Lock Izack Rodda will get at least two games to make his case for a Wallabies call-up as he makes his return for the Western Force.
Rodda will come off the bench during Friday’s must-win match with the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.
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It marks exactly one year since the 26-year-old last pulled on a Force jersey in Super Rugby Pacific, injuring his foot in a win over Moana Pasifika.
Rodda re-aggravated the injury in their final trial against the Fijian Drua in February, kept on the sidelines ever since.
It’s a welcome boost for the club, who have lost Ryan McCauley for the rest of the year with a torn pectoral.
“It’s been almost a year since his last game so he’s been working hard to get himself back into shape,” Force coach Simon Cron told reporters.
“He’s a big body and it’s good to get a big body back in the team to add to the guys around him. He’s brings that big game mentality so those are the things he wants to drive.
“Realistically for us, he could do 40 or more (minutes), but it’s about timing for the team."
However, the news is not so good for prop Tom Robertson, who has suffered a long-term ACL injury.
Robertson limped off the field during last week’s win over the Brumbies, with the club confirming he will likely miss the rest of the year.
“Robertson sustained a left ACL injury in contact during round 13’s match against the Brumbies,” the club said in a statement.
“Robertson will be unavailable for the remainder of the ’23 Super Rugby Pacific competition. He will see a specialist in the coming days to assess his return to play window.”
The prop had been filling in on both sides of the scrum for the club, featuring in the last four Tests of 2022 for the Wallabies.
“He’s a great man and we love him,” Cron added.
“…He smiles at everything so he’s pretty strong and he’ll get through it and be stronger on the other side.
“The timing around the World Cup is bad also because personally, I think he was playing some of his best Rugby.”
FORCE (1-15): Angus Warner, Folau Fainga'a, Siosifa Amone, Felix Kalapu, Jeremy Williams, Michael Wells (c), Carlo Tizzano, Rahboni Vosayaco, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Manasa Mataele, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Zach Kibirge, Chase Tiatia
RESERVES: Tom Horton, Marley Pearce, Bo Abra, Izack Rodda, Tim Anstee, Isi Naisarani, Ian Prior, George Poolman
