in the candy store.
His first Lions start and he looks like he’s loving every minute.
Like a few of his colleagues in the first half some moments of brilliance have been mixed with others that haven’t been so great.
The break he made for the try for Tomos Williams was the good, brilliant in fact, and will have only emphasised the Northampton star's belief he should be in that Test side.
But then there’s the question of discipline.
He was in the middle of the fracas after the try by Elliot Daly and then comes the yellow card just before half-time for infringing at the breakdown.
It’s not that Andy Farrell needs convincing of his talent but can the coach trust Pollock when it comes to the big games, not to let his youthful exuberance get the better of his discipline?
Should he start in the Test matches? That will be hotly debated between now and Brisbane in three weeks' time.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time
HT: Western Force 7-21 Lions
Lauren Jenkins
BBC Sport at Optus StadiumThe Force will not die wondering in this game and could easily be ahead but the Lions' decision making and efficiency in the 22 is vastly improved from last week with three tries from their four entries.
Image source, Getty ImagesStat checkpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time
HT: Western Force 7-21 Lions
Possession: 59%-41%
Carries: 81-62
Line breaks: 5-3
Turnovers won: 1-4
Penalties conceded: 2-6
Tackles made: 58-91
Sheehan's stunning start in Perthpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time
HT: Western Force 7-21 Lions
Dan Sheehan, Lions captain for the day, gave his side the perfect start with the opening try following a Finn Russell crossfield kick.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time
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Surprised Joe McCarthy's name hasn't been talked about much so far. Three key turnovers so far. Maro Itoje and McCarthy pairing maybe?
Cal
Half-time - Western Force 7-21 Lionspublished at 11:47 British Summer Time
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's been a thoroughly entertaining first half.
The Lions lead but will be disappointed by their discipline and defensive shape, on occasion.
All to play for after the break...
Sin-bin - Henry Pollock (Lions)published at 39 mins
Western Force 7-21 Lions
Henry Pollock has had a busy few minutes and he'll spend the next 10 in the bin.
The eight is penalised for trying to play the ball at the breakdown and is shown a yellow card for his part in an accumulation of Lions penalties.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time
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Appreciate it’s very early on, but the lack of cohesion is a massive concern, especially between players who usually play together for their country. Henry Pollock and Tadhg Beirne are the only shoo-ins for me at the moment.
Jar
Image source, Getty ImagesPollock the pest ruffles Force's featherspublished at 36 mins
Western Force 7-21 Lions
More clarity on that brief moment of handbags following Elliot Daly's try.
Henry Pollock was on Daly's shoulder and was quick to celebrate the score, which the hosts weren't too fond of.
I'm not sure he did too much wrong there and the red shirts were in quickly to back him up.
All was resolved soon after.
Converted Try - Western Force 7-21 Lionspublished at 35 mins
Elliot Daly (con Finn Russell)
Image source, Getty ImagesFinn Russell is alert and Elliot Daly scores.
The Lions have the penalty and Russell takes a quick tap and go with the Force defence on their heels.
The fly-half is hauled down by the covering blue shirts in defence but he is able to offload for Daly to dive over.
There are a few afters between a couple of players on either side, with Henry Pollock not too far away, but Russell adds the extras.
Scrum dominance?published at 11:37 British Summer Time
Western Force 7-14 British and Irish Lions
Ugo Monye
2009 British and Irish LionsOn paper this front row: Shoeman, Sheehan and Furlong, is monstrous. Especially with the big second rows behind them. But three scrums in a row they've failed to get any dominance, with two of them the Lions being marched backwards.
An area we thought the Lions would have an advantage on this tour isn't necessarily playing out that way so far. But early days.
Postpublished at 31 mins
Western Force 7-14 Lions
Following on from Alex's comment, Mack Hansen makes a slight break in midfield before losing the ball in contact.
It allows Force to clear their lines and pump the ball deep into Lions territory.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time
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Struggling to work out what Mack Hansen offers as a Test wing, let alone a Lion. It’s not blistering pace or aerial ability and he’s been bounced off in all of his attempted tackles so far.
Alex
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 30 mins
Western Force 7-14 Lions
Wallop.
Garry Ringrose is always fierce in defence and the outside centre is up quickly again to fire a shot at opposite number Matt Proctor.
The Force number 13 felt that one and is still on his knees as he tries to recover his breath.
Postpublished at 27 mins
Western Force 7-14 Lions
Tad harsh, Nigel. I actually think Mr White's tash is quite smart!
