Lions player ratings as Irish pair urged to up games despite Western Force win

Irish Daily Mirror

19 hours ago

The British and Irish Lions kicked off their Australian tour with a resounding 54-7 triumph over the Western Force in Perth.
While it wasn't a flawless performance, with a shaky first half, Andy Farrell's squad seemed to find their rhythm post-interval, crossing the line for eight tries in total.
There were several standout individual performances, though a couple of players fell short and will need to step up to secure a spot on the Test team
Here are the player ratings, which were compiled by our colleagues at Wales Online.
15. Elliot Daly 7
Daly's inclusion in Farrell's initial squad raised a few eyebrows, but the Englishman delivered a confident performance.
His positional play was top-notch, and his kicking put the Force under significant pressure.
Daly excels at the less glamorous aspects of the game, hitting good angles and unlocking the Force defence with some tidy passing.
He also bagged a pair of tries.
14. Mack Hansen 7
The Connacht player didn't have the best first half and was outshone by Force wing Dylan Pietsch, but he improved significantly after the break.
His defensive interventions were crucial, and his performance will have pleased Farrell.
13. Garry Ringrose 6
Defended well and brought with his line speed cutting off the Force attack on a couple of occasions during the first half.
Ringrose was quietly effective, claiming a try during the second half but will need to up his game if he is to cement a spot in the Test side.
12. Sione Tuipulotu 7
Like many players Tuipulotu was quiet during the first half but came to life after the break.
The Scotland star finished the game as the top carrier with 16, while he hit some good angles to rip through the Force defence.
It's going to be tight between Tuipulotu and Bundee Aki for the number 12 shirt against the Wallabies.
11. James Lowe 8
The left-wing put in a strong performance on his Lions debut.
He may not have got himself on the scoreboard but he played an influential role in five of the tries.
A sumptuous offload put Dan Sheehan over, while he made a number of line breaks and his passing under pressure was top class.
Lowe was used infield regularly and was effective as a playmaker.
10. Finn Russell 8
This was an assured display from the Lions playmaker who outlined why he is the frontrunner to wear the number 10 shirt against the Wallabies.
Russell's range of passing unlocked the Force defence throughout the second half while his decision to take a penalty quickly set up Daly's try.
He also kicked 10 points from the kicking tee and controlled the game well.
9. Tomos Williams 8
The outstanding individual performance of the Welsh scrum-half was marred by an injury sustained while scoring a try.
Williams posed a constant threat with the ball and his support lines led to two tries for the Gloucester number nine.
The 30 year old's service was smooth, and he struck the right balance between kicking, running and passing.
Farrell will be hoping that his injury isn't too severe, as he was exceptional in Perth. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free.
8. Henry Pollock 8
This lad is pure dynamite and has the ability to tear through even the tightest defences. He broke through the Force defence with a brilliant run before offloading to Williams for their second try.
Pollock also retrieved his own kick to set up the Lions' sixth try, underlining his unique contribution.
There are still a few too many mistakes in his game, but with Pollock on the pitch, Farrell knows there will be at least three or four standout moments that could swing the game in their favour.
He tarnished his record with a yellow card.
7. Josh van der Flier 7
The seasoned Irishman put in a massive defensive effort, making 22 tackles as he helped limit the Force to just one try during the hosts' fierce attack in the opening quarter.
His counter rucking is an underrated aspect of the game, and he also carried well.
However, the Leinster star didn't manage any turnovers, with referee Ben O'Keeffe not awarding a single jackal penalty throughout the 80-minute match.
6. Tadhg Beirne 5
This wasn't his finest performance.
The seasoned forward wasn't at his usual dynamic best and gave away too many penalties in the first half.
Beirne was effective at the lineout but there were no signature carries or turnovers from the Ireland star. He's capable of much better and needs to step up his game in the coming weeks.
5. Scott Cummings 5
The Scotsman put in a lot of effort, making five carries and 12 tackles while also denying the Force a try at the stroke of half-time by holding the hosts up over the line.
It was a solid performance but he didn't exactly set the pitch alight. The Force pack dominated for most of the first half before they tired and the Lions took control after the break.
Cummings didn't do enough to challenge the Test side.
4. Joe McCarthy (Star man) 9
Exceptional!
The Irish lock made some crucial interventions while the Lions were under pressure in the first half. A fantastic rip at the maul likely saved a try, and he achieved two more turnovers.
McCarthy made 15 powerful carries and wreaked havoc with his counter rucking, also putting in 17 tackles. He scored a well-earned try and has staked a strong claim to partner Maro Itoje at lock for the Tests.
3. Tadhg Furlong 5
This wasn't his best match.
Despite the large margin of victory, the Lions' scrum had a tough time, with Wallabies loosehead Tom Robertson putting Furlong under significant pressure. The seasoned Ireland tighthead was less noticeable than usual in open play and needs to improve his performance.
2. Dan Sheehan 6
The Lions captain delivered a steady performance, making 12 tackles and five carries. Sheehan also scored the first try and worked hard throughout the match, even if he didn't set the world on fire.
Overall, the lineout was much improved from the Argentina game in Dublin, which is a testament to Sheehan's efforts.
1. Pierre Schoeman 5.
The Scotland prop was hardworking but not outstanding, making 10 tackles and four carries. However, he struggled in a few scrums and another referee might have penalised the Lions.
He needs to step up his game if he wants to surpass Ellis Genge and Andrew Porter for the Tests.
Replacements.
16. Ronan Kelleher 6
Although he only played for 14 minutes, Kelleher made some strong carries and the lineout functioned well during his time on the pitch.
17. Andrew Porter 6
Porter was solid when he came on, making a couple of good carries and scrummaging effectively.
18. Will Stuart 6
The Gallagher Premiership winner was reliable and will be hoping to challenge Tadhg Furlong for a place in the Test team.
19. Ollie Chessum 7
The England star made a significant impact after entering the field, ensuring the lineout ran smoothly.
20. Jack Conan 6
He had a few powerful carries but also lost control of the ball once when the Lions were gaining momentum.
21. Alex Mitchell 7
He looked sharp after replacing Williams and scored a fantastic try at the end.
22. Huw Jones 6
The Scotland centre looked threatening with the ball in hand and is likely to start against the Queensland Reds midweek.
23. Marcus Smith 7
He performed well after coming on for Russell, his vision and passing skills contributing to several additional tries.
He also added four points from the kicking tee.