Good evening sports fans, and welcome to the start of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.After a 12-year wait, the Lions are back on our shores and taking on the Western Force at Optus Stadium in Perth to kick off their tour.I鈥檒l be your companion through the night on the blog, and the bustling Belfast brawler Jonathan Drennan is our man on the ground in Perth. He鈥檒l be sending through his preview, mid-game updates and keep an eye out for his match report and follow-up news later in the night.Strictly speaking, the Lions actually got themselves underway last weekend with a warm-up clash against Argentina but they鈥檒l be happy to forget that one after going down 28-24.Will tonight one be a good contest? The Western Force are paying $17 with the bookies to win tonight, so no-one is really expecting an upset.But that is the place the Force would prefer to be, no doubt.How do you see this one going down? Have your say in the poll.Latest postsLatest postsFor obvious geographical reasons, the British and Irish Lions have been starting their Australian tours in WA since the tours began the 12-year cycle in 1989.In the first one, in 1989, a WA side held up credibly and only went down 44-0.In 2001, with professionalism now in full swing but with the Western Force still five years away from existence, the WA XV had a tougher time, going down 116-10. There are fantastic stories from the match – including tradies coming from their day jobs to play against the Lions that night – and I鈥檇 urge you to read JD鈥檚 yarn from the week here.He spoke to the side鈥檚 reserve halfback Robbie Barugh, who just happens to be a biology teacher at the school where the Lions have been training all week.Brian O鈥橠riscoll breaks clear of the WA defence to set up a Lions attack in 2001.Credit: Getty ImagesIn 2013, the Force sent out a competitive side but were still outclassed 69-17. You鈥檇 argue the Force side named for tonight鈥檚 game is the strongest ever put out against the Lions. But there鈥檚 still the matter of their opponents being the best players picked from four Test nations, so there鈥檚 that.It is a perfect winter鈥檚 day in Perth, with blue skies and the bars leading up to Optus Stadium swollen with British and Irish fans who cannot believe their luck. There are small pockets of blue Force jerseys in the city, but they are few and far between. The last time the Lions were in this city, they beat the Force by 52 points in Subiaco Oval.British & Irish Lions fans show their support as they arrive at Optus Stadium in Perth.Credit: Getty ImagesThat oval was demolished six years ago to make way for a gleaming high school, Bob Hawke College. The Force will hope to write a new chapter in the infinitely more decadent surrounds of Optus Stadium. It has been all business for the Lions so far, training on the immaculate fields of Hale School in Perth, they have kept to themselves and are desperate for a big performance after the shock four point loss to the Pumas in Dublin. The bookmakers are paying 17 bucks on a Force win, we will see pessimism is well-founded very soon.
The Lions made a stack of changes to their side from the opening loss to Argentina, with eight Leinster players returning to duty, and star no.10 Finn Russell. The side is stacked with Irishmen, and a couple of 鈥楢ussies鈥 are in there too in the shape of centre Sione Tuipulotu and winger Mack Hansen.The Force have eight capped Wallabies in their starting XV, and another uncapped Wallaby squad member in Nick Champion de Crespigny, as well. Kurtley Beale was ruled out during the week through injury but Ben Donaldson flew back from the Wallabies camp in Sydney as a late replacement.Jonny Drennan has dropped this news: 鈥淪ome late injury news, one-time England international hooker Nic Dolly is out for the Force and will miss out on the chance of reacquainting with former team mates, he is replaced by Tom Horton who takes his place on the bench.鈥滺ere are the teams …British and Irish Lions (15-1): Elliot Daly; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Tomos Williams; Henry Pollock, Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Beirne; Joe McCarthy, Scott Cummings; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Pierre SchoemanReplacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones, Marcus SmithWestern Force (15-1): Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Will Harris; Darcy Swain, Sam Carter; Ollie Hoskins, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom RobertsonReplacements: Tom Horton, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley KuenzleReferee: Ben O鈥橩eeffe (NZR)Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), James Doleman (NZR)TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
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Good evening sports fans, and welcome to the start of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.After a 12-year wait, the Lions are back on our shores and taking on the Western Force at Optus Stadium in Perth to kick off their tour.I鈥檒l be your companion through the night on the blog, and the bustling Belfast brawler Jonathan Drennan is our man on the ground in Perth. He鈥檒l be sending through his preview, mid-game updates and keep an eye out for his match report and follow-up news later in the night.Strictly speaking, the Lions actually got themselves underway last weekend with a warm-up clash against Argentina but they鈥檒l be happy to forget that one after going down 28-24.Will tonight one be a good contest? The Western Force are paying $17 with the bookies to win tonight, so no-one is really expecting an upset.But that is the place the Force would prefer to be, no doubt.How do you see this one going down? Have your say in the poll.