Wallaby lock Rodda in doubt for Force opener

Wallabies lock Izack Rodda’s highly-anticipated return looks set to be put on ice after he injured his quad at Western Force training on Wednesday.

Rodda, who has missed most of the past 18 months due to a series of stress fractures in his right foot, was named in the Force’s starting line-up for Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Hurricanes in Perth.

But those plans are now up in the air after Rodda injured his quad at training just moments after the team was released.

The 27-year-old will undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage.

Although he hasn’t been officially ruled out of the season-opening match just yet, it seems highly unlikely he’ll play.

Captain and fellow lock Jeremy Williams has already been scratched due to concussion.

Last season’s skipper Michael Wells and new recruit Nic White will take over the captaincy duties this week.

White will pair with Ben Donaldson in an all-Wallabies 9-10 combination.

Fellow recruits Tom Franklin, Will Harris and Harry Potter have also been named in the starting XV.

The number of club debutants this week could rise to as high as eight if Ben Funnell, Lopeti Faifua and Tiaan Tauakipulu are introduced off the bench.

Force playmaker Reesjan Pasitoa will miss the next 10-12 weeks after undergoing surgery on Monday to repair the elbow he dislocated.

Siosifa Amone (thumb, 6-8 weeks), Felix Kalapu (hamstring, seven weeks), Harry Hoopert (knee, 3-4 months) and Angus Wagner (knee, seven weeks) are other Force players on the sidelines.

The NSW Waratahs’ coach Darren Coleman has opted to ease exciting youngster Max Jorgenson back from injury through the reserves in their clash with the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Joey Walton will start at fullback, while new Queensland coach Les Kiss has also pulled a surprise in the No.15 jersey, opting for Jordan Petaia ahead of Jock Campbell.