Western Force skipper back for Drua, ex-NRL star in line to debut

Western Force captain Jeremy Williams is back to lead the side in a massive Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, in what looms as another potential debut opportunity for NRL star Zac Lomax.

Williams missed last weekend’s 42-19 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, with Los Pumas enforcer Franco Molina starting alongside Darcy Swain instead. Molina scored a hat-trick in the victory and retains a starting spot alongside Williams.

Lomax was set to feature against the Reds but was ruled out just before kick-off with hamstring tightness, but the former St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels outside back has again been named on the Force bench.

Coach Simon Cron has selected Wallaby Dylan Pietch and 19-Test All Black George Bridge on the wings, with Darcy Lancaster suffering an injury against the Reds. Mac Grealy, who has just re-signed with the club for a further two years, starts at fullback.

Bayley Kuenzle joins Hamish Stewart in the midfield, while 95-Test Wallaby Kurtley Beale can cover the centres off the bench. The Force have gone with a  5-3 bench split, with halfback Agustin Moyano the other backline cover.

Williams headlines a formidable tight five that starts with Sef Fa’agase and Misinale Epenisa as the two props, and Brandon Paenga-Amosa at hooker. Paenga-Amosa scored a try and contributed to some others in the win over Queensland.

Molina and Williams start as the two locks, while Force vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny will wear the No. 6 jersey. Irishman Jack Daly retains the starting role at openside in the absence of Carlo Tizzano, and Vaiolini Ekuasi also holds onto his spot at No. 8.

This match at Lautoka’s Churchill Park is set to get underway at 12:35 pm WST on Saturday afternoon.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Fijian Drua

24 - 22

Full-time

Force

All Stats and Data

Western Force to take on Fijian Drua

1. Sef Fa’agase

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

3. Misinale Epenisa

4. Franco Molina

5. Jeremy Williams (c)

6. Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc)

7. Jack Daly

8. Vaiolini Ekuasi

9. Henry Robertson

10. Ben Donaldson (vc)

11. Dylan Pietsch

12. Bayley Kuenzle

13. Hamish Stewart

14. George Bridge

15. Mac Grealy

Reserves: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Marley Pearce, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Lopeti Faifua, 20. Will Harris, 21. Agustin Moyano, 22. Kurtley Beale, 23. Zac Lomax