Western Force 7-54 British & Irish Lions: Andy Farrell's side cruise to victory in tour opener and run in eight tries as the floodgates open
The British and Irish Lions cruised to victory in their first tour match in Australia after beating Western Force 54-7 in Perth.
Andy Farrell's side ran in eight tries and stepped up the tempo in the second half in an assured display, albeit one marred by a number of unforced handling errors.
More to follow.
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BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ireland omissions 'still kill you inside'
By Nick Timoney's own admission, his last Ireland cap was "a long time ago now".The most consistent performer in an inconsistent Ulster team, the 29-year-old has found the Test game a tougher nut to making his debut for Andy Farrell's side against the USA in July 2021, the back row was a late inclusion for that November's Test against Argentina - so late, in fact, that he was sat in his house in Belfast on the morning of the game - and then started a year later against being in various squads over recent years, including touring parties to New Zealand and South Africa, he has not featured since that game three Autumns has consistently selected three from Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Peter O'Mahony and Caelan Doris as his loose forward trio, with the odd man out providing impact off the with the former pair away with the British and Irish Lions, O'Mahony retired, and Doris injured, there are rare opportunities to impress for back row hopefuls in Test matches against Georgia on Saturday and Portugal a week later."I'd be lying if I said there weren't times where I was frustrated. I certainly have had times where I feel like I'm incredibly close to it, and I've felt like if I had a chance, I would've taken it and run with it," said Timoney. "I still feel that way, but at the same time, Irish Rugby's not in the business of just dishing out caps because you've had a good game. Like he [Farrell] is still picking the best four lads for the squad, and if those lads stay fit and are playing well the whole time, I mean that's just the way it goes." The likes of Cian Prendergast, Gavin Coombes and Max Deegan are other back row options in a summer squad that will be led by Paul O'Connell with usual head coach Farrell on Lions duty. All have had their own struggles earning selection ahead of Ireland's established options despite impressing for their respective provinces. "It can be tough because, being a realist, you come into a lot of camps and you know that you're not necessarily top of the pecking order," Timoney continued."All the other lads are desperate to play, and then the game against England is opening the Six Nations or something like that and it still kills you inside a little bit every time you're not announced and you're not in the team."Ultimately, if you really value playing for Ireland enough, then there's no choice but to put more emphasis on getting better and working harder so that's just what I try to do."Now 29-years-old, Timoney says he will still "come into every single camp thinking this will be the one" when he makes his true international breakthrough."There's examples of it all over. There's the Deon Fouries of the world who are uncapped until 35 and [play] in a World Cup final," he added, citing the South African hooker who played 76 minutes off the bench when the Springboks won the World Cup in 2023. While his only previous experience against Saturday's opponents came as a sevens international, Timoney is well familiar with at least one star of Georgia's a youngster, he would regularly turn to YouTube for clips of the best back rows of the era. The likes of Sebastien Chabal, Sean O'Brien, David Wallace and Stephen Ferris provided regular viewing, but the rampaging Mamuka Gorgodze was a particular favourite."I have hours of Mamuka Gorgodze footage watched from when I was a kid. I used to watch a highlight video of his pretty much every week," said Timoney of the former Montpellier back row nicknamed 'Gorgodzilla'."Back in the day when you're a kid, as you would with loads of different rugby players that were in your position and you kind of looked up to, you'd look up some of their clips, their highlights, but there was a 10-minute compilation video of Mamuka Gorgodze playing a lot of European countries for Georgia, loads of clips from them playing Poland and Russia and Spain and stuff. "So I used to watch that a bit when I was younger. He was a bit of a tank." 'We know what's coming' While the decidedly more nimble Davit Niniashvili is the current star of Georgian rugby, under former Leicester Tigers and Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill, Timoney expects a robust challenge in Tbilisi. "They're big, they're physical, they're passionate and you're not going to get an easy game against them," he said."We've seen that over the last number of years with lots of their performances, so we know what's coming."That sort of selfish desire to impress is going to be there a little bit with a lot of people, but channelling that into the battle that's going to come is key for us."
