Lions Roar to Dominant Win Over Force Despite Injury Concern
What a way to start the tour in Australia! The British & Irish Lions delivered a powerful statement in their opening fixture of the 2025 tour, comfortably dismantling the Western Force with a commanding 54-7 victory in Perth. From the opening whistle at Optus Stadium, it was clear the Lions meant business.
Dan Sheehan, stepping in as captain, got things underway with a try in the very first minute, setting the tone for the day. The Lions showcased not only individual brilliance but impressive cohesion for a team still learning to gel. Tomos Williams followed that lead, scoring twice with superb instinctive support lines and pace that really troubled the Force defence. Unfortunately, the excitement around his performance was dampened by a suspected hamstring injury that forced him off in the second half. Head coach Andy Farrell admitted it’s “too early to know” the severity, but it’s a watch-and-wait situation for now.
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Still, the Lions didn’t miss a beat. Elliot Daly showed his class with two tries of his own and rock-solid defence under the high ball, proving once again why he's such a valuable utility back. Finn Russell, the mercurial fly-half, brought his trademark flair—his cross-field kick to open up the scoring and his quick tap that led to Daly’s first try were textbook examples of why he could be the Test starter this summer.
Other standout performances came from Joe McCarthy, who was physical and relentless in the second row, and youngster Henry Pollock, who had moments of brilliance despite a stint in the sin-bin. The bench made their presence felt too, with Marcus Smith adding late conversions and Alex Mitchell capping things off with the Lions’ eighth and final try at the death.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Western Force didn’t roll over. They put the Lions under pressure, especially in the first half, showing grit and structure. Their captain Nic White acknowledged the physical test and intensity, stating how thrilling it was to play such a prestigious opponent in front of a record crowd.
From Farrell’s post-match comments, it’s clear the Lions are treating each game as a step toward the bigger goal—being Test-match ready. The blend of established internationals and new faces seems to be working, and there's palpable excitement around what’s still to come. But make no mistake—injuries like that of Tomos Williams serve as a stark reminder of how physically demanding this tour will be.
Now, eyes turn to the next challenge in Brisbane against the Queensland Reds. If this opener was anything to go by, this Lions squad is hungry, dangerous, and ready to pounce.
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