Skipper Dan Sheehan warns Lions will match Western Force's hunger
Dan Sheehan
insists his
British and Irish Lions
will use their pride in the jersey to match the determination of a Western Force side who are targeting a famous victory in Perth on Saturday.
Lions captain
Maro Itoje
has been stood down for the opening fixture on Australian soil so Ireland hooker Sheehan takes charge of
Andy Farrell's
men at Optus Stadium.
Henry Pollock makes his first start for the Lions after being picked at number eight while Finn Russell, the early favourite to take the playmaking duties against the
Wallabies
, is given his maiden outing of the tour at outhalf.
The Lions know they are being targeted by Super Rugby teams eager to make history but Sheehan, who skippered
Ireland
against Wales in the
Six Nations
, declares they will not have a monopoly on passion.
READ MORE
'It's important to know where the opposition's mindset is and how they approach a game that only comes around every 12 years, like it does for the Western Force,' said the 26-year-old, who is one of nine players in the matchday 23 set to make their Lions debuts.
'I'm sure the Force will be 150 per cent of what they usually are. They will be flying into it and that bit of extra hunger can produce some powerful things.
'They would have been eyeing this game up since they probably first stepped into that Western Force change room. It'll mean an awful lot to them.
'But I don't want them to think that they're going to be hungrier than us. We have to demonstrate back our own mindset because this will be the first time I will be putting on the jersey, along with a few other lads.'
Tadhg Furlong will start for the Lions at tighthead against Western Force. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
The Force is the second game of a tour that began with a 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin and while matches will soon come thick and fast, chances to impress will be limited.
Farrell, however, has cautioned over the danger of players wanting a Test place too much.
'That's desperation and that's what we don't want because desperation leads to people being distorted in the way they go about the game,' he said.
There are two survivors from the side that faced the Pumas in Sione Tuipulotu and
Tadhg Beirne
, although they have been switched to inside centre and blindside flanker respectively.
Three-time Lions tourist
Tadhg Furlong
is given the chance to improve his match fitness with a start at tighthead prop following a season that has been heavily interrupted by calf injuries.
'There wasn't a big bang moment when you're out for six months and you're trying to scramble back, they were all short-term injuries,' Furlong said.
'It was tough because as the weeks went on we still thought we had a fighting chance for getting back for
Leinster
at the end of the season, but it just wasn't right. It would have been very risky to chance something.
'As desperate as you are to get on to the pitch, you also have a situation where you can't push.
'In some ways you can live with yourself because you're doing everything you can to get out there. When you can't, you can't.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Two changes for Kerry ahead of Armagh quarter-final
KERRY HAVE made two changes for Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh at Croke Park (throw-in: 4pm). Dylan Casey and Micheál Burns replace Mike Breen and Diarmuid O'Connor in the starting team. Kerry lost Breen to a hamstring issue before last week's win over Cavan, while O'Connor departed the game early clutching his shoulder. Meanwhile, Paudie Clifford and Paul Geaney are notable inclusions among the substitutes. Advertisement Kerry (v Armagh) 1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore) 2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks) 5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) 6. Gavin White (Dr Crokes) 7. Tom O'Sullivan (Dingle), 8. Seán O'Brien (Beaufort) 9. Joe O'Connor (Austin Stacks) 10. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes) 11. Seán O'Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks) 12. Graham O'Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) 13. David Clifford (Fossa), 14. Conor Geaney (Dingle) 15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle) Subs:
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
The Irish rugby club in Perth buzzing to have the Lions in town
THERE WILL BE thousands of Irish fans travelling Down Under in the next few weeks to be part of the Lions' famous 'Sea of Red.' Given the hefty Irish representation in the Lions squad and staff, there has never been more reason to make the trek. But this tour is also significant for the Irish who call Australia home. Around 2.5 million people there have Irish heritage and more than 100,000 Irish-born people are living Down Under. We're talking about roughly 10% of all Australians being connected to Ireland. So a green-tinged Lions tour is very welcome indeed. And the Lions' first stop on tour is a case in point. Perth is a popular destination among the estimated 40,000 Irish people who emigrate to Australia annually. Mining, construction, and medical jobs are big draws, as is the chilled-out lifestyle and natural beauty on the west coast. Tralee man Brendan O'Mahony – who has been in Perth for 14 years – is a project manager with Civmec, a construction and engineering company that was involved in building Optus Stadium, the venue for the Lions' opening game against Western Force on Saturday. O'Mahony is also the president of Perth Irish RFC, who are celebrating their 10th season as a club. Lions fever has been rife among Perth Irish and they welcomed the tourists' chairman, Ieuan Evans, and CEO, Ben Calveley, down to their home at Centenary Park earlier this week. All the local senior competitions have a bye this weekend because of the Lions' visit, but Perth Irish are hosting a junior rugby carnival on Saturday morning. Optus Stadium in Perth. