The Western Force will welcome back star duo Ben Donaldson and George Bridge for Saturday’s season-ending Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific clash with the NSW Waratahs at HBF Park.
The addition of the pair are the only changes to the Force’s 23-player team list for Saturday’s game, which is the Club’s Members Game.
Donaldson has missed the past two games due to a quad injury but returns to start at fly-half. Bridge is back into the starting XV at outside-centre after missing last week following a heavy minutes load this campaign.
The Force has won four of its past five games and will be looking to finish the season on a high, with the side now unable to qualify for the finals.
In the run-on side, the Force has named an unchanged forward pack with Harry Johnson-Holmes, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Misinale Epenisa on the front row.
Captain Jeremy Williams starts in the second row alongside Darcy Swain. Williams leads Super Rugby Pacific this season for lineout steals with 15.
Vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny, Vaiolini Ekuasi and Carlo Tizzano start on the back row. Champion de Crespigny and Tizzano are both joint seventh in the league for tackles (156) this season.
Scrum-half Nathan Hastie will team up with Ben Donaldson, with Hamish Stewart and Bridge in the midfield.
Dylan Pietsch and Zac Lomax start on the wings, with Mac Grealy – who is equal seventh in the league for defenders beaten (37) - in at full-back.
The impacts are unchanged with hooker Nic Dolly, Joondalup Brothers product Marley Pearce, prop Sef Fa’agase, Argentinian lock Franco Molina, versatile forward Will Harris, scrum-half Moyano, second-gamer Boston Fakafanua and the experienced Kurtley Beale.
Tizzano last week equalled Cameron Shepherd for most tries (30) in Force history and can surpass that with a five-pointer against the ‘Tahs.
Kick-off for Saturday’s game is 5:35pm WST, with the game live on Stan Sport and 91.3 SportFM. Tickets via Ticketmaster.
Saturday’s fixture is the Club’s Members Game, celebrating and recognizing the Force’s most loyal supporters for their commitment.
Game details
Western Force vs NSW Waratahs
Saturday 30 May, 5:35pm WST
HBF Park, Perth
Live on Stan Sport (TV) & 91.3 SportFM (radio)
Western Force team list
1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Misinale Epenisa
4 Jeremy Williams (c)
5 Darcy Swain
6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc)
7 Carlo Tizzano
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi
9 Nathan Hastie
10 Ben Donaldson (vc)
11 Dylan Pietsch
12 Hamish Stewart
13 George Bridge
14 Zac Lomax
15 Mac Grealy
Reserves; 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa'agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Boston Fakafanua, 23 Kurtley Beale
SKG Radiology Unavailable List
Alex Harford (shoulder) - short term
Tom Robertson (calf) – short term
Darby Lancaster (ankle) – season
Henry Robertson (ACL) – season
