The Western Force welcome back experienced quartet Kyle Godwin, Santiago Medrano, Kane Koteka and Toni Pulu to the starting XV for Friday’s Round 6 Heritage Round clash with the Brumbies at HBF Park.
Having missed last week’s dramatic win over Fijian Drua in Sydney through injury, vice-captain Godwin starts at inside centre, with Richard Kahui moving to the bench.
Milestone man Medrano will be making his 50th Super Rugby appearance on Friday having debuted in the competition for Jaguares back in 2018. The Argentinian prop makes his fifth start of the campaign at tighthead prop having entered the contest from the bench in Round 5.
Reigning Nathan Sharpe medallist and Future Force Foundation graduate Kotekareturns to the squad at flanker. Koteka missed the previous two matches through an injury sustained in the Round 2 victory over Melbourne Rebels.
Fresh from his first Wallabies camp call-up and another returning from injury, speedster Pulu makes a timely return to the starting side on the wing. American-born and New Zealand-raised Pulu, whose mother is Australian, has been named by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie in a 40-man Australian training squad.
Joining Pulu on the opposite wing is ManasaMataele. The in-form Fijian international leads the competition in metres carried with 581, while also sharing top spot with six clean breaks, and in the top three for defenders beaten with 19.
The Force, who sit in sixth place with 11 points, will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season, as the club celebrates the history of rugby in WA as part of Heritage Round.
