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Wallabies Nic White and Ben Donaldson set to earn first Force caps
Wallabies halves Nic White and Ben Donaldson will both debut for the Western Force on Friday night when the Perth-based side takes on the travelling Hurricanes at HBF Park.
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White and Donaldson, who both played for Australia at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, are among the five off-season recruits who will earn their first Force caps in the season-opener.
Former Maori All Blacks lock Tom Franklin, as well as Will Harris and magical wing Harry Potter, are the other three in line to represent the club for the first time in a competitive match.
Wallabies lock Izack Rodda will partner Super Rugby winner Franklin in the second row in what is another major boost for the men from the west.
Our first team list for the 2024 @SuperRugby Season is here! 🔥
Feast your eyes on the starting 23-man squad selected for Round 1 against the Hurricanes at HBF Park! 🏟
Read the team list breakdown below 👇https://t.co/1dm2L9d60y@uwanews #teamlist pic.twitter.com/jSgCSbczMC
— Western Force (@westernforce) February 21, 2024
Marley Peace, Tom Horton and Argentina’s Santiago Medrano make up the front row, and Michael Wells, Carlo Tizzano and Will Harris will form the loose forward trio.
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Club captain Jeremy Williams is unavailable for this match due to head injury protocols so Wells and halfback Nic White will lead the side together.
Partnering White in the halves is Donaldson, with Hamish Stewart and Sam Spink linking up in the midfield outside the Wallabies pair. The outside backs are Chase Tiatia, Harry Potter and Max Burey.
Former Crusader Ben Funnell, along with Lopeti Faifua and Tiaan Tauakipulu, are also in lien to debut for the Force off the bench.
The match will be broadcast live on Stan Sport. It is scheduled to kick-off at 7:00 pm WST on Friday February 23.
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Western Force to take on the Hurricanes
- Marley Pearce
- Tom Horton
- Santiago Medrano
- Thomas Franklin
- Izack Rodda
- Michael Wells
- Carlo Tizzano
- Will Harris
- Nic White
- Ben Donaldson
- Chase Tiatia
- Hamish Stewart
- Sam Spink
- Harry Potter
- Max Burey
Reserves
- Ben Funnell
- Charlie Hancock
- Tiaan Tauakipulu
- Lopeti Faifua
- Tim Anstee
- Ollie Callan
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
- George Poolman
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments