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Western Force welcome back star duo for 2026 finale


Ben Donaldson has started at fly-half in all 11 of the Force's games this season and played the full 80 in all but three (Photo Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
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The Western Force are looking to continue their winning ways in the final game of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific round-robin, welcoming back Ben Donaldson and George Bridge with the Waratahs in town.

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The team has been eliminated from playoff contention but has recorded just two losses in the second half of the season. That stretch of results includes two wins over the Reds, one over the Crusaders and one over this week’s opponents in Sydney.

Star openside flanker Carlo Tizzano can become the Force’s all-time leading try-scorer in the contest, after equalling Cameron Shepherd’s record haul of 30 last week.

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The returns of Donaldson and Bridge are the only changes to the matchday 23 that beat the Drua last week, with Max Burey and Bayley Kuenzle dropping out of the team as a result.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
3
Average Points scored
18
23
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
60%

Force team to play the Waratahs

  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. Ben Donaldson (vc)
  11. Dylan Pietsch
  12. Hamish Stewart
  13. George Bridge
  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

Injury list

Alex Harford (shoulder) – short term
Tom Robertson (calf) – short term
Darby Lancaster (ankle) – season
Henry Robertson (ACL) – season

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Comments

1 Comment
K
KwAussie 1 hr ago

This should be a good game. Both teams are capable of winning and I think it’ll be whoever has the most desire will take it. I’m backing the Force at home.

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