Sheehan to captain British and Irish Lions against Western Force

British and Irish Lions v Western Force

Date: Saturday, June 28th, 2018 Kick-off: 11:00 BST

The Irish Lions’ first game against the Western Force on Saturday will be played on Australian soil under the leadership of Ireland’s Dan Sheehan.

The hooker will make his Lions debut in Perth alongside his Leinster team-mates Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy, and Josh van der Flier, along with five others in the starting lineup.

Ollie Chessum, center Huw Jones, and props Andrew Porter and Will Stuart are the four Lions who are expected to make their bench debuts.

Henry Pollock, a Northampton tyro who was substituted in Argentina’s defeat last Friday in Dublin, will make his first appearance at number eight.

Elliot Daly is in at full-back while head coach Andy Farrell is still without scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan, both of whom are recovering from injury, and Tomos Williams is rewarded for a strong comeback against the Pumas in Dublin with a start in the nines.

Finn Russell will start at flyhalf after making three appearances on South Africa’s tour in 2021.

Ringrose and Sione Tuipulotu, both of whom will start in succession, form a new midfield pairing for Farrell.

Sheehan taking over the captaincy comes as no surprise that Maro Itoje has resigned for the weekend.

The hooker is undoubtedly the best in his position in the world, a devastating force in front-row play as well as in the fundamentals of his position. Tuipulotu and Beirne were other contenders, but he is undoubtedly the best man in his position.

Farrell asserted that he will be completely self-sufficient in doing the job. What he asks the players to do is undoubtedly going to be empty words, I am certain.

Because of his character, I am aware that the responsibility will also help him become a better player.

He “knows what pressured situations really look like at this level” is a calming type influence.

However, Russell’s inclusion somehow gives this team a sense of showmanship.

The Bath fly-half is a more balanced player than ever in his career in terms of the box office. He has control but also has control. Russell must have been here. At 10 o’clock on Saturday, the Lions have stated that they want to entertain and attack.

A stellar backline is what he has to offer.

Williams, who starts at age 9, might be a bolter for the Test team. The combination of Ringrose at 13 and Tuipulotu at 12 is incredibly exciting. You think the Lions will do better than the Lions because Tuipulotu is back in his natural environment inside center instead of outside against the Pumas.

The Irish duo is out wide. Lowe, one of the most influential and perceptive wings in rugby, and Mack Hansen, bubbly, busy, and intelligent. This backline has the potential to fly.

The Lions must deliver big time following Argentina’s defeat, especially against the most talented of the provincial Australian teams. On Saturday, a tone must be set.

“We’ll see how we react,” Farrell said. The players who are taking the field this week are “a little fortunate” in that they understand how we want to improve.