The Western Force has made two changes to the starting XV for Friday’s Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific Round 3 clash away to Moana Pasifika with winger Darby Lancaster set to make his Club debut.
One-cap Wallabies flyer Lancaster, who joined the Force in the off-season from the NSW Waratahs, comes into the starting side on the right wing having recovered from a thigh injury.
Hooker Nic Dolly also returns to the Force starting side, marking his first competitive appearance since May last year after suffering a knee injury on the morning of the Club’s tour game against the British and Irish Lions in June.
Argentina international scrum-half Agustin Moyano is in line for his Super Rugby debut, named among the impacts for the first time after the 22-year-old's switch from Dogos XV Cordoba.
The Force are otherwise unchanged from the side that went down 42-32 to the Blues in Joondalup last round, with a wider squad making the trip across the ditch on Tuesday.
Reigning Nathan Sharpe medal winner Tom Robertson is named at loosehead prop to bring up his 50th Force cap, becoming the 25th player in Club history to achieve the feat.
Friday’s game kicks off at 2:05pm WST live on Stan Sport from Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe, 45 minutes south of Auckland.
In the run-on side, Robertson lines up on the front row alongside Dolly and Harry Johnson-Holmes, with Los Pumas lock Franco Molina teaming up with 17-cap Wallaby Darcy Swain in the second row.
Captain Jeremy Williams will resume at blindside flanker alongside WA Sport Star finalist Carlo Tizzano at openside flanker, with South Auckland-raised Vaiolini Ekuasi at number 8.
Nathan Hastie and Ben Donaldson – who currently leads Super Rugby for points scored with 26 - will continue their partnership at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, while there’s more continuity with Wallaby Hamish Stewart and 19-cap All Black George Bridge in the midfield.
Lancaster will team up with Bayley Kuenzle – who scored against the Blues - on the wings, with Mac Grealy starting at full-back.
The reserves are Argentinian hooker Leonel Oviedo, prop Sef Fa’agase and Tongan tighthead Misinale Epenisa, lock Lopeti Faifua, back-rower Kane Koteka, debutant Moyano, utility back Max Burey and 95-cap Wallaby Kurtley Beale.
Meanwhile, Dylan Pietsch’s availability is listed as medium term, with his foot injury requiring further time for his return to play.
Game details
Moana Pasifika vs Western Force
Friday 27 February, 2:05pm WST
Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Live on Stan Sport
Western Force team list
1 Tom Robertson
2 Nic Dolly
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Franco Molina
5 Darcy Swain
6 Jeremy Williams (c)
7 Carlo Tizzano
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi
9 Nathan Hastie
10 Ben Donaldson (vc)
11 Bayley Kuenzle
12 Hamish Stewart
13 George Bridge
14 Darby Lancaster
15 Mac Grealy
Reserves; Leonel Oviedo, Sef Fa’agase, Misinale Epenisa, Lopeti Faifua, Kane Koteka, Agustin Moyano, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale
SKG Radiology Unavailable List
Nick Champion de Crespigny (knee) – short term
Feao Fotuaika (foot) – medium term
Dylan Pietsch (foot) – medium term
Alex Harford (shoulder) – long term
Doug Philipson (knee) – long term
