Jeremy Williams shifts to blindside in Western Force team to play Blues

The Western Force have welcomed back Darcy Swain to the starting XV for round 2 of the Super Rugby Pacific season, moving Jeremy Williams to the back row to accommodate the lock alongside Puma Franco Molina.

Vaiolini Ekuasi moves to No.8 as part of the reshuffle, with Nick Champion de Crespigny sidelined due to a knee injury.

The rest of the starting XV remains unchanged for Simon Cron’s side, with the addition of Kane Koteka the only change on the bench.

Cron was unsparing following his side’s 56-24 loss to the Brumbies in round 1, signalling an urgent need for answers after his side let a 10-0 lead slip.

“We have to be better than that,” Cron said. “Look, you don’t get to cry about it, you don’t get to mourn that ‘we played a poor game’.

“We’ve got to review straight away, get the fixes that are most critical for the team. We’ve had a discussion in the sheds around that, and now get back out on the park and start fixing it.

“I’m bitterly disappointed, mainly because the first 20 we controlled the ball.

“I feel then we just got really narrow and started overworking our forwards quite a lot… have to look at how and why and fix that.”

The challenge doesn’t get much easier against another 2025 semi-finalist, but the coach has more experience in the engine room to help counter the Blues’ tight game.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

5

Average Points scored

16

35

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

80%

Western Force team to play the Blues

1. Tom Robertson
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3. Harry Johnson-Holmes
4. Franco Molina
5. Darcy Swain
6. Jeremy Williams (c)
7. Carlo Tizzano
8. Vaiolini Ekuasi
9. Nathan Hastie
10. Ben Donaldson (vc)
11. Bayley Kuenzle
12. Hamish Stewart
13. George Bridge
14. Divad Palu
15. Mac Grealy

16. Leonel Oviedo
17. Sef Fa’agase
18. Misinale Epenisa
19. Lopeti Faifua
20. Kane Koteka
21. Henry Robertson
22. Max Burey
23. Kurtley Beale

Injury list

Nick Champion de Crespigny (knee) – short term
Darby Lancaster (thigh) – short term
Dylan Pietsch (foot) – short term
Feao Fotuaika (foot) – medium term
Alex Harford (shoulder) – long term
Doug Philipson (knee) – long term