Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams will run out for his first British and Irish Lions start this Saturday.
The Gloucester No.9 has earned a spot in the XV to face Western Force in the opening match of the tour of Australia.
Williams, whose lively impact off the bench in last weekend’s narrow 28-24 defeat to Argentina impressed head coach Andy Farrell, is one of 13 changes made to the starting line-up ahead of the clash at Optus Stadium in Perth.
“Dan Sheehan gets the opportunity to lead the side against Western Force, which is a great honour for him and his family – so congratulations to Dan as he captains the side on his Lions debut,” said Farrell.
“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, so we expect them to be at their best.”
While Sheehan takes on the captaincy in Maro Itoje’s absence, Williams’ selection at scrum-half is a significant signal of intent.
The former Cardiff man will look to bring speed and sharp decision-making to the Lions' attack, linking up with Scotland’s Finn Russell at fly-half in a fresh-look half-back pairing.
Williams isn’t the only player rewarded for his display in the 1888 Cup fixture in Dublin. Mack Hansen, the Australia-born Ireland winger, also steps into the starting team after a lively cameo against the Pumas.
In midfield, Garry Ringrose partners Sione Tuipulotu, who retains his place but shifts in to inside centre.
Tadhg Beirne is the only other player to hold onto his starting jersey, moving from lock to blindside flanker in a new-look back row.
That includes 20-year-old Henry Pollock, another fresh face in Farrell’s side and one of the tour’s most exciting prospects.
The England back-rower will earn his first Lions start at number eight, continuing a remarkable rise through the ranks after a breakthrough season with Northampton Saints.
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Elsewhere, Elliot Daly replaces Marcus Smith at full-back, and James Lowe starts opposite Hansen on the wing.
Up front, Sheehan is joined by Pierre Schoeman and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, with Scott Cummings and Joe McCarthy forming a new second-row partnership. Josh van der Flier completes the back row.
“We have had a good week of training and all of the travel and time zone changes have been managed really well, so we are good to go,” Farrell said.
On the bench, Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell are among the more experienced names, while Ireland forwards Andrew Porter, Jack Conan, and Ronan Kelleher provide power up front.
Scotland centre Huw Jones returns from injury to take a spot among the replacements, along with England’s Will Stuart and Ollie Chessum.
In total, eight Irish players make the starting lineup, with Leinster accounting for nine of the 23-man squad. Sheehan, Ringrose, Lowe, McCarthy, and van der Flier are all in line to make their Lions debuts, as are Jones, Chessum, Porter and Stuart off the bench.
READ MORE: Pumas Ready To Get Their Claws Into Lions Squad As Tomos Williams And Jac Morgan Await Call
Their opponents, the Western Force, have named a strong team bolstered by several players on temporary release from Australia’s national squad.
Fly-half Ben Donaldson, originally unavailable due to Wallabies commitments, has been released to start in place of the injured Kurtley Beale.
That move came amid a tense dispute between Lions officials and Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, who initially tried to restrict player availability for provincial matches during the Lions tour.
Donaldson is joined in the Force lineup by fellow Wallabies squad members Dylan Pietsch, Nic White, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Darcy Swain, and Tom Robertson.
Ex-All Black Matt Proctor features at centre, and former England hooker Nic Dolly is named among the replacements.
The Force will be hoping for a better result than in 2013, when they suffered a heavy 69-17 defeat to the Lions in their only previous meeting.
READ MORE: Lions Arrive In Australia As Andy Farrell Monitors Fitness Of Key Duo
Western Force XV: Donaldson; Grealy, Proctor, Stewart, Pietsch; Harford, White; T Robertson, Paenga-Amosa, Hoskins; Carter, Swain; Harris, Champion de Crespigny, Ekuasi
Replacements: Dolly, Pearce, Tauakipulu, Faifua, Prinsep, H Robertson, Burey, Kuenzle
British and Irish Lions XV: Daly; Hansen, Ringrose, Tuipulotu, Lowe; Russell, Williams; Schoeman, Sheehan, Furlong; Cummings, McCarthy; Beirne, Van der Flier, Pollock
Replacements: Kelleher, Porter, Stuart, Chessum, Conan, Mitchell, Jones, M Smith
