The Western Force have made a number of changes to the side’s forward pack for Sunday’s Super Rugby Men’s U19s final-round game against the Queensland Reds at Tompkins Park.
Perth Bayswater’s Josh Pulu and Associates’ Luke Megson come into the starting front row, with Wanneroo’s Xavier Vaauli elevated to starting lock, with William Crew shifting to blindside flanker as part of three changes to the starting side that went down to the ACT Brumbies last round.
The selection of Fortescue Academy talent Megson at hooker comes after he won the Academy Rookie of the Year award in July.
Force head coach Damian Steele and his team have opted for an unchanged backline following a solid display against the back-to-back premiers last weekend.
Cottesloe forward Paddy Woods has earned an opportunity as one of the reserves, with Wests Scarborough’s Connor Hulme back among the finishers too.
The Force and Reds are both out of contention for the U19s decider after both suffered defeats in the opening two rounds. The winner of Sunday’s game will finish third on the ladder.
The game is part of a triple-header at Tompkins Park alongside the Force playing in the U16s (10:30am) against Victoria and Super Rugby AUS (2:30pm) against the Queensland Reds.
Pulu, Megson and Palmyra’s Xavier Hawira are in the run-on front row, with Vaauli alongside Roodogs teammate and U19s co-captain Manaia TeTana.
Crew will start on the back row with impressive Perth Bayswater openside flanker Luke Holt-Brown and Cottesloe and Academy talent Nate Gallagher.
Academy and Wanneroo duo Tamarangi Tunui and Brodie Mainwaring will team up again at scrum-half and fly-half respectively. Wanneroo’s Chris Jansen and Nedlands’ Fatani Fatanitavake start in the centres.
Southern Lions’ Peni Naqau and Wanneroo’s Kade Davis starting on the wings, with Aussie 7s flyer and U19s co-captain Wallace Charlie rounding out the run-on side at full-back.
Sunday's game kicks off at 12:30pm WST with entry is free for the long weekend triple-header. All games will be streamed on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel and Stan Sport.
The Super Rugby Men's U19s run for four weeks with four teams competing, with this weekend's games marking Round 3.
The Force thanks partners Fortescue, UWA, Goodyear, ADD Business Group and Elan as well as RugbyWA for their support of the U16s and U19 programs.
Western Force U19s team list
Starting XV; Josh Pulu (Perth Bayswater), Luke Megson (Associates), Zavier Hawira (Palmyra), Xavier Vaauli (Wanneroo), Manaia TeTana (cc) (Wanneroo), William Crew (Southern Lions), Luke Holt-Brown (Perth Bayswater), Nathaniel Gallagher (Cottesloe), Tamarangi Tunui (Wanneroo), Brodie Mainwaring (Wanneroo), Penijameni Naqau (Southern Lions), Chris Jansen (Wanneroo), Fatani Fatanitavake (Nedlands), Kade Davis (Wanneroo), Wallace Charlie (cc) (Southern Lions)
Reserves; H Hattingh (Wildfires, NSW), Cajun Arnfield (Wildfires, NSW), Billy Krsticevic (Wests Scarborough), Paddy Woods (Cottesloe), Felix Cooper (Associates), Connor Hulme (Wests Scarborough), Cruz Remi (Cottesloe), Sonny Kani (Palmyra)
Spare reserve; Charlie Groom (Wests Scarborough)
Game details
Western Force vs Queensland Reds
Saturday 28 September, 12:30pm WST
Tompkins Park, Alfred Cove – Palmyra RUC
Free entry
Live on rugby.com.au’s YouTube channel & Stan Sport
Followed by the Force-Brumbies’ Super Rugby AUS game from 2:30pm and preceded by the Force-Victoria U16s game from 10:30am
