Dan Sheehan to captain Irish-heavy Lions team to take on Western Force
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has named Dan Sheehan as captain for his side's first fixture in Australia against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday (11am Irish time).
Leinster hooker Sheehan will lead a Lions starting 15 packed with eight with Ireland internationals, including Tadhg Furlong.
Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose and James Lowe are all handed starts, while Sheehan and Furlong are joined by Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier.
There is further Irish representation among the replacements, where Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Jack Conan are primed to make impacts off the bench.
Sheehan is one of five starters, alongside Leinster teammates Ringrose, Lowe, McCarthy, and Van Der Flier, who make their Lions debuts this weekend at the Optus Stadium.
A further four players are set to make their Lions debuts off the bench - England and Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum, Scotland and Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones, Leinster prop Porter and England and Bath prop Will Stuart.
“We have had a good week of training, and all of the travel and time zone changes have been managed really well, so we are good to go," head coach Farrell said.
“Dan Sheehan gets the opportunity to lead the side against Western Force, which is a great honour for him and his family - so congratulations to Dan as he captains the side on his Lions debut.
“We know the quality and experience the Force have and the opportunity to play against the Lions always brings out special performances from the Super Rugby sides, so we expect them to be at their best.”
E Daly (Saracens), M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), S Tuipulotu (Glasgow), J Lowe (Leinster), F Russell (Bath), T Williams (Gloucester), P Schoeman (Edinburgh), D Sheehan (Leinster - captain), T Furlong (Leinster), S Cummings (Glasgow), J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), H Pollock (Northampton).
R Kelleher (Leinster), A Porter (Leinster), W Stuart (Bath), O Chessum (Leicester), J Conan (Leinster), A Mitchell (Northampton), H Jones (Glasgow), M Smith (Harlequins).
