rewrite this title Lions v Western Force live: Latest score and updates

He has! Sheer impudence and ingenuity from Finn Russell, the Scottish fly half always a step ahead.

Russell feigns to line up for a kick at goal from a penalty but the call is never made and the tee never on. He is therefore perfectly obliged to tap-and-go, and duly exploits space left by a Western Force defence caught napping.

A dummy takes him within five metres and Elliot Daly is on hand to score from Russell’s pop. A bit of a fracas after the try is scored is seemingly sparked by Henry Pollock’s enthusiastic celebrations but the score itself is all good – and converted by the No 10.

There’s plenty of fatigue out there given these long, very open passages.

Hang on – what’s happened there? Has Finn Russell created something out of nowhere?

Henry Pollock hits the deck after a clip of the heels from Tom Robertson…was it deliberate? The officials are happy, but I think the loosehead might have known what he was doing, the prop rather not fancying a footrace against the young gun after Sione Tuipulotu’s grubber. As it is, just a goalline dropout for the hosts.

Delicious! A gorgeous clip over the top from Finn Russell for Hansen, who gathers and charges on…only to find the ball ripped from his grasp! More nifty scramble defence from the Perth side.

Ooh, a spot of bother for James Lowe but how well does he do to extricate himself? A fierce fend allows him to escape his own in-goal area and use that thumping left boot to clear.

The Western Force have had the edge at scrum-time so far, Tom Robertson putting Tadhg Furlong under pressure repeatedly, and have the solidity to play away again.

Into a kicking exchange. Another James Lowe banana is well covered by the Western Force backfield, but Finn Russell returns their repply with interest, sending Mack Hansen further onwards. The Lions will play from inside their own half.

A glimpse for Mack Hansen! The Lions up the line speed and a sharp spot-tackle from Garry Ringrose forces the ball free from Matt Proctor. If Hansen scoops off his shoelaces, he might just have had the gas to get home; as it is, it’ll be a Western Force scrum for his fumble.

Proctor’s come up sore after that Ringrose tackle. In fact, so has the Irishman. I don’t think either is serious but we’ll take a pause.

The Lions looked a little short of ball-players in their backline in Dublin but they are properly stacked here, Elliot Daly and Mack Hansen both stepping in as distributors as Andy Farrell continues to try to groove the multifaceted attack he favours. There have been some bright signs in this half but the Western Force are scrambling effectively enough.

Garry Ringrose goes haring after a Mack Hansen chip – the wing unable to chase having been belted in the ribs by the busy Pietsch – and gets his hands on it, though can’t quite grasp it. The conditions are excellent in Perth, dry and temperate, but both sides are struggling a little to cling on to the ball amidst plenty of ambition being shown.

Blimey is Dylan Pietsch making some case to Joe Schmidt tonight. Released from the Wallabies squad to feature in this game, the wing is much too hot for the Lions to handle, bouncing and bumping out of a couple of tackles before connecting with Ben Donaldson. Pietsch looks well placed to take Donaldson’s return but can’t quite gather under pressure from Sione Tuipulotu.