Lions launch Australian tour with Force victory
Source: Agencies |
June 6, 2013, Thursday
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BRIAN O'Driscoll opened his fourth Lions tour by leading the combined British and Irish team and scoring two tries in a 69-17 win over a below-strength Western Force.
Force coach Michael Foley selected seven uncapped players for yesterday's match in a bid to save some of his regular starters for a weekend Super Rugby clash against the New South Wales Waratahs, sparking criticism in the British media and claims by former Lions coach Clive Woodward that it threatened the future of the quadrennial tour.
The Lions, coming off a 59-8 win over the Barbarians in Hong Kong last Saturday, responded by scoring nine tries in Perth and conceding two in the first of their nine matches on Australian soil. Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked nine conversions and two penalty goals for a 24-point haul.
The match featured some heavy hits and there was even biting allegations against the Lions, with Force and former Australia scrumhalf Brett Sheehan accusing one of the touring forwards of biting his arm in the 17th minute. There was no conclusive video evidence and the referees took no action.
The Lions led by only seven points in the 32nd minute but started opening up the local defense as halftime approached and took a 27-3 lead into the break, with Irish flyhalf Jonathan Sexton opening the scoring and O'Driscoll and flanker Tom Croft also crossing in the first 40 minutes.
O'Driscoll, who made his Lions debut on the 2001 Australia tour, Jamie Heaslip, Mako Vunipola, Tommy Bowe, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling all scored second-half tries.
The Lions are chasing their first series win since a 2-1 victory in South Africa in 1997, having lost to Australia in 2001, New Zealand in 2005 and the Springboks in 2009.
The local opposition should become tougher immediately, with the Lions heading to Brisbane for a match against the Queensland Reds on Saturday. Reds playmaker Quade Cooper will be pressing his claim for selection in the Wallabies squad for the three-test series starting on June 22.
Force coach Michael Foley selected seven uncapped players for yesterday's match in a bid to save some of his regular starters for a weekend Super Rugby clash against the New South Wales Waratahs, sparking criticism in the British media and claims by former Lions coach Clive Woodward that it threatened the future of the quadrennial tour.
The Lions, coming off a 59-8 win over the Barbarians in Hong Kong last Saturday, responded by scoring nine tries in Perth and conceding two in the first of their nine matches on Australian soil. Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked nine conversions and two penalty goals for a 24-point haul.
The match featured some heavy hits and there was even biting allegations against the Lions, with Force and former Australia scrumhalf Brett Sheehan accusing one of the touring forwards of biting his arm in the 17th minute. There was no conclusive video evidence and the referees took no action.
The Lions led by only seven points in the 32nd minute but started opening up the local defense as halftime approached and took a 27-3 lead into the break, with Irish flyhalf Jonathan Sexton opening the scoring and O'Driscoll and flanker Tom Croft also crossing in the first 40 minutes.
O'Driscoll, who made his Lions debut on the 2001 Australia tour, Jamie Heaslip, Mako Vunipola, Tommy Bowe, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling all scored second-half tries.
The Lions are chasing their first series win since a 2-1 victory in South Africa in 1997, having lost to Australia in 2001, New Zealand in 2005 and the Springboks in 2009.
The local opposition should become tougher immediately, with the Lions heading to Brisbane for a match against the Queensland Reds on Saturday. Reds playmaker Quade Cooper will be pressing his claim for selection in the Wallabies squad for the three-test series starting on June 22.
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