Scotch College in Swanbourne is set to see a titanic battle for the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby AUS Grand Final between the Western Force and the Waratahs, with both sides confirming their teams for the big dance.
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The visitors will see the return of scrum-half Teddy Wilson, one of seven changes to the defending champions outfit that went down to the Force last week at Pittwater Park.
Prop Edwin Langi, lock Tom Girle, back-rowers Joe Mangelsdorf and Marshall Le Maitre and Randwick centres Charlie Bird and Nick Chan also come into the side, the latter two among five Shute Shield players in the starting XV, with seven academy players also joining them.
Tom Lambert and Ethan Dobbins will provide Super Rugby experience in the front row, while Eamon Doyle will lead the side once against at lock, with Max Burey partnering Wilson in the locks.
Folau Faingaa, Angus Scott-Young and Luke Reimer provide depth and experience, while Hadley Tonga, who is a former Australia Sevens international, is named as backs coverage.
Sid Harvey is set to miss out through injury, with Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong taking his place after a strong campaign.
“We are in the same boat as we were last year before the Super Rugby AUS Grand Final, with two wins and one loss through the regular rounds,” McCaffrey said.
“We will learn more after a loss like we had against the Force at the weekend. It is better preparation for a final, as we can take learnings from it and put them into practise in training this week.
“In terms of selection, we’ve gone with strong combinations with seven Academy and five Shute Shield players chosen to start who are hungry to compete and prove themselves at this next level.
“We have fond memories of going over to Perth for the final last year and we will have another crack to become back-to-back Super Rugby AUS champions.”
The Force meanwhile, only have one change to the side that impressed against the Waratahs in their 17-12 victory, with Harry McLaughlin-Phillips set to start at flyhalf, coming in fresh off a stint in Wallabies camp.
The hosts will be well supported with a lot of international experience, with Wallabies Tom Robertson, Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor and Dylan Pietsch all included, with captain Nic Dolly at hooker.
Joining the side is 2026 Rising Star winner Misinale Epenisa in the front row, with Cottesloe lock Zak Healey starting in the second row alongside Will Harris, with top try-scorer of the competition Nathan Hastie starting at scrumhalf.
Completing the squad will be a large contingent of Fortescue Premier Grade talent, with Cottesloe’s Regin Pratt, Nate Gallagher and Tim Sail joining Healey im the side, with Perth Bayswater half-back Luke Aiken and Kalamunda prop Max Sawers also included.
FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Nic Dolly (c), Misinale Epenisa, Will Harris (vc), Zak Healey, Kane Koteka, Jack Daly, Jackson Iose, Nathan Hastie, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Wallace Charlie, Kurtley Beale, Boston Fakafanua, Dylan Pietsch, Mac Grealy (vc)
Replacements: Albert Alcock, Max Sawers, Brad Kuhn, Regin Pratt, Aden Ekanayake, Ronan Leahy, Nate Gallagher, Tim Sail, Luke Aiken, James O’Connor
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Edwin Langi, Eamon Doyle (c), Tom Girle, Joe Mangelsdorf, Marshall Le Maitre, Isaac Fonua, Teddy Wilson, Max Burey, Otto Serfontein, Charlie Bird, Nick Chan, Freedom Vahaakolo, Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong
Replacements: Folau Faingaa, Brady Dawson, Will Goddard, Toby Brial, Angus Scott-Young, Luke Reimer, Oniti Finau, Ben Fuhiniu, Hadley Tonga, Joe Dillon
