Bayley Kuenzle returns from injury as Force name team for Hurricanes

The return of utility Bayley Kuenzle headlines the Western Force’s team to play the Hurricanes in a decisive Super Rugby Pacific showdown this weekend.

Kuenzle has been out of action since injuring his posterior cruciate ligament and MCL while playing club rugby last July, which subsequently required surgery.

Last weekend, Kuenzle returned to competitive rugby with Associates in Western Australia’s Premier Grade competition, with the 26-year-old showing signs of promise by scoring a try.

Kuenzle comes into the Force’s side to play the Hurricanes on the left wing, having replaced the injured Dylan Pietsch on the left wing. That is the only change to the Perth-based side’s starting side that got the better of the Highlanders 29-20 in round eight.

Coach Simon Cron has selected Marley Pearce, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Tom Robertson are the three starting front rowers, while captain Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain round out the tight five as the locking duo.

Nick Champin de Crespigny and Carlo Tizzano have both been among the competition’s leading backrowers to date and the two flankers will get another chance to stand out in round 10. They join No. 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi as the three loose forwards.

Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson will link up in the halves, while Wallaby Hamish Stewart joins Sio Tomkinson in the midfield. Kuenzle is on the left wing with Harry Potter on the right, and rounding out the First XV is Mac Grealy at fullback.

“We just want to get back to doing what we do best and that’s holding the ball and building possession and kicking on our terms and playing at the right ends of the field,” Williams told reporters.

“If we can do all those things and put all those things together, then we’ll give ourselves every chance to get out there and get a dub.”

The Force are currently sixth on the standings but could potentially surge up the ladder with a win over the travelling Hurricanes. That said, the Canes could leapfrog the Force if they secure a bonus-point win on Saturday.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

1

Wins

3

Average Points scored

25

32

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

Western Force team to take on Hurricanes

Starting XV: Marley Pearce, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi; Nic White (vc), Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy

Reserves: Nic Dolly, Atu Moli, Josh Smith, Reed Prinsep (vc), Will Harris, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, George Poolman