Preview: Expect a response from Lions in first Australian outing

RTÉ News​

a day ago

If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth watching the first couple of episodes of 'The Ultimate Test', the in-house videos from the British and Irish Lions squad on their YouTube channel.
Obviously not on the same level as the warts-and-all 'Living with the Lions' documentary from 1997, but there have been plenty of interesting nuggets across the opening two episodes; Andy Farrell's emotional words to the room about calling up Finlay Bealham to his squad and Mack Hansen's candid admissions about getting to know Marcus Smith were the highlights of episode one. The latest video followed their week in Dublin, with Ellis Genge's leadership skills and John Fogarty's coaching work both jumping out.
Unfortunately, one thing we weren't privy to was the scene in the Aviva Stadium changing room after last Friday's defeat to Argentina.
The Lions head coach was scathing in his public assessment of their performance against Los Pumas, so one can only imagine what was said behind closed doors.
It was a change of tack for Farrell, who clearly wanted to send a message to his players about the standards expected of them over the next six weeks.
In his five years coaching Ireland, you can count on one hand how often he's had a cut off his team's performances in post-match press conferences, with the scrappy wins against Georgia in 2020 and Fiji in 2022 the ones that jump out.
When Ireland have lost games under Farrell (above), he's been more inclined to become protective of his team rather than challenge them. He was furious after the first Test defeat to South Africa last summer, but that anger didn't become apparent until the days after the game in Pretoria. In the immediate aftermath, he kept an even keel.
It's impossible to tell whether last week's defeat has factored much into Farrell's selection for the opening game in Australia against the Western Force tomorrow. Prior to the Argentina clash, he suggested that he had a rough sketch in his head about his squads for the opening two or three games, as he looked to test out various combinations and allow everyone get a run.
Twelve of last week's matchday squad go again this week, but only two players have been named to start for the second week in a row, with Tadhg Beirne and Sione Tuipulotu the pair retained in the starting team. The fact that both payers feature in different positions may point towards some of the lessons learned in Dublin.
Beirne moves from the second row to blindside flanker, where he was primarily used by Warren Gatland on the 2021 tour. The back row was one area where the Lions failed to click against Argentina, and the addition of a hybrid lock/flanker in the side could be a nod towards Farrell's Test plans, with Beirne, Ollie Chessum or possibly even Maro Itoje the able to fill that role.
Tuipulotu (below) also keeps his place in the starting team, and the Scotland captain will be keen to iron out some of the creases in his game, having been guilty of some poor ball protection a week ago. He moves from outside centre to the number 12 channel, as Garry Ringrose comes in for his first Lions appearance.
Last week's team had a strong English flavour to it, but this selection is dominated by Ireland, with eight starters and three more on the bench. Leinster contribute seven of those starting team, which equals the record for players from one club in a Lions XV.
"We'll see on Saturday how we respond," the head coach said as he named his team for Saturday's game in Perth.
"The guys that are taking the field this week are a little bit fortunate in the sense they understand how we want to get better.
"They've got to take responsibility for that, and grab hold of their chance of taking this team forward."
With Itoje rested, Dan Sheehan takes the honour of captaining the Lions in his first ever game for the side.
It caps a remarkable turnaround for the Leinster and Ireland hooker, whose chances of even making the Lions squad looked in real jeopardy when he suffered a torn ACL in Ireland's opening Test defeat to the Springboks in South Africa just under a year ago.
He returned ahead ahead of schedule, just in time for the start of the 2025 Six Nations and instantly hit his best form, while he captained Ireland in the absence of Caelan Doris during the round three win against Wales in Cardiff.
"It says a lot about him. You don't make these decisions lightly," Farrell said of making the 26-year-old captain in his first Lions outing.
"To have the special honour of captaining the British and Irish Lions must be amazing for Dan and his family, they will be bursting with pride.
"But it's well earned. He will 100% do the job justice by just being himself. I know for a fact, whatever he asks the players to do, there won't be empty words, it will be things he's willing to do himself.
"I know the responsibility will make him a better player because that's the type of character he is, a calming influence who understands what pressure situations are like at this level. All those things put together are why he is sat beside me."
The Force were beaten 69-17 when these sides met 12 years ago, and the western Australia side are the weakest of the four Super Rugby sides on paper, finishing ninth in the 2025 season, with four wins from their 14 games.
They do boast several Wallabies in their squad, some of whom will be meeting the Lions next month in the Test series.
Former Australia captain Nic White starts at scrum-half, while internationals Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch, Darcy Swain, Sam Carter, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Tom Robertson are also in the starting team.
Another current Wallaby, Ben Donaldson has also left Australia's squad late in the week to cover at full-back, after injury ruled veteran Kurtley Beale (below) out of the game.
"To get the opportunity to play against the Lions is unreal," White said.
"It's a real dream come true, words don't really do it justice."
With Farrell's stinging criticism of their performance against Argentina still fresh in their minds, it's hard to see the Lions falling flat for the second week in a row.
But even if an upset win for the Force looks unlikely, White is playing the long game.
"If we can bash a couple of their blokes on the way in and bruise them and make them a bit sore by the time they get to the Wallabies then job done as far as the Super Rugby sides are concerned."