Match Preview
The British & Irish Lions open their 2025 tour with a conflict in opposition to Western Drive at Optus Stadium, Perth. It’s a historic second — the Lions’ first fixture since their dramatic 2021 collection in opposition to South Africa and a significant warm-up forward of subsequent week’s 1888 Cup assembly with Argentina.
Dan Sheehan captains a stacked Lions XV that options eight Irish gamers, together with backline firepower from James Lowe, Mack Hansen, and Garry Ringrose. Finn Russell and Tomos Williams type the half-back pairing in what appears to be an attacking aspect.
Up entrance, it’s a sometimes abrasive Lions pack with Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier, and Tadhg Beirne providing Check-level class. Younger back-rower Henry Pollock additionally earns a begin after his electrical rise by the England U20s system.
The Western Drive aspect is much from full power, with a number of of their common starters away on Wallabies responsibility forward of the Check in opposition to Fiji. Nevertheless, six internationals — together with Nic White (captain), Tom Robertson, and Ben Donaldson — are named within the run-on XV.
The emotional subplot surrounds Ollie Hoskins and Sam Carter, each of whom will retire after this fixture. Hoskins, a Cottesloe native, will get a becoming send-off in entrance of his house crowd.
🦁 Lions Beginning XV
15. Elliot Daly
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Sione Tuipulotu
11. James Lowe
10. Finn Russell
9. Tomos Williams
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dan Sheehan (c)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Scott Cummings
5. Joe McCarthy
6. Tadhg Beirne
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Henry Pollock
Replacements:
Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Jack Conan, Alex Mitchell, Huw Jones, Marcus Smith
🏉 Western Drive Beginning XV
1. Tom Robertson
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3. Ollie Hoskins
4. Sam Carter
5. Darcy Swain
6. Will Harris
7. Nick Champion de Crespigny
8. Vaiolini Ekuasi
9. Nic White (c)
10. Alex Harford
11. Dylan Pietsch
12. Hamish Stewart
13. Matt Proctor
14. Mac Grealy
15. Ben Donaldson
Replacements:
Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle
