Northern | US

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

George Bridge of the Force passes the ball during the round two Super Rugby match between Western Force and Blues at Arena Joondalup, on February 21, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Comments
Comment

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

VIDEO

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

ADVERTISEMENT

RugbyPass App Download

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!


Whether you’re looking for somewhere to track upcoming fixtures, a place to watch live rugby or an app that shows you all of the latest news and analysis, the RugbyPass rugby app is perfect.

Watch Super Rugby LIVE on RugbyPass TV

Tune in to every Super Rugby Pacific 2026 match live and on-demand on RugbyPass TV and via the RugbyPass app.

Watch Live
Streaming available in the USA only.
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Watch Super Rugby LIVE on RugbyPass TV

close

Tune in to every Super Rugby Pacific 2026 match live and on-demand on RugbyPass TV and app.

Watch Live
Streaming available in the USA only.
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close