Overview

• Lions head coach Andy Farrell has made 13 changes to the starting XV to face Western Force on June 28, naming Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan as captain for his debut.
• Rugby Australia and Lions executives agreed to release hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami to the Queensland Reds after initial resistance from coach Joe Schmidt.
• Veteran back Kurtley Beale was ruled out of the Perth match with a hamstring niggle, prompting Wallabies playmaker Ben Donaldson to join Western Force’s lineup.
• Farrell has urged his squad to build on lessons from the 28-24 defeat to Argentina by integrating players fresh from Premiership and URC finals.
• The strengthened midweek fixtures aim to sharpen the Lions ahead of the three-Test series against Australia, which kicks off in Brisbane on July 19.