Wales Online
34 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Lions put Williams replacement on standby and Warburton raves about emerging star
Today's rugby news as Lions put Williams replacement on standby and Warburton raves about emerging star The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Tomos Williams of the British & Irish Lions is assisted from the field during their match against the Western Force (Image: AP Photo/Trevor Collens ) These are your rugby headlines on Sunday, June 29. Lions put scrum-half replacement on standby The British and Irish Lions are on standby to call up a replacement scrum-half after Tomos Williams suffered a hamstring injury during the 40-22 win over the Western Force in Perth, according to the Mail. Williams, who scored two tries at Optus Stadium, was forced off in the second half clutching his hamstring and now faces an anxious wait for medical results. Head coach Andy Farrell said a decision on his availability will be made after further assessment. 'Tomos has come off holding his hamstring,' Farrell said post-match. 'We'll only know more in the morning. You've got to let these things settle down and give it some space. We need to assess it properly and make the right call for the group.' The Mail say Scotland's Ben White is the most likely candidate to be called up if Williams is ruled out. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. White is currently on tour with Scotland in New Zealand and could link up with the Lions squad in Brisbane by Sunday night if required. Article continues below There was some relief for Farrell, however, with fellow scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park confirmed as fit to return for Wednesday's clash against the Queensland Reds. Warburton: Pollock can become 'complete player' Sam Warburton believes Henry Pollock is not far way from being a "complete player". Pollock was impressive from the off for the Lions against Western Force on Saturday, playing a key part in their eight-try win in Perth. The youngster's rise has been incredible, with the 20-year-old now playing at the elite level of rugby, despite only being on the international scene for a matter of months. His display against Force wasn't perfect, Warburton admitted, but the former Lions skipper says Pollock has all the raw materials and that he can be coached out of the mistakes. "Pollock showed everything he is brilliant at - that linebreak ability, his energy in attack and defence," two-time Lions captain Warburton told Sky Sports. "The longer the tour goes on, the specialty at playing back row - breakdown, physicality, collision dominance - comes into play more, that is where the likes of Tom Curry have got a little bit of an edge. "I still think the back-row selection is wide open. There isn't a set three, it's still all to play for, but Pollock brings something no one else does. "He has got some good moments, and there was even good news about the yellow card and penalty given against him, because that's easy to coach out. "You cannot give someone pace or the ability to beat a man, but you can coach some of the simple mistakes that every 20-year-old back-rower makes. "If you can get him more measured at breakdown defence then you've got a pretty complete player." Japan endure a hiding a week before Wales clash A Japan XV suffered a heavy 53-20 defeat to the Moari All Blacks in Tokyo. Wales face Japan in Kitakyushu next Saturday in the first of a two-Test series. Matt Sherratt's side will be hoping to end a record run of 17 Test defeats on the bounce against a Japan side coached by Eddie Jones. Japan led 17-15 at half-time but the Maori All Blacks ran in six tries in what was a ruthless second-half performance by Ross Filipo's men. "Let's not connect this game with next week," Japan coach Jones told Rugby "This was Japan XV. Next week is Japan. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "If we need to give the ball back to Wales we need to do it in a difficult situation." Wales will be confident of coming out on top next week but Japan do have a habit of bouncing back from a heavy defeat. Last year Japan XV lost 36-10 to the Maori All Blacks before beating the same opponent 26-14 a week later. Wates appointed chair of RFU By PA Sport Staff Sir James Wates CBE has been appointed chair of the Rugby Football Union board. He takes over the role from Sir Bill Beaumont, who was named chair on an interim basis in December last year following the resignation of Tom Ilube. Wates is currently a board director of the Wates Group, a privately-owned construction, development and property service company in the UK and served as chairman between 2013 and 2023. A statement from the RFU said: 'Sir James has had a distinguished career in the construction and business sectors, marked by significant leadership roles and contributions to industry standards and charitable causes. 'He brings extensive leadership experience to the RFU alongside a deep love of the game of rugby, stretching back to his early playing days.' Speaking about his new role, Wates said: 'It is a true honour to be named chair of the board of the RFU, and I can't wait to get started. Article continues below 'English Rugby is steeped in legacy and history, and it is a history that the country should be proud of, while also being excited about what is to come. 'Later this year, we have the Women's Rugby World Cup hosted across England and I am looking forward to this happening so soon into my tenure. 'I will do my upmost to maximise the growth of the game, with the support of the RFU board and wider team in the years ahead and engaging as much as possible in the rugby community at all levels across England.'
