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PERTH, Australia (AP) — Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan has been selected as captain on his debut for the British and Irish Lions ahead of Saturday’s tour-opening match against the Western Force.
Sheehan is one of five Leinster players on debut in the starting lineup against the Perth-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise, the first of nine games in Australia for the Lions.
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Ireland representatives feature heavily in the 23-player squad, with eight in the starting XV and three on the bench.
Maro Itoje is captain for the Lions tour but won’t be playing against the Force, opening the way for Sheehan to lead the touring team. He led Ireland against Wales in the Six nations earlier this year.
Lions coach Andy Farrell said the squad had a good period of training and adjusting to the time zone differences since arriving in Australia following a 28-24 warm-up loss to Argentina in Dublin last Friday.
Scotland center Sione Tuipulotu and Ireland backrower Tadhg Beirne are the only starters from the loss against Argentina who are back in the starting XV against the Force.
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“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," Farrell said. "So we expect them to be at their best.”
The Lions beat the Force 69-17 during the 2013 tour to Australia before edging the Wallabies 2-1 in the three-test series.
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Lions squad: Elliot Daly (England), Mack Hansen (Ireland), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Tomos Williams (Wales); Henry Pollock (England), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Scott Cummings (Scotland), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland, captain), Pierre Schoeman (Scotland). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Ollie Chessum (England), Jack Conan (Ireland), Alex Mitchell (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Marcus Smith (England).
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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