Seize the moment: Cron urges Western Force to lift to Lions challenge

Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 8:59 AM
AFP
by AFP
Western Force head coach Simon Cron spoke to reporters ahead of Saturday night's series-opening tour game against the British & Irish Lions.

Western Force coach Simon Cron urged his team on Thursday to step up and meet the moment when they face the British and Irish Lions after naming six current Wallabies in his starting side.

The tourists open their nine-game Australian itinerary in Perth on Saturday, desperate to make a winning start after a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warm-up in Dublin last week.

Final tickets still available! Get your tickets for the Western Force v British & Irish Lions match here

They will face a side skippered by experienced scrum-half Nic White, who along with Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain were all released from Australia's training camp in Sydney.

Team-mates Carlo Tizzano, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter were not and will miss the game.

But veteran back Kurtley Beale, a 95-Test veteran, picked up a hamstring niggle in training on Tuesday and has been ruled out.

To compensate, Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has allowed Ben Donaldson to make a late dash to Perth.

"It's exciting, right?" said Cron, looking ahead to playing in front of a bumper crowd at Perth Stadium.

"They should be excited by it. And if they are excited and they love what they do and they love being on that field, then they'll play the type of game we want to play.

"We've got a couple of guys in a team that are that are pretty strong mentally, and my expectations is that they'll lead the boys into it, and the other guys will follow," he added.

"And that's what leadership is, the biggest players stepping forward in the biggest moments. So it's a great opportunity for them to do that."

White partners Alex Harford in the halves with Pietsch and Mac Grealy on the wings and Matt Proctor forming a midfield with Hamish Stewart. Donaldson will start at full-back.

Robertson will line up in the front row alongside Brandon Paenga-Amosa and retiring prop Ollie Hoskins.

Sam Carter will play his final game in Force colours partnering Swain, who last week earned his first Wallabies call-up since 2022, in the locks.

Will Harris, Champion de Crespigny and Vaiolini make up the back row.

The Force have played the Lions once before, losing 69-17 in 2013.

Western Force (15-1): Ben Donaldson; Mac Grealy, Matt Proctor, Hamish Stewart, Dylan Pietsch; Alex Harford, Nic White (capt); Vaiolini Ekuasi, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Will Harris; Darcy Swain, Sam Carter; Ollie Hoskins, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson

Reserves: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Reed Prinsep, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Bayley Kuenzle

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