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Lions v Force

Sky Sports brings you all the best of the build up to the Lions' tour match with the Force.

The British and Irish Lions will play their first match on Australian soil when they tackle the Western Force on Wednesday.

Force named weakened line-up

Matt Hodgson will captain Western Force in Wednesday's match against the Lions in Perth. Hodgson is one of six Test players in the squad for the match at Patersons Stadium. The others are Salesi Ma'afu, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan and Sam Norton-Knight who are in the starting line-up while ex-All Black Alby Mathewson is on the bench. Head coach Michael Foley said: "We've included some of our most experienced players to provide leadership against a Lions squad we have a great deal of respect for."

Rowntree: No silliness

Assistant coach Graham Rowntree has urged the British and Irish Lions to maintain their discipline when they take on the Western Force in Perth on Wednesday. He said: "We will be very strong internally. 'Gats' spoke to the team this morning. We are here to play rugby, not to be drawn into silliness. The players know the sanctions in place if they overstep the mark. You are going to get banned, you could miss a tour if you are not switched on. They understand it perfectly." For more, click here

Kearney concern

British and Irish Lions full-back Rob Kearney has emerged as an early injury concern on their tour of Australia. A scan has revealed the Leinster and Ireland star has a hamstring tear and he will receive medical attention for the next week. Head coach Warren Gatland said: "He's a little bit of a concern for us at the moment. We scanned him in Hong Kong and it came back as a grade one tear. We are going to see how he responds, so we've got to be prepared that it might not heal as quickly as we would like.

Expert - The claws are out

Stuart Barnes thought Australia were going to narrowly conquer the Lions. Now he is not so sure. He said: "Maybe I am getting a little soft but it was the power of the second-half performance that impressed me most. Brilliant at the breakdown when they needed to be, experimental and eventually successful at the line out and potent on the gain line; all this and a high level of intensity, Andy Farrell's favourite word of the moment, combined to make the Hong Kong trip a beneficial beginning to the tour."

Western Australia 10 British and Irish Lions 116

The Britsh and Irish Lions arrive in Western Australia 12 years after they kicked their 2001 tour in emphatic fashion. The Lions ran in 18 tries at the WACA in a one-sided rout of the woefully outclassed hosts. Scott Quinnell and Dan Luger both scored hat-tricks, while Neil Back, Iain Balshaw and Rob Howley crossed for two tries apiece. Simon Taylor, Austin Healey, Brian O'Driscoll, Mark Taylor, Danny Grewcock and Will Greenwood also registered tries, while Ronan O'Gara slotted over 13 successful conversions.

Venue guide - Patersons Stadium

Perhaps better known as the Subiaco Oval, Patersons Stadium is the home of Australian Rules Football in Western Australia. The Perth venue, originally called Mueller Park, has hosted football and rugby union matches in the past - with the Western Force having played there been 2006 and 2009. The Force subsequently moved to 18,000-capacity nib Stadium in 2010 however the arrival of the Lions in Perth - and the interest the game will generate - means the tour match will be held at Patersons Stadium.

Lions in Perth


 The best of the pictures as the Lions prepare to face the Western Force in Perth. Click here for their arrival and first training session and here for the captain's run. Watch every Lions game live only on Sky Sports. Click here to sign up or upgrade now.

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