Former All Black out as Force name side for another must-win clash

Former All Blacks winger George Bridge will miss the latest in a series of must-win matches for the Western Force, not named in the side to take on the Fijian Drua. Bridge will miss the crucial clash due to soreness, having clocked the most minutes of any Force player this season.

Glasgow-bound Bayley Kuenzle comes into the run-on side at outside centre, set to link up with Wallaby Hamish Stewart in the midfield. Those two will play outside the halves duo of Nathan Hastie and Max Burey, with Henry Robertson and Ben Donaldson both unavailable.

Force Academy graduate Boston Fakafanua is in line to debut after being named on the bench. Fakafanua has been named in the replacements alongside the likes of Kurtley Beale, who is set to move into third all-time for Super Rugby appearances.

Harry Johnson-Holmes and Brandon Paenga-Amosa join Misinale Epenisa up front, while captain Jeremy Williams partners Darcy Swain in the second row once again. Force vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny and Carlo Tizzano start on the flanks, with Vaiolini Ekuasi at No. 8.

Wallabies winger Dylan Pietch starts on one wing, with code-hopper Zac Lomax lining up on the other edge. Australia A representative Mac Grealy rounds out the starting side, continuing to hold down the fort as the first-choice fullback.

After last weekend’s hard-fought 19-14 win over the Queensland Reds in Perth, the Force are still alive in the race to play finals football. This clash with the Drua is their second of three straight home matches to complete the round robin.

Western Force to take on Fijian Drua

1. Harry Johnson-Holmes

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Misinale Epenisa

4. Jeremy Williams (c)

5. Darcy Swain

6. Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc)

7. Carlo Tizzano

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi

9. Nathan Hastie

10. Max Burey

11. Dylan Pietsch

12. Hamish Stewart

13. Bayley Kuenzle

14. Zac Lomax

15. Mac Grealy

Reserves: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Marley Pearce, 18. Sef Fa’agase, 19. Franco Molina, 20. Will Harris, 21. Agustin Moyano, 22. Boston Fakafanua, 23. Kurtley Beale