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Most people involved in Perth Irish will then be at the Western Force game on Saturday evening and many of them will fly to the east coast to be at one or more of the Lions' Tests against the Wallabies. 'Rugby union is struggling in Australia but within our expat circle, there's a lot of excitement around the Lions,' says O'Mahony. 'Thankfully, the Wallabies have started to pick their socks up a little bit. Two years ago, it wasn't looking good for a Lions tour, but I think they'll give them a good match now.' Advertisement Whatever about the Wallabies' renewal under Joe Schmidt, there's no doubt that Perth Irish hope to keep going from strength to strength. The club was founded in early 2016. Seamus Walsh, a Waterford man, had been bringing his son to play junior rugby elsewhere and couldn't help but notice how many Irish kids and parents there were. We could nearly start our own thing, he thought. So they did. A meeting took place at the Irish Club of Western Australia in the Subiaco suburb of Perth. Walsh and some friends formed the rugby club and took to Facebook to get the message out. O'Mahony was among a group of around 40 lads who turned up for the first few training sessions. He played in the club's first-ever trial game against Curtin University in March 2016. 'It was a tough slog for a couple of years,' says O'Mahony, 'but it was always good fun and it was all about growing the club.' The Perth Irish women's team. Perth Irish RFC Perth Irish RFC Perth Irish expanded slowly but surely and they won their first silverware in 2019 with Western Australia Championship Grade success, which remains their only title so far. The women's team was launched in 2017, another big milestone. But then Covid hit and almost killed the club. They just about clung on and launched their 'second phase' in 2022, using what tiny amount of money was left in the club account to hire an online marketing specialist to get their name out to the Perth public. Nowadays, Perth Irish have more than 100 registered adult players between two men's and one women's teams, as well as around 45 junior players. Premier Grade is the highest level of club rugby in Western Australia and Perth Irish aren't at those lofty heights yet, playing instead in the Championship Grade competition. There is a crop of Irish expats involved in the Premier Grade competition, but Perth Irish have had a few former All-Ireland League players through the club over the past decade. They even welcomed ex-Leinster number eight Leo Auva'a in for a short stint. 'You wouldn't want to be standing in front of him,' says O'Mahony with a laugh. Perth Irish are always keen to let people know that the club isn't just for those with Irish roots. They have even debated whether the name is holding them back a bit, but the message is getting out there. They've had 23 different nationalities play for the club. They currently have four Kenyan players – one of whom is among their leading lights – and they've had English, Scottish, Welsh, Australian, Kiwi, and even Japanese players at different stages. Everyone gets a good Irish welcome. Some of the junior players in Perth Irish. Perth Irish RFC Perth Irish RFC As well as the other rugby clubs in Perth, there is competition from the many other sporting codes. There are two local Australian rules teams in the AFL – both play in Optus Stadium – while cricket, soccer, basketball, netball, and field hockey are all popular. A rugby league club, Perth Bears, are due to join the NRL in 2027. Then you have the Irish competition. The Gaelic Athletic Association of Western Australia is made up of seven football clubs and four hurling teams. So the natives and expats alike have plenty of choice. Perth Irish will be hoping this Lions tour gives rugby union a much-needed boost. And they will welcome any future arrivals from Ireland with a typical céad míle fáilte. 'Perth is not a big city, it's probably no bigger than Cork,' says O'Mahony of living there. 'It's all spread out in the suburbs and it doesn't feel like you're living in a big city. It doesn't feel like a big rat race. 'It's a lot more laid-back, a good beachy vibe, you've got Margaret River down the road. It's a nice way of living. 'I do feel like there's always a preconceived notion of Australia where everybody's reference point is Home & Away, so they think we're surfing before work and at lunchtime and we go down and buy a juice off Alf Stewart and all that carry on. 'But no, we work hard over here. I reckon that the Irish at this stage probably have a better work-life balance than we do over here. 'So you do work hard but when you're off, it's a beautiful place. For nine or 10 months of the year, you don't even need to check the forecast. That makes a difference.' Having the Lions in town this week has made it even more enjoyable.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Ireland's Ellie McCartney wins gold at European Under-23 Championships
Ireland's Ellie McCartney won gold in the women's 200m individual medley at the European Under-23 Championships in Slovakia on Thursday night The 20-year-old from Enniskillen made it back-to-back wins for Irish swimmers in the event after Ellen Walshe won the inaugural edition in Dublin in 2023. Third after the butterfly and backstroke legs, McCartney surged through her favoured breaststroke leg in 37.41 to hold an almost two-second lead going into the freestyle leg, a lead she never relinquished. She won by 1.22 seconds in 2:12.50 over France's Bertille Cousson, smashing her previous PB of 2:14.09. That will see her considered for the Ireland team for World Aquatics Championships in Singapore as she dipped under the qualification time of 2:12.83. READ MORE McCartney will be back in action on Friday morning in the heats of the 100m breaststroke. Meanwhile, Mona McSharry swam a season's best 1:06.86 in the 100m breaststroke final to claim a silver medal at the prestigious Sette Colli meet in Rome. Britain's Angharad Evans took gold in 1:06.33.