Telegraph
43 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Elliot Daly is justifying Lions selection and could play in Tests once again
Versatility can make a victim of players, but it can also present a path to defining opportunities. Elliot Daly, on his third tour with the British and Irish Lions and on course to add to his five Test appearances after a polished performance in Perth, stands as testament to that. For Andy Farrell's crop of 2025, full-back is a position that is in a certain degree of flux. Blair Kinghorn was the sole player to make the initial Lions squad from a Top 14 club, which was an endorsement of his Test credentials because the Scot could join up only at the very end of June if Toulouse reached the domestic decider. Farrell will now welcome him into the fold after Kinghorn played 100 minutes to help Toulouse edge past Union Bordeaux-Bègles in a compelling contest that went to extra-time. Compounding the uncertainty has been a calf issue for Hugo Keenan, which is proving problematic. Ireland's front-line No 15 has not played at all since Leinster's defeat of Scarlets on May 31. Kinghorn and Keenan are both excellent players. Each of them deserves a tilt at the Test series. Yet, at this stage, it is impossible to count on them coming through with 100 per cent conviction. What a relief for Farrell, then, that he has in his squad a player who began the 2019 World Cup final at full-back. To detail other impressive accomplishments, Daly also boasts Test starts for the Lions at left wing and outside centre. His aerial solidity and positioning have improved over recent years and Steve Borthwick whisked him back into the England set-up during the 2025 Six Nations, with positive results. It was clear, too, that Daly was an assertive speaker in the Lions' post-match huddle at the Aviva Stadium last Friday. On Saturday evening at Optus stadium, in what was eventually a comfortable victory for Farrell's men, the 32-year-old stated his case to add the Lions 15 jersey to his 11 from 2017 and 13 from 2021. In the 15th minute, with the scores tied at 7-7 and the Force ruffling feathers, Daly stepped up at first-receiver to send a raking kick in behind the hosts. Thanks to this left-footed strike, the Lions controlled territory and eventually went ahead when Tomos Williams latched on to Henry Pollock's surge. Daly scored the Lions' third, a settler five minutes from half-time. He and Pollock were the two Lions to stay on Finn Russell's wavelength when the Scotland fly-half, surely bound for the Test team, shaped towards the corner before tapping a penalty and punishing the Force for switching off. In the opening seconds of the second half, Daly turned to tidy up another restart receipt that the Lions had botched, offloading to Mack Hansen behind his own try-line. Those two have struck up an obvious understanding over the first two matches of this trip. Daly and Hansen dovetailed nicely against Argentina and then again on Saturday against the Force. Watching as intuitive players from different nations develop their chemistry on the run is among the most fascinating aspects of any Lions tour. It was interesting that Russell entrusted touch-finders towards the right flank to Daly and more slick interventions followed. The latter joined the line outside Sione Tuipulotu for a swift take-and-give that allowed Mack Hansen to release Garry Ringrose. Daly was decisive when returning kicks all evening and, in the 68th minute, he beat Matt Proctor with a beautiful step off his left foot before lifting an offload to James Lowe as he tumbled to the ground. Pollock was in support, the Lions earned a breakdown penalty and would snaffle their seventh try when Daly arced around Marcus Smith to slip through the defensive line and underneath the posts. By this stage, the Force were spent. Nic White, their skipper, admitted afterwards that the scoreline blew out because their opponents were able to maintain a level of intensity that his colleagues could not match. But the Lions' last score, finished by Alex Mitchell, was one more showcase of Daly's class. Seeming to weigh up a kick-pass towards the right touchline, he instead flung a flat pass off his left hand that sailed perfectly into the path of Tuipulotu. The Lions were away, Hansen and Mitchell flooding through to reach a half-century. Perhaps unfairly, Daly became a symbol of how the 2021 Lions went into their shells after he was clattered on the gain-line by Lukhanyo Am, the Springboks centre. Four years on, Farrell is evidently aiming towards a more intrepid style. And Daly is enjoying himself. Among the players praised by Brian O'Driscoll at full-time, the Saracens utility man was name-checked first. Kinghorn and Keenan may hit the ground running for the Lions and demand inclusion when the Tests come around. If Farrell opts for a six-two split of forwards on the bench, there are other adaptable backs such as Tommy Freeman (covering wing, outside centre and full-back), Kinghorn (full-back, wing and fly-half), Hansen (wing, full-back and fly-half at a push), Ringrose (outside centre and wing) and Marcus Smith (fly-half and full-back) to cover bases. Daly, though, has undoubtedly put himself in a strong position. Over the next few weeks, he could write another chapter in an extraordinary career.
