Wallabies headline Western Force side to face British & Irish Lions

Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 5:12 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

Western Force coach Simon Cron has named 11 players with Test experience for Saturday’s tour match against the British & Irish Lions at Optus Stadium.

The Force were dealt a massive hand earlier in the day after Wallabies playmaker Ben Donaldson was released to play.

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His inclusion at fullback comes at the cost of Kurtley Beale, who was earlier ruled out with a hamstring injury.

With Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano and Harry Potter staying with the Wallabies squad, Test veteran Nic White takes the captaincy and partners Alex Harford in the halves.

White joins fellow Wallabies squad members Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Darcy Swain and Tom Robertson in the Force's starting XV after staying in Perth.

Robertson shifts to loosehead prop, paving the way for one-Test Wallaby Ollie Hoskins to start on his unique return to the Force.

Swain solidifies the second row alongside Sam Carter, who is playing his final Force game, whilst Champion de Crespigny slots into the back row alongside Will Harris and Vaiolini Ekuasi.

In the back, Pietsch adds experience to the back three along with Donaldson and Mac Grealy.

Three-cap Wallaby Hamish Stewart and former All Black Matt Proctor solidify the midfield as the Force hunt for their first ever win over the Lions, with Proctor making his club debut

Nic Dolly adds quality on the bench, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa set to start at hooker.

Young gun Marley Pearce and veteran Reed Prinsep are amongst the forward replacements, with Prinsep featuring for the Hurricanes in their 31-all draw against the Lions in 2017.

Henry Robertson, Max Burey and Bayley Kuenzle will finish the game in the backline.

The Force has played the Lions once, losing 69-17 in 2013 at Paterson Stadium.

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

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

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