Chessum helps Lions overwhelm the Force

TIGERS LOCK IMPRESSES ON DEBUT AS POLLOCK BOOSTS TEST HOPES

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LEICESTER Tigers lock Ollie Chessum came off the bench to help the British & Irish Lions roar to a dominant 54-7 win over Western Force in their opening match in Australia.

Chessum made his Lions debut when he replaced Scott Cummings in the 48th minute of the clash at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

The Tigers hero came up against former clubmates Sam Carter and Tom Horton in the Force side, which proved no match for the Lions in the second half.

One of the best Lions performers was 20-year-old Northampton Saints forward Henry Pollock, who was front and centre on his first start in the red jersey.

The Lions' youngest tourist used his athleticism and awareness to set up Tomos Williams' first try and almost scored one himself, while also providing the spark for a confrontation between the sides and being sent to the sin-bin for a ruck infringement.

"Henry got a yellow card because of repeated infringements which was fair enough but you also saw his point of difference, that's for sure," said Lions head coach Andy Farrell.

Pollock received strong praise from Dan Sheehan, the Ireland hooker who was captaining the Lions on his debut for the tourists, but there was also a reminder that the team comes first.

"Henry was brilliant. He does his own thing and plays his own way, which is different to a lot of the forwards," Sheehan said.