THE British & Irish Lions opened their tour of Australia with a striding win but they still managed to get a few sharp stones lodged in their boots.
The discomfort could become severe enough to cause the touring side to limp a little – an ankle injury suffered by Cian Healy having been compounded by a citation for biting against the prop and an accusation of stamping against scrum-half Conor Murray, during a ruck.
Both are unseemly acts which are being investigated by the citing commissioner, although perhaps more galling was that the Lions were hardly pressed to bare their teeth. Nine tries were garnered against a Western Force side which had been depleted by necessity, since they will face New South Wales Waratahs on Sunday, and which comprised seven players who had not yet played Super Rugby for the Perth-based side.
Whether Healy will be permitted to play in that match remains to be seen as he will first have to face a hearing. The case put forward for continued selection by a number of his team-mates was far more promising, however. That stand-in captain Brian O'Driscoll was conspicuous among them seems pertinent since tour captain Sam Warburton is expected to make his debut on Saturday, while his Wales team-mate Leigh Halfpenny slotted all 11 of his kicks yesterday to all but assure a Test berth.
He assumed those duties ahead of Ireland's Jonny Sexton, although he was appeased by scoring the opening try after just 10 minutes. It would be a sign of intent from his side, although Cealy soon left his mark on Brett Sheehan, the Force scrum-half, for very different reasons, when he bit him when defending a ruck eight minutes later. The prop would escape immediate censure, though, as the television match official was unable to find any evidence after a review of the tape.
The Lions were able to compose themselves during the halt in play and O'Driscoll scored his first try after switching passes with Wales winger George North, but the game was once again stopped for a lengthy period in the 35th minute when Healy twisted an ankle during a tackle. "We will have to wait 24, 48 hours and see what happens," said Gatland.
The Lions did not hang around to reaffirm their strength, though; replacement Tom Croft crossing for another score to establish a 27-3 lead at half-time. Jamie Heaslip, the Irish No.8, added another try at the start of the second half before Richard Brown went over for the Force after avoiding a tackle by Sean O'Brien.
Yet the Lions roared back and replacement Mako Vunipola forced his way over for a five-point score and Tommy Bowe, O'Driscoll and Owen Farrell recorded further tries in the last 20 minutes, before replacement lock Geoff Parling added a ninth in the final moments. It was impressive enough a lead that it was easy to miss the late yellow card that was shown to Alun Wyn Jones, of the Lions second, for a ruck infringement.
"Every side [on the tour] will challenge the Lions and every side will go as hard as they can," said Michael Foley, the Force head coach. "I think by the time the Lions get to the tests they will be hardened."
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