Quartet poised for Force debuts in the season opener

Tue, Feb 15, 2022, 5:59 PM
Western Force head coach Tim Sampson has named four club debutants in the starting XV for Sunday's Round 1 clash against the ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

It's a milestone match for hooker Feleti Kaitu'u, with the Wallaby prepared to lead the club as captain for the very first time in Super Rugby on Sunday.

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It's a formidable front-row stacked with international experience, with Tom Robertson (Wallabies – 26 Caps), Santiago Medrano (Argentina – 42 Caps) and Kaitu'u(Wallabies – 3 Caps) selected to start.

It's an exciting mercurial duo comprised of Mataele and Toni Pulu on the left and right wings respectively.

Club mainstays Fergus Lee-Warner (left lock), Brynard Stander (left flanker), Kane Koteka (right flanker), Ian Prior (scrum-half) and vice-captain Kyle Godwin (outside centre) form a familiar spine, with Tim Anstee (number eight), Kuenzle (inside centre) and Jake Strachan (full-back) rounding out the starting side. 

Returning players Harry Lloyd and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa are set to make their long-awaited return for the Force after re-joining during the off-season from the Brumbies. The pair have been named on the replacements list stacked with experience and energy.

Force team announcement Round 1 List

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