Dan Sheehan to captain Irish-heavy Lions team in Western Force clash
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has named Dan Sheehan as captain for his side's first fixture in Australia against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday (11am Irish time).
26-year-old Leinster hooker Sheehan will lead a Lions starting 15 packed with eight with Ireland internationals, including Tadhg Furlong.
Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose and James Lowe are all handed starts, while Sheehan and Furlong are joined in the pack by Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier.
There is further Irish representation among the replacements, where Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Jack Conan are primed to make impacts off the bench.
Sheehan is one of five starters, alongside Leinster teammates Ringrose, Lowe, McCarthy and Van Der Flier, who make their Lions debuts this weekend at the Optus Stadium.
A further four players are set to make their Lions debuts off the bench - England and Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum, Scotland and Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones, Leinster prop Porter and England and Bath prop Will Stuart.
'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," head coach Farrell said.
'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.'
Sheehan captained Ireland for the first time back in March in the Six Nations win over Wales.
British & Irish Lions: E Daly (Saracens), M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow), J Lowe (Leinster), F Russell (Bath), T Williams (Gloucester), P Schoeman (Edinburgh), D Sheehan (Leinster - captain), T Furlong (Leinster), S Cummings (Glasgow), J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), H Pollock (Northampton).
Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), A Porter (Leinster), W Stuart (Bath), O Chessum (Leicester), J Conan (Leinster), A Mitchell (Northampton), H Jones (Glasgow), M Smith (Harlequins).
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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Andy Farrell backs debutant Dan Sheehan to lead Lions for Australian opener
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Neither coach required the powers of soothsayer to divine Sheehan's qualities; they recognised that he had the leadership skills to supplement those of a player. Tom Court - Ireland's accidental Lion Listen | 40:32 Conor Murray was the last Ireland player to captain the Lions when he led the tourists against South Africa A four years ago. Ulster secondrow Iain Henderson also captained the Lions during that tour, in the first of two matches against the Sharks. READ MORE Sheehan's 45 tries in 73 matches for Leinster and 15 in 32 Tests for Ireland are numerical touchstones of a player who is arguably the most accomplished hooker in world rugby. On Saturday in Perth, he will be surrounded by a sea of familiar faces as the Lions Tour begins in earnest. There are 11 Irish players in the matchday 23, eight of which are Leinster team-mates of Sheehan. Three more, Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Ryan were not available for selection due to injury, while Scotland's Blair Kinghorn is still with Toulouse as they play Bordeaux-Bègles in the French Top 14 final this weekend. Farrell retains just two of the starting team beaten by Argentina in Dublin last week, centre Sione Tuipulotu and Tadhg Beirne, with the Munster captain shifting from secondrow to backrow. Tadhg Beirne scores a try for the Lions against Argentina. Photograph:Scott Cummings, Tadhg Furlong, Henry Pollock, Pierre Schoeman, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen and Tomos Williams are elevated to starting roles having started on the bench against the Pumas. Having started against Argentina, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith make way. Hansen starts on the right wing while James Lowe is named on the other flank. Tuipolotu moves to his more familiar role of inside centre having played at 13 against the Pumas, while the introduction of Garry Ringrose at outside centre not only provides a more natural balance to the midfield but also a playing familiarity with the two wings. Daly's versatility sees him named at fullback in the continued absence of Keenan and Kinghorn. Scotland's Finn Russell takes over the 10 jersey in a halfback combination alongside Tomos Williams. Farrell will demand more assured handling from his backline than was demonstrated in the warm-up game in Dublin, where too many passes were forced or lacked accuracy. It will be interesting to note how Russell's intuitive flair blends into the collective patterns. The presence of his Scottish sidekick Tuipulotu should bring cohesion to aspects of the game on both sides of the ball in much the same way as the Irish trio of Ringrose, Lowe and Hansen in the backline know each other's games well in the Test match environment. Sheehan will have Tadhg Furlong for company after the tighthead prop returned from a calf injury in a second-half cameo against Argentina. Pierre Schoeman completes the frontrow. Leinster lock Joe McCarthy partners Scott Cummings in the secondrow, while Beirne's relocation to the six jersey suggests that consideration has been given to their lineout woes against the Pumas. Josh van der Flier and the effervescent Henry Pollock ensure the backrow is long on athleticism, with all three capable of being a scourge at the breakdown. On the bench, Rónan Kelleher retains his role as replacement hooker, Andrew Porter is set for a Lions debut and Jack Conan is an old hand in the famous red shirt having played for the Lions during their last Tour in South Africa. Will Stuart, fresh from Bath's victory in the English Premiership, and Scottish centre Huw Jones complete the replacements. Scrumhalf Nic White will captain Western Force against the Lions. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Meanwhile, Wallabies sextet Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nic White, Dylan Pietsch and Ben Donaldson are all in the starting XV ahead of linking up with the national team on Sunday. Donaldson's inclusion comes after Kurtley Beale was ruled out having suffered a hamstring strain at training on Tuesday. Donaldson travelled to Perth on Thursday afternoon. Former Wallabies and Ulster lock Sam Carter will also start in the final game of his career. Captain Jeremy Williams, home-grown back-rower Carlo Tizzano and winger Harry Potter are all unavailable due to being in Wallabies camp ahead of Sunday week's Test against Fiji in Newcastle. LIONS: Elliot Daly (Saracens/England); Mack Hansen (Connacht/Ireland), Garry Ringrose (Leinster/Ireland), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), James Lowe (Leinster/Ireland); Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland), Tomos Williams (Gloucester/Wales); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh/Scotland), Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland); Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland), Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland); Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland), Josh van der Flier (Leinster/Ireland), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/England). Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster/Ireland), Will Stuart (Bath/England), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), Jack Conan (Leinster/Ireland), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England). WESTERN FORCE: Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Ollie Hoskins; Sam Carter, Darcy Swain; Will Harris, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Vaiolini Ekuasi. Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle.
