Western Force v British Lions live updates from opening game of Australian tour
The British & Irish Lions' tour kicks off on Saturday, with the renowned side squaring off against Western Force in the opening match of their Australia tour.
Andy Farrell's squad landed Down Under at the beginning of the week, jetting to the southern hemisphere after a 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin.
The outcome wasn't the best preparation for the men in red, but they will have put that behind them now, focusing solely on today's game in Perth.
Farrell has made 13 changes to the team defeated by the Pumas as Dan Sheehan captains the side in the absence of Maro Itoje.
Today's match, which starts at 11am Irish time, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, but you can also keep up with live updates in our blog below, via Wales Online.
Here are the teams:
Lions: E Daly; M Hansen, G Ringrose, S Tuipulotu, J Lowe; F Russell, T Williams; P Schoeman, D Sheehan (c), T Furlong, S Cummings, J McCarthy, T Beirne, J Van der Flier, H Pollock.
Replacements: R Kelleher, A Porter, W Stuart, O Chessum, J Conan, A Mitchell, H Jones, M Smith.
Western Force: T Robertson, B Paenga-Amosa, O Hoskins, S Carter, D Swain, W Harris, N Champion de Crespigny, V Ekuasi; N White (c), A Harford, D Pietsch, H Stewart, M Proctor, M Grealy, B Donaldson.
Replacements: N Dolly, M Pearce, T Tauakipulu, L Faifua, R Prinsep, H Robertson, M Burey, B Kuenzle.
Andy Farrell has made wholesale changes to the side which narrowly lost to Argentina in Dublin last Friday.
A new Lions record has been set for the number of players in a matchday squad from one club with nine Leinster players on show.
There's captain Dan Sheehan, centre Garry Ringrose, second-row Joe McCarthy, wing James Lowe, openside flanker Josh van der Flier and tighthead Tadhg Furlong in the starting XV while Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Jack Conan is on the bench.
England star Henry Pollock start at No 8 but arguably the most exciting selection is at half-back with Welshman Tomos Williams partnering the mercurial Scotland fly-half Finn Russell.
British and Irish Lions: Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Huw Tuipulotu, James Lowe, Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Pierre Schoeman, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Henry Pollock. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones, Marcus Smith
Today's opponents, Western Force, are the weakest of the four Australian teams in Super Rugby Pacific.
The force finished 9th out of 11 on the table with just four wins to their name but they were competitive in many of their games.
But they won't be at full strength against the Lions with second-row Jeremy Williams, openside Carlo Tizzano and wing Harry Potter not getting released from the Wallabies squad while Kurtley Beale is injured.
However, there will be a handful of Wallaby squad members on show in the shape of full-back Ben Donaldson, scrum-half Nick White, wing Dylan Piestsch, prop Tom Roberston and lock Nick Champion de Crespigny.
In 2013 the Lions smashed the Western Force 69-17.
Western Force: Donaldson, Grealy, Proctor, Stewart, Pietsch, Harford, White (capt); T Robertson, Paenga-Amosa, Hoskins, Carter, Swain, Harris, Champion de-Crespigny, Ekuasi
Replacements: Dolly, Pearce, Tauakipulu, Faifua, Prinsep, H Robertson, Burey, Kuenzie
Welcome!
Join us for live updates of the British & Irish Lions' first warm-up clash in Australia against the Western Perth.
The Lions will desperate to start the tour with a bang after last Friday's disappointing defeat to Argentina in Dublin.
Kick-off is at 11am UK time.
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