Andy Farrell has decided to ring the changes for the first game Down Under
Lions head coach Andy Farrell has named his starting XV to face Western Force on Saturday in their first game on Australian soil.
Farrell has made wholesale changes to the side which lost to Argentina 28-24 in Dublin last Friday night as he takes a look at his options, with Sione Tuipulotu and Tadgh Beirne the only men to retain their starting spots.
Welshman Tomos Williams is upgraded to the walk-on side after his bright cameo off the bench in the Irish capital, with Henry Pollock also included from the off.
The Lions touched down in Australia earlier this week ahead of a packed summer schedule that involves three Tests against the Wallabies and a number of games against club teams.
It’s the Force up first in Perth this weekend and Farrell has decided to freshen things up almost entirely, with a number of the Leinster contingent who missed the date with the Pumas now brought in.
Elliot Daly gets the nod at full-back, with James Lowe and Mack Hansen selected on the wings. Tuipulotu is partnered by Garry Ringrose in midfield, with Williams and Finn Russell the half-back pairing.
Up front is dominated by the Irish, with Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, with Joe McCarthy, Tadgh Beirne, Scotland’s Scott Cummings and Josh van der Flier behind them, along with Englishman Henry Pollock at No.8
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Sheehan captains the side, while Wales’ Jac Morgan isn’t included in the matchday 23.
Farrell said: “We have had a good week of training and all of the travel and time zone changes have been managed really well, so we are good to go.
“Dan Sheehan gets the opportunity to lead the side against Western Force, which is a great honour for him and his family – so congratulations to Dan as he captains the side on his Lions debut. “We know the quality and experience the Force have and the opportunity to play against the Lions always brings out special performances from the Super Rugby sides, so we expect them to be at their best.”
The Lions face the Wallabies in a three-Test series next month.
Lions: E.Daly; M.Hansen, G.Ringrose, S.Tuipulotu, J.Lowe; F.Russell, T.Williams; P.Schoeman, D.Sheehan (capt), T.Furlong, S.Cummings, J.McCarthy, T.Beirne, J.Van der Flier, H.Pollock
Replacements: R.Kelleher, A.Porter, W.Stuart, O.Chessum, J.Conan, A.Mitchell, H.Jones, M.Smith