Will leave our audience to make up their own minds.
Image source, Getty Images
Team Lineups
home team, Western Force
Starting lineup
- Number 15, Donaldson
- Number 14, Grealy
- Number 13, Proctor
- Number 12, Stewart
- Number 11, Pietsch , substituted for Kuenzle at 61 minutes
- Number 10, Harford , substituted for Burey at 52 minutes
- Number 9, White , substituted for Robertson at 58 minutes
- Number 1, Robertson
- Number 2, Paenga-Amosa , substituted for Horton at 55 minutes
- Number 3, Hoskins , substituted for Tauakipulu at 64 minutes
- Number 4, Carter , substituted for Faifua at 49 minutes
- Number 5, Swain
- Number 6, Harris , substituted for Prinsep at 9 minutes, substituted for Harris at 23 minutes
- Number 7, de Crespigny
- Number 8, Ekuasi , substituted for Prinsep at 52 minutes
Substitutes
home team, Western Force
- Number 16, Horton
- Number 17, Pearce
- Number 18, Tauakipulu
- Number 19, Faifua
- Number 20, Prinsep
- Number 21, Robertson
- Number 22, Burey
- Number 23, Kuenzle
away team, British & Irish Lions
Starting lineup
- Number 15, Daly
- Number 14, Hansen
- Number 13, Ringrose , substituted for H Jones at 55 minutes
- Number 12, Tuipulotu
- Number 11, Lowe
- Number 10, Russell , substituted for Smith at 61 minutes
- Number 9, TG Williams , substituted for Mitchell at 47 minutes
- Number 1, Schoeman , substituted for Porter at 48 minutes
- Number 2, Sheehan , substituted for Kelleher at 65 minutes
- Number 3, Furlong , substituted for Stuart at 48 minutes
- Number 4, Cummings , substituted for Chessum at 48 minutes
- Number 5, McCarthy
- Number 6, Beirne , substituted for Conan at 48 minutes
- Number 7, van der Flier
- Number 8, Pollock , Yellow card at 40 minutes
away team, British & Irish Lions
- Number 16, Kelleher
- Number 17, Porter
- Number 18, Stuart
- Number 19, Chessum
- Number 20, Conan
- Number 21, Mitchell
- Number 22, H Jones
- Number 23, Smith
home team, Western Force
Starting lineup
- Number 15, Donaldson
- Number 14, Grealy
- Number 13, Proctor
- Number 12, Stewart
- Number 11, Pietsch , substituted for Kuenzle at 61 minutes
- Number 10, Harford , substituted for Burey at 52 minutes
- Number 9, White , substituted for Robertson at 58 minutes
- Number 1, Robertson
- Number 2, Paenga-Amosa , substituted for Horton at 55 minutes
- Number 3, Hoskins , substituted for Tauakipulu at 64 minutes
- Number 4, Carter , substituted for Faifua at 49 minutes
- Number 5, Swain
- Number 6, Harris , substituted for Prinsep at 9 minutes, substituted for Harris at 23 minutes
- Number 7, de Crespigny
- Number 8, Ekuasi , substituted for Prinsep at 52 minutes
Substitutes
- Number 16, Horton
- Number 17, Pearce
- Number 18, Tauakipulu
- Number 19, Faifua
- Number 20, Prinsep
- Number 21, Robertson
- Number 22, Burey
- Number 23, Kuenzle
away team, British & Irish Lions
Starting lineup
- Number 15, Daly
- Number 14, Hansen
- Number 13, Ringrose , substituted for H Jones at 55 minutes
- Number 12, Tuipulotu
- Number 11, Lowe
- Number 10, Russell , substituted for Smith at 61 minutes
- Number 9, TG Williams , substituted for Mitchell at 47 minutes
- Number 1, Schoeman , substituted for Porter at 48 minutes
- Number 2, Sheehan , substituted for Kelleher at 65 minutes
- Number 3, Furlong , substituted for Stuart at 48 minutes
- Number 4, Cummings , substituted for Chessum at 48 minutes
- Number 5, McCarthy
- Number 6, Beirne , substituted for Conan at 48 minutes
- Number 7, van der Flier
- Number 8, Pollock , Yellow card at 40 minutes
Substitutes
- Number 16, Kelleher
- Number 17, Porter
- Number 18, Stuart
- Number 19, Chessum
- Number 20, Conan
- Number 21, Mitchell
- Number 22, H Jones
- Number 23, Smith