Continuity is the theme for the Western Force having named a settled line-up for Friday night’s Round 12 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific clash against the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.
The Force has retained the same 23 that beat the Crusaders a fortnight ago, with one change to the starting side, with Hamish Stewart coming in at inside-centre for his 50th cap for the Club.
Hard-working Wallabies midfielder Stewart, 28, has barely missed a game for the Force since switching west from the Queensland Reds ahead of the 2023 season.
The WA side has named an unchanged forward pack for the game, which comes following the bye after a come-from-behind 31-26 win over the Crusaders in Round 10.
Friday night’s game kicks off at 5:35pm WST, live on Stan Sport and 91.3 SportFM.
In the run-on side, Wallabies Tom Robertson and Brandon Paenga-Amosa start on the front row, along with Tongan tighthead Misinale Epenisa.
Captain Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain line up on the second row, with the game marking the latter’s 99th in Super Rugby.
Vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano and Vaiolini Ekuasi start on the back row.
Scrum-half Henry Robertson will team up with fly-half Ben Donaldson yet again, with Stewart and George Bridge in the midfield.
Dylan Pietsch, who has scored two tries in three games since returning from injury, and Zac Lomax start on the wings, with Mac Grealy at full-back.
The reserves are hooker Nic Dolly, prop Sef Fa’agase, prop Harry Johnson-Holmes, Argentine lock Franco Molina, back-rower Will Harris and half-back Nathan Hastie plus utility backs Bayley Kuenzle and Kurtley Beale.
If Beale plays, he'll bring up his 183rd Super Rugby cap, moving into outright fourth on the all-time list ahead of Liam Messam.
Game details
NSW Waratahs vs Western Force
Friday 1 May, 5:35pm WST
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live on Stan Sport (TV) & 91.3 SportFM (radio)
Western Force team list
1 Tom Robertson
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 Henry Robertson
10 Ben Donaldson (vc)
11 Dylan Pietsch
12 Hamish Stewart
13 George Bridge
14 Zac Lomax
15 Mac Grealy
Reserves; 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale
SKG Radiology Unavailable List
Doug Philipson (knee) - short term
Ronan Leahy (knee) - short term
Alex Harford (shoulder) - medium term
Darby Lancaster (ankle) - season
