Dylan Pietsch is back from injury to bolster the Western Force starting side for Sunday’s Swyftx Super Rugby AUS clash away to the NSW Waratahs which will decide the grand final host.
The two sides have both already clinched qualification for the decider, boasting 2-0 records, with the victor to host the decider on Saturday 3 October or Sunday 4 October.
Pietsch comes into the starting side on the wing in a major boost following a foot injury, adding quality to the Force side that downed the ACT Brumbies 40-12 at North Coast RUFC on Sunday.
Off-season signing Trevor Hosea will make his first appearance for the Force having also overcome a niggle.
Tongan tighthead prop and 2026 Rising Star winner Misinale Epenisa is the other addition to the starting side, with Hosea slotting into the locks and Will Harris shuffling to the back row.
Nick Champion de Crespigny is unavailable having been called into the Wallabies squad following Charlie Cale’s injury.
Another new recruit Aden Ekanayake comes into the matchday team for the first time among the replacements following illness.
In the starting side, Wallaby prop Tom Robertson runs on alongside captain Nic Dolly and Epenisa.
Cottesloe lock Zak Healey – who was named in the rugby.com.au Team of the Week for the second straight week – teams up with Hosea in the second row.
Harris reverts to blindside flanker, with Jack Daly at openside after a double against the Brumbies. UWA’s Jackson Iose starting at number 8.
In-form Wanneroo product Nathan Hastie starts at scrum-half alongside veteran fly-half Kurtley Beale.
Impressive midfielder Boston Fakafanua will run on again at inside-centre, working with Zac Lomax at outside-centre.
Wallace Charlie and Pietsch will partner on the wings, with Mac Grealy at full-back.
James O’Connor, who made his playing return to the Force for the first time in 15 years in Sunday’s win, will miss this game.
The replacements will be Albert Alcock, Max Sawers, Regin Pratt, Wil Taylor, Ekanayake, Evan Hooper, Ronan Leahy, Kane Koteka, Luke Aiken and Bradley Kuhn.
Sunday’s game will be played at Pittwater Rugby Park in Sydney from 10:45am WST, live on rugby.com.au’s Youtube and Stan Sport.
Match details
NSW Waratahs vs Western Force
Sunday 27 September, 10:45am WST
Pittwater Rugby Park, Sydney
Live on Stan Sport & rugby.com.au’s Youtube channel
Western Force 25-player team list
Starting XV
1 Tom Robertson
2 Nic Dolly (c)
3 Misinale Epenisa
4 Zak Healey
5 Trevor Hosea
6 Will Harris (vc)
7 Jack Daly
8 Jackson Iose
9 Nathan Hastie
10 Kurtley Beale
11 Wallace Charlie
12 Boston Fakafanua
13 Zac Lomax
14 Dylan Pietsch
15 Mac Grealy (vc)
Replacements
16 Albert Alcock, 17 Max Sawers, 18 Regin Pratt, 19 Wil Taylor, 20 Aden Ekanayake, 21 Evan Hooper, 22 Ronan Leahy, 23 Kane Koteka, 24 Luke Aiken, 27 Bradley Kuhn
