Captain Brian O'Driscoll crossed for two tries against the Force in Perth
© Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Madness returns to press Test claim

News: Cian Healy cleared of biting Brett Sheehan

News: Dale Haylett-Petty heads home

Features: Five things we learned...from the Force clash

Features: Wallabies won't yet be quivering

Features: Second-string Force an unattractive farce

Matches: Force 17 - 69 British and Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions made it two-wins-from-two with a 69-17 mauling of the Western Force at Patersons Stadium in Perth on Wednesday night - but they were left sweating on an ankle injury suffered by Ireland prop Cian Healy.

Match Analysis by ESPNscrum's Graham jenkins

• Man of the Match: Lions No.8 Jamie Heaslip dominated proceedings with a power-packed performance that included a try but that does not do justice to his contribution. The Irishman was at his ball-hungry best on his way to game-leading 118 metres with ball in hand but he was equally devastating without the ball with his 12 tackles also the best by any Lions player.
• Key Moment: The Lions' latest victory came at a significant price with what looked like a nasty injury for prop Cian Healy. The Irish loose-head had to be stretchered from the field in the first half with replays suggesting a nasty ankle ligament injury that will be of great concern to coach Warren Gatland with rival loose-head Gethin Jenkins troubled by a calf injury. England's Mako Vunipola delivered an eye-catching display after replacing Healy but Gatland may well look to bolster his squad in the coming days.
• Hero of the Game: Lions fullback Leigh Halfpenny was in imperious form with the boot. The Welshman converted all nine tries - including several from the touchline - in a kicking masterclass that also included two penalties.That level of precision is a warning to the Wallabies who know that any indiscipline will be punished while Halfpenny's industry elsewhere confirmed what we already knew - that he will fill the No.15 shirt for the Test series.
• Villain of the Game: Western Force scrum-half Brett Sheehan claimed that he was bitten by Healy in the first half with his allegation considered serious enough by referee Glen Jackson to consider the Television Match Official. The replays proved inconclusive and Healy escaped sanction while Sheehan later stated that he was not sure the bite on his arm - while both players were at the bottom of a ruck - was intentional. Even if Healy is exonerated, it is a further warning, following Owen Farrell's spat with Schalk Brits last weekend, that they must keep cool-heads at all times if this tour is to prove ultimately successful.
• Talking Point: This was a convincing win but what did the Lions learns from this? The row was bubbling pre-game with Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan calling the under-strength Force side "disrespectful" while another former coach Sir Clive Woodward was adamant the elite tourists were being treated with "contempt" by the hosts' decision to rest their front line players. Admittedly, the Force played for 80 minutes and grabbed two tries but they did not really test the Lions or ask any significant questions. The Australian Rugby Union's decision to wrap the Wallabies up in cotton wool and the Force's decision to priorities their Super Rugby clash at the weekend also impacted on the attendance with just 33,000 present in the 45,300 Patersons Stadium.
• Play of the Game: Captain Brian O'Driscoll's second try was arguably the pick of the Lions' scores. Fly-half Jonathan Sexton fed inside centre Manu Tuilagi who charged up the middle on a powerful run that attracted the attention of several defenders. He then off-loaded to O'Driscoll who was able to race away for a well-worked score that bodes well for the future.

The Leinster forward was carried off and taken to hospital for an X-ray, although initial reports were that he had sprained his ankle rather than anything more serious. Healy's departure was the only setback for a Lions side far quicker in thought and deed than their spirited, but outclassed, opponents.

The tourists ran in tries from captain Brian O'Driscoll (2), Jonathan Sexton, Tom Croft, Jamie Heaslip, Mako Vunipola, Tommy Bowe, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling, while full-back Leigh Halfpenny produced a goalkicking masterclass. Halfpenny, this year's Six Nations player of the tournament, booted all nine conversions - several from the touchline - and two penalties for 24 points and a 100% record.

The Force replied with touchdowns by forwards Richard Brown and Lachlan McCaffrey, while scrum-half Brett Sheehan converted both and landed a penalty, but they had no answer to some perpetual motion rugby by the tourists.

O'Driscoll, on the first appearance of his fourth successive Lions tour, steered the ship majestically, but he had any number of willing workers alongside him, most notably the sublime Sexton and strong-running flanker Sean O'Brien.

It was just the start head coach Warren Gatland would have wanted to a nine-game Australian tour schedule highlighted by three Test match appointments with the Wallabies. The Lions have already clocked up 128 points and 17 tries in two games, and the early signs are hugely encouraging for what awaits them during the next month.

The Lions, showing a completely changed line-up following last Saturday's victory over the Barbarians in Hong Kong, went ahead through an early Halfpenny penalty after Bowe sliced open Western Force's defence. And Bowe's break proved a sign of things to come as the Lions relentlessly built pressure, with O'Brien proving a particularly effective link in terms of continuity.

The Force had their work cut out keeping a consistent defensive shape, and they were horribly outfoxed by Sexton when he danced his way over from 20 metres, beating three players in the process.

Halfpenny converted, only for the Force to find themselves immediately back in their 22 and play was briefly held up when referee Glen Jackson - the former Saracens fly-half - sought video assistance for alleged foul play.

An unnamed Force player, thought to be Sheehan, claimed he had been bitten, but no evidence could be found despite the television match official reviewing play from a number of different angles. It sparked the Force into action, though, and a committed counter-attack briefly shunted the Lions out of their rhythm, but they had no real problem successfully defending their line.

A Sheehan penalty eight minutes before half-time then opened the Force's account, before O'Driscoll claimed a well-worked touchdown and Croft also scored. And the third quarter was one-way traffic with Heaslip powering over before Healy's replacement Vunipola touched down in the corner. It was relentless by the Lions, and even though Brown's try momentarily knocked them out of their stride, they quickly surged back upfield to camp deep inside Western Force's 22.

The Force struggled to contain wave after wave of attacking red shirts, and their job was made even tougher midway through the half when centre Ed Stubbs was sin-binned for not rolling away from a ruck. And Stubbs' poor discipline was immediately pushed when the Lions easily worked Bowe across for try number six, which Halfpenny again converted from the touchline that continued his remarkable show of accuracy.

The Lions were in no mood to take their foot off the accelerator, and further scores followed in quick succession for O'Driscoll and Farrell, although Croft's evening ended early when he left the action gingerly after a clash of heads with Brown.

Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones received a late yellow card for a technical infringement, but his team were long home and hosed, ready to begin preparations for a far sterner encounter against Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Lions' Cian Healy receives treatment for an ankle injury © Getty Images

Enlarge