After a disappointing opener against Argentina, the British & Irish Lions finally found their rhythm in Perth — but not before some early jitters.
Saturday’s clash with Western Force gave Andy Farrell’s squad the confidence boost they needed, with a 54-7 win, but the first half reminded fans and coaches that there’s still work to be done before the big tests ahead.
Slow First Half, Then a Sudden Turnaround
Things didn’t start all that smoothly for the Lions.
Dan Sheehan got the visitors on the board quickly, but Western Force responded within minutes thanks to captain Nic White.
The Force held their ground and made life frustrating for the Lions early on.
Despite two tries from Tomos Williams and Elliot Daly before halftime, Farrell wasn’t impressed with the overall intensity.
And judging by the tone of his halftime talk, neither were the players.
Farrell’s Halftime Pep Talk Worked
Whatever Farrell said during the break clearly sparked something.
Within the first 15 minutes of the second half, the Lions looked like a completely different side.
They scored three tries in quick succession — Williams bagged his second, Garry Ringrose touched down, and Joe McCarthy added another to all but seal the deal.
Elliot Daly added his second try later on, and Alex Mitchell helped push the Lions past the 50-point mark in the dying minutes.
Player-by-Player Breakdown from Perth
Elliot Daly – 8.5/10
Daly was rock solid. Not only did he grab two tries, but his awareness in the back-field and sharp handling showed his experience.
He’s making a real case for the No. 15 jersey.
Mack Hansen – 7.5/10
A bit of a rollercoaster day. Early nerves showed, but he found his feet and caused trouble for the Force once he settled in. Could surprise as a Test starter.
Garry Ringrose – 7/10
Defensively strong with a try to his name, though he didn’t quite get the chance to fully unleash his usual creativity.
Sione Tuipulotu – 6.5/10
Still looking for rhythm after an injury layoff.
Flashes of quality, but overall performance was patchy.
James Lowe – 8/10
From a cheeky back-hand assist to clever attacking runs, Lowe kept the Force on their toes. Looking more and more like a guaranteed starter.
Finn Russell – 8.5/10
Vintage Russell. Smart kicks, slick passing, and even put in the dirty defensive work.
A calm and crafty presence at fly-half.
Tomos Williams – 7/10
Scored twice and kept the tempo up with sharp box kicks.
Only concern: he took a knock that could become a worry for the coaches.
Up Front: Big Hits and a Few Misses
Pierre Schoeman – 6/10
The scrum was shaky and Schoeman couldn’t quite stabilize it, but he made up for it with hard graft in defence.
Dan Sheehan – 7/10
Scored early and threw well at the lineout. Brought his usual physical presence.
One of the Lions’ more consistent forwards.
Tadhg Furlong – 6/10
A veteran with plenty of Lions clout, but he’s still working on getting back to top form. The set-piece struggles didn’t help his case.
Scott Cummings – 4/10
A tough day for the Scot. Multiple restart errors and missed opportunities.
Likely a missed shot at making a stronger claim.
Joe McCarthy – 9/10
A powerhouse performance. He was everywhere — aggressive, mobile, and effective.
A standout who looks ready to partner Maro Itoje in the big games.
In the Back Row: Energy, Errors, and Some Magic
Tadhg Beirne – 6.5/10
Played in the back row but didn’t quite make the impact we’ve seen from him before.
Gave away an early penalty and didn’t feature much after.
Josh van der Flier – 8/10
Always in the thick of it. His energy never dipped, whether in tackles or support lines. Absolutely in the Test conversation.
Henry Pollock – 8/10
Wildly exciting. Made two outrageous plays that led to tries, but he also got a yellow card and made a few sloppy mistakes. Still, you can’t look away — a serious talent